Prevention of dehydration in hospital patients.

Dehydration is widely linked to increased risk of mortality in patients who are acutely unwell, and it also increases the risk of further illness. Despite being recognised nationwide as a cause for concern, 45% of hospital patients will become dehydrated upon admission, suggesting that more needs to be done to prevent dehydration. The use of bedside water devices allows patients to drink freely without assistance. Access to these can reduce a patient's length of stay in hospital and minimise the risk of developing a urinary tract infection. However, further research is needed to fully assess the impact of having such devices at the bedside.