Simple tea and coffee switch supports safer, healthier hospital stays at Macclesfield Hospital

Patients at Macclesfield Hospital are benefiting from a simple but innovative change to their daily routine, with decaffeinated tea and coffee now being offered as the standard hot drink option across inpatient wards.

The initiative, led by East Cheshire NHS Trust's Falls Lead Helena Janovova, forms part of the Trust's wider commitment to improving patient safety, wellbeing and quality of care.

For many older people in hospital, factors such as poor sleep, urinary urgency, dehydration, confusion and reduced mobility can all contribute to a loss of independence and an increased risk of falls.

Caffeine may worsen some of these issues in susceptible individuals by increasing bladder activity, disturbing sleep and contributing to restlessness. Research has shown that reducing caffeine intake can help improve symptoms of overactive bladder and may support falls prevention efforts in older adults.

By making decaffeinated drinks the default choice, the Trust aims to create an environment that supports good hydration while reducing avoidable contributors to patient harm. The approach is simple, cost-neutral and designed to fit naturally into everyday care.

The initiative also reflects growing recognition that small changes can make a meaningful difference to patient experience. Better sleep, fewer overnight disturbances and improved bladder comfort can all support recovery and promote wellbeing during a hospital stay.

Importantly, patient choice remains at the heart of the project. Anyone who prefers a caffeinated tea or coffee can still request one at any time.

Helena said: "Falls prevention is rarely about one single intervention. The most effective approach is to identify lots of small opportunities to make the hospital environment safer and more supportive for our patients."

"Older adults admitted to hospital are often unwell, recovering from illness and at greater risk of problems such as poor sleep, urinary urgency, dehydration and confusion. By offering decaffeinated drinks as our standard option, we are making a small change that may positively influence several of these factors while still maintaining patient choice."

"Importantly, this initiative is not about taking anything away from patients. Anyone who would like a caffeinated drink can still have one. We're simply changing the default option in a way that supports healthier ageing, recovery and patient safety."

The project follows a successful pilot on Ward 2 at Macclesfield Hospital, where falls reduced by 36% during the six-month implementation period. Similar decaffeination initiatives in hospital and care home settings have also reported encouraging reductions in toileting-related falls and improvements in patient wellbeing.

Following the success of the pilot, the initiative has now expanded across all inpatient wards and emergency care areas at the hospital site.

ENDS

Image: Pictured left to right are Matthews (Domestic Assistant), Mandy Constable (Key Account Manager for ISS), David Evans (Interim Head of Facilities), Jason Worrall (Interim Facilities Service and Performance Manager), Helena Janovova (Falls Lead) and Hikmet (Domestic Assistant).