PATIENTS at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital are drinking two-thirds more liquids than before thanks to a world first drinks reminder scheme.

The system helps them stay hydrated through messages sent from the smart base of a dementia-friendly Droplet mug or tumbler if the patient hasn't regularly picked up their cup for a drink.

The messages, which can include family or friends' voices, plays after 20, 40 or 60 minutes and the scheme was so successful during trials in December on four wards that it's going hospital-wide from next month.

Patients provided with the vessels drank 63 per cent more liquid than those who weren't given one.

Musgrove’s League of Friends has spent £5,000 to provide Droplet for the first year and the mugs and tumblers are also on sale in the league's shop.

Alison Wootton, director of patient care at Musgrove, said: "Droplet has proven to be a very useful reminder for our elderly patients in particular.

"It has meant they have been drinking an extra 500ml a day, which will make such a difference. It will help keep them well hydrated so they are less confused and will get better more quickly.

"The mug and tumbler have 100ml and 200ml fill lines on the inside which help hospital ward staff measure how much patients have had to drink. The mug is also insulated so patients won’t find it too hot.

"We're proud to be the first hospital in the world to use this ground-breaking system and I look forward to seeing the benefits for our patients in the coming months."

Droplet was developed by university student Ellie Van Leeuwen as part of her product design course at Bournemouth University.

The inspiration was her grandmother, who was disoriented and confused when she became dehydrated in another hospital.

She said: "It's been very exciting to see the work I've done over the past three years bring such fantastic benefits to people in a real life hospital setting.

"I've spent lots of time on the wards and it's been great to see patients’ reaction to the Droplet mug and tumbler and how it’s making a difference to them."

The idea was taken on by an international product manufacturing company and had input from a wide range of health and social care professionals.