Many leading experts and infection prevention practitioners postulate a link between dehydration, urinary tract infection and E. coli Gram-negative sepsis. Therefore a number of system actions are linked to improving inpatient and population hydration.

The actions listed here are to start the process of promoting hydration. The list of tools and links given is not exhaustive, but a selection of the many projects in place.

Action: plan for hydration

Ensure that all providers have a plan to improve hydration.

• Hydration campaign video – Social media campaign – #ButFirstADrink – by Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust
• #ButFirstADrink poster – Poster from Royal Cornwall Hospital NHS Trust’s #ButFirstADrink campaign

Action: plan for inclement weather

Ensure that hydration is part of winter and heatwave planning – link with public health commissioners.

• Patient hydration poster – Example patient information poster (provided by Kernow CCG).
• Patient hydration bookmark – Example patient information bookmark (provided by Kernow CCG).

Action: review STP/ICS work planning

Ensure hydration is part of the prevention work planning at the sustainability and transformation partnership (STP)/integrated care system (ICS).

• LCC dehydration leaflet – Lancashire County Council (LCC) dehydration leaflet
• LCC dehydration poster – Lancashire County Council (LCC) dehydration poster

Action: review care home planning

Ensure provision is in place to improve hydration in care homes.

• Frailty in care homes pilot report – Frailty in care homes pilot report (provided by North Somerset Community Partnership).
• Oxford AHSN Good Hydration project – Online resources for the Oxford Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) ‘Good Hydration!’ project, including toolkit, data outcome measurement, good practice guidance and training materials.
• UWL I-Hydrate care home video – University of West London (UWL) care home hydration ‘I-Hydrate’ project video
• Oxford AHSN urinary system video – A short animated film from Oxford AHSN on the importance of good hydration in keeping care home residents happy and healthy.
• ROC hydration care resources – ‘Reliance on a Carer’ holistic hydration care assessment tool
• NICE oral care guidance – NICE guidance on oral health for adults in care homes
• Bournemouth University toolkit on eating and drinking well – Bournemouth University Ageing and Dementia Research Centre training resources – eating and drinking well toolkit

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