Supporting statements
Where clinically appropriate, patients should have access to fresh drinking water, at the correct temperature, at all times. It is recommended that patients are given assistance with their drinking while the water is at the correct temperature
Water for Health Alliance
Water is well known for its revitalising properties. However, although it is essential to health and is one of the six basic nutrients (along with carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, proteins and minerals), the importance of water often gets overlooked. Providing fresh water to patients helps to keep them hydrated and improves their well-being. Providing fresh water also demonstrates care of patients in a way that relatives and visitors can see.
National Patient Safety Agency
Nurses care deeply about good patient nutrition and hydration, and it is vital for everyone, especially when we are ill. The Royal College of Nursing believes that if we are to make hydration a top priority, then everybody in the workforce from the catering staff through to chief executives will need to play a part. This hydration best practice toolkit will help to ensure that is achieved.
Geraldine Cunningham, Head of Institute, Royal College of Nursing
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) have recognised that dehydration has the potential to cause unnecessary harm to patients, and we are delighted to have collaborated with key stakeholders on the development of this toolkit. Water is a basic nutrient which is essential to health - medical evidence shows that good hydration can assist in the management and prevention of many medical conditions that cause harm or distress to patients in hospitals.
Martin Fletcher, Chief Executive, National Patient Safety Agency
Poor hydration has been acknowledged as a serious problem by the NHS, and this is especially true for older hospitals that have little ventilation and warm, crowded wards. It is time to work together and make the change happen. We know that a better hydrated patient often uses fewer medicines, like laxatives, and can heal faster. The solutions for providing these patients, and of course doctors, nurses and visitors with fresh water are quite simple, and they are highly cost effective for healthcare.
Pamela Taylor, Chief Executive, Water UK
Hospital caterers are acutely aware of how important it is for patients to have access to good quality, nutritious food at all times.† Part of this requirement†is also†the availability of fresh tap water.† Water is central to maintaining patient hydration†and should be as fundamental to patient nutritional care as food.† The Hospital Caterers Association is pleased to have been involved with the development of this toolkit.
Neil Watson-Jones, Chair, Hospital Caterers Association
NHS Supply Chain is committed to finding solutions to the problems and the challenges that the NHS faces, and we are delighted to be part of the team that has developed this hydration best practice toolkit for hospitals. Provision of fresh, well presented drinking water has been shown by our partners to be a vital part of nutrition and patient care ñ as vital as medicines. NHS Supply Chain has the strongest possible commitment to supporting patient healthcare, and demonstrating the important role we can play in helping the NHS to move forward.
Roger West, Procurement Director, NHS Supply Chain
Patient health has to be our number one priority. I would therefore urge all hospitals to adopt the principles of this hydration best practice toolkit, and to re-assess the limited water availability that we see for many patients in hospital wards. Water is a basic human need. We are not a third world nation, yet some of our hospital hydration facilities would lead us to believe this. The Patients Association support the principles of this toolkit, and commends the voluntary health partnership that created it. I believe it will make a valuable contribution to the health and quality of life of hospital patients and their families.
Claire Rayner, President of the Patients Association
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