‘Radical culture change’ needed for drinking water

Amid the summer heatwave, a leading surgeon from University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust has said a ‘radical culture change’ towards drinking water is required.

Following a study of 162 patients who received treatment for kidney stones, Bhaskar Somani has claimed that attitudes towards water consumption ‘remain poor’ even among those at higher risk of health problems. Poor hydration is a significant risk factor for kidney stones, with the Southampton General Hospital study finding that 28 per cent of patients increased their water intake despite receiving advice after treatment on the need to drink 2.5 to three litres a day.

The study also found that 22 per cent said the reason for avoiding water was because they didn’t like the taste, while 26 per cent blamed their habit and 10 per cent said they only drank when thirsty.

Somani, a consultant urological surgeon, said: “It clearly concerns me that patients who have suffered with the pain and discomfort of kidney stones are not keen to take this simple step to help improve their health. It then begs the question that, if those are the views of people in a high risk group, what is the feeling among those who have no current health risks which could be aided by better hydration.

“As the country contends with this sustained period of extremely hot weather, we need to draw attention to why attitudes towards hydration remain poor and how we can bring about a radical culture change to address it.”