A system-wide group was developed called the “Hydration, Nutrition, Continence and C. difficile” with the aim to support the delivery of the UK 5-year national action plan for antimicrobial resistance.

A range of educational hydration resources were co-designed with stakeholders and experts professionals across Dorset as a joint project to raise the awareness and understanding of the importance of hydration to improve health and wellbeing.

Educational hydration leaflets for both staff and residents/patients were co-produced providing simple, clear, and visual information about a variety of food, drinks, and fruit as well as some of the worries associated with fear of incontinence and increased risk of falls. Hydration tabards featured a visual message, “How do you like your CUPPA” ensuring that residents and patients are encouraged and offered drinks to their exact preferences.

To strengthen the importance of hydration, a local campaign was launched across Dorset and shared through social media channels as well as through hydration page hosted on “Stay Well Dorset”. Hydration – Stay Well Dorset with downloadable resources and infographics. The campaign’s hydration video has been successfully utilised as part of the educational seminars at Bournemouth University for Adult Nursing, Mental Health, Children and Young People Foundation Years.

Several care homes and wards from NHS trusts took part in the hydration pilot who created an innovative way of promoting the hydration and educating around the benefits that hydration can have on health and wellbeing.

A number of care homes reported reduction of incidents of urinary tract infections and falls. Promoting hydration has led to happier, healthier residents with families being thrilled to see their loved ones more involved, energetic and more alert.

The hydration project was found to be a huge success thanks to innovative and committed partnerships with colleagues across the system, who have found creative solutions to promote hydration not just for their patients and residents, but also for the staff and families involved in their care.