Product design student Cameron Sandy's invention will go on public display from 30 May to 5 June for the 2026 art and design Student Showcase, which features the work of more than 1,300 graduating creative students.

‘An overnight hospital bed is estimated to cost the NHS between £350 and £750 per patient,' said Cameron.

‘If improved hydration helps reduce a patient's stay by even a single day, the savings could cover the cost of up to 21 hydration coasters, demonstrating the potential for both improved patient care and significant financial benefits for the NHS.'

Cameron's smart hydration coaster is designed to sit under a patient's cup and gently prompt them to drink.

A load cell sensor monitors the weight of the cup and if there's no change in its weight within 60 minutes - indicating no drinking - an LED ring on the coaster lights up.

The aim is for it to prompt the patient to take a sip, but to avoid becoming an annoyance in any way to ensure the patient continues to use it.

The coaster is waterproof and designed without external ports or wires to minimise infection risks, and charges wirelessly via a docking station integrated into existing hospital infrastructure.

Coasters can be stacked directly onto water trolleys during transit, with charging docks located at nurses' stations or in storage areas where the trolleys are kept between rounds.

The system operates during waking hours, typically between 7am and 10pm, to ensure patients are not disturbed overnight. A single charge can last up to two weeks, depending on use.

You can watch Cameron explaining how the coaster works here.