Resources to support the safe adoption of the revised National Early Warning Score (NEWS2)
A resource alert has been issued to support providers to adopt the revised National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) to detect deterioration in adult patients.
Resource pack to support the early adoption of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2)
In partnership with NHS England, Health Education England and the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), we have published the NEWS2 resource pack. Developed with clinical input, the pack provides access to tools and resources which support planning and delivery of NEWS2 implementation, and illustrates practical examples of how it is being implemented across the country. The deadline for adoption of NEWS2 in acute and ambulance trusts is 31 March 2019. This was mandated in the Patient Safety Alert issued jointly by the us, RCP and NHS England in April 2018.
About this alert
Failure to recognise or act on signs that a patient is deteriorating is a key patient safety issue. It can result in missed opportunities to provide the necessary care to give the best possible chance of survival.
Recognising and responding to patient deterioration relies on a whole systems approach and the revised NEWS2, published by the Royal College of Physicians in December 2017, reliably detects deterioration in adults, triggering review, treatment and escalation of care.
NHS England’s aim is for all acute hospital trusts and ambulance trusts to fully adopt NEWS2 for adult patients by 31 March 2019. This alert has been jointly issued by NHS England, NHS Improvement and Royal College of Physicians to highlight the existing resources to support adoption of NEWS2.