RED cups are playing a central role in combating dehydration amongst patients at Airedale Hospital.

Over 500 cups, funded as part of a grant from NHS England, have been distributed to wards across the Steeton hospital.

The cups are being given to patients deemed to be at risk of not drinking enough fluids, so that staff are alerted to those who might need additional support.

Guidelines recommend that healthy adults should drink around six to eight glasses, or two litres, of water per day.

But Arlene Beausire, infection prevention nurse at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, says staying hydrated when in hospital can be a challenge for some patients.

"There are lots of reasons why people don’t drink enough when they come into hospital," she says.

"When you’re feeling poorly you are not always motivated to drink, patients may have communication difficulties, or people who are sedated or drowsy might need reminding of the need to drink.

"We only have to lose one per cent of water from our body to start experiencing problems.

"These cups will alert any staff on the ward, not just the nurses, so that they can encourage the patient to drink when needed.

"Every little sip helps!"

Her comments are echoed by Katie Widdop, senior sister on ward 10 at the hospital, who welcomes the initiative.

"Good hydration is so important for all of our patients," she says.

"When properly hydrated people will eat and sleep better, it helps prevent other medical problems such as low blood pressure and kidney stones, helps medications to work efficiently and reduces the potential risk of infection. Nutrition and hydration also helps patients get out of bed, and prevents dizziness which can lead to falls, in turn lengthening a person's stay in hospital.

"The red cups are a great idea. They will highlight to all our staff which patients may need that extra bit of help and prompting to drink.

"The hospital is also planning to provide a new and improved drinks menu for our patients, which will have a choice of eight drink selections, including decaffeinated options and green tea, hot chocolate and cold refreshing squashes, which will be on the trollies visiting the wards four times a day, as well as being available on request.

"The new red cups will complement a red tray system that the trust already provides, to identify patients who need help with eating."