Doctors forced to prescribe drinking water to hospital patients to ensure they get enough to drink

Doctors caring for elderly patients in hospital are being forced to prescribe water for them in order to ensure they have enough to drink. Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the NHS watchdog, found nurses sometimes left patients so thirsty that the only way for doctors to ensure they had enough liquid was to add "drinking water" to hospital medication charts.

The revelation comes in the first reports from the CQC into dignity and nutrition of elderly people treated by the NHS, which reveals a failure to attend to the most basic requirements of care. The Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, who ordered the reports, said the failings were "unacceptable". Of the first 12 NHS trusts inspected, three failed to meet the essential standards required by law of respecting and involving people in their care and meeting their nutritional needs.



The worst offender was Alexandra hospital, Redditch, Worcester, where the CQC expressed "major concerns" about the failure to ensure elderly patients had enough to eat and drink. The Royal Free hospital in London and Ipswich hospital also failed to meet the standards required by law. At Alexandra hospital, inspectors saw meals being served to patients who were asleep.

Medical staff explained how they prescribed drinking water on medication charts "to ensure people get regular drinks". Inspectors saw examples of this being done and were told it "worked". Ward staff said they were aware of drinking water being prescribed and that this was done to "make sure people get enough fluids".