A digital health start-up that has designed technology to help clinicians monitor patients’ fluid intake has won first prize in the Smart Health category of the Liverpool Mayor’s Challenge.

Aquarate was founded by design engineering student Rebecca Taylor as part of her final year project at Liverpool’s John Moore’s University. Taylor designed a range of sensor-based products including mug and trackers to help eradicate the time it takes for nurses and healthcare professionals to monitor patients’ fluid intake and output.

Aquarate took home first prize in the smart Health category of the Liverpool Mayor’s Challenge, a collaborative award between Liverpool City Council and Smart Liverpool which looks at ways of improving the health of urban populations.

Aquarate’s AQi Cup and AQO tracker are designed to save time and enable clinicians to accurately monitor a patient’s fluid balance in real-time, potentially helping to reduce preventable deaths caused by hydration-related illnesses.

The start-up has completed patient user trials at the Royal Liverpool University hospital’s Global Digital Exemplar programme which led to feedback helping it design the products for improved patient interaction.

As winner of the challenge, Aquarate received £5,000 and an opportunity to partner with the City Council on a 6-month proof on concept project.

“This is a fantastic opportunity to further test our electronic fluid balance products in a real-world city environment. We look forward to working with the Council and its partners over the next six months, and drawing on their knowledge and expertise.

We’re hoping this work will lead towards a city-wide procurement contract in hospitals and care homes. Allowing us to save lives that are needlessly being lost to preventable hydration-related illness,” Taylor said.