National Early Warning Score (NEWS2)

Published

23 March 2023

About

A standardised early warning system to identify patients at risk of acute deterioration Short film featuring Professor Bryan Williams, about why the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) was developed; how it can be used to identify sepsis and the benefits of a standardised early warning system.

National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2

NEWS2 is the latest version of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS), first produced in 2012 and updated in December 2017, which advocates a system to standardise the assessment and response to acute illness.

Read: RCP NEWS 2

Celebrating 10 years of the National Early Warning Score

Dr Sarah Clarke introduces this special issue of Clinical Medicine on NEWS, subsequently updated to NEWS2, which in the 10 years since its release has emerged as one of the RCP's most important clinical initiatives.

Read: Celebrating 10 years of the National Early Warning Score

Using NEWS2: an essential component of reliable clinical assessment

In this article, we outline established and recommended practice for initial and ongoing assessment. We also highlight where practice may not meet these standards, how the full context and assessment of the patient is paramount, and opportunities for more accurate assessment in the future.

Read: Using NEWS2: an essential component of reliable clinical assessment

NEWS2 and improving outcomes from sepsis

This article summarises the importance of an ‘unblinkered’ approach to acute illness assessment, comparing and examining the evidence for different historical scoring systems and looking at the early impact of national alignment to NEWS2 in patients admitted to hospital with suspected bacterial infections.

Read: NEWS2 and improving outcomes from sepsis