NHS England to roll out paediatric early warning system in A&Es ahead of winter

Mixed · 2A National Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) is being introduced in hospital emergency departments in England to help busy staff identify sick children who are dangerously deteriorating. 1 2 Mixed · 2Staff check, log and grade vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen levels and consciousness. A high score means a child needs more urgent attention. 1 2 Mixed · 2Concerns from staff, parents, carers or the child can trigger immediate escalation of care. NHS England said the score is not designed to replace professional judgment, and escalation can happen even when the score is low. 1 2

Mixed · 2The system uses age-appropriate charts for babies through to teenagers. It is already used for inpatients in more than 90 hospitals, and NHS England said this winter will be the first time it is used in A&E. 1 2 Left · 1The Guardian reports that NHS England calls it the world's largest standardised scoring system of its kind, and says hospitals using the inpatient version have consistently lower rates of cardiac arrest, according to NHS England data. More than 6 million children attend A&E in England each year. 2 Mixed · 2Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, called it an "important next step in improving care for children and young people across England for this winter - and beyond". He said a standardised approach will help staff recognise warning signs and make timely decisions. 1 2

Mixed · 2PEWS was developed with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Nursing. The RCPCH's Dr Mike McKean said he was delighted to see it rolled out ahead of winter. The RCN's Prof Lynn Woolsey said it is a vital tool, but that it will be crucial to ensure there are enough nursing staff, capacity, training and support to use it effectively. 1 2 Centre · 1The BBC links the move to Health Secretary Yvette Cooper's promise to stop "corridor care" for sick children. Cooper apologised to the parents of two-year-old Finlay Roberts, who died in 2024 after spending hours in a hospital corridor before being discharged. Whittington Health NHS Trust, where he waited, extended condolences and said some patients may at times receive care in temporary areas, including corridors, during exceptional demand. 1 Mixed · 2Separately, NHS England is drawing up urgent new standards for treating children in A&E, with ending corridor care for children a priority. The NHS has also said it will extend Martha's Rule, which lets patients and families request a rapid review if they fear a patient is getting worse, to all emergency departments in England, with a dedicated phone number in each A&E. 2 1

Right · 1Health Secretary Yvette Cooper said the system, developed by expert clinicians, is designed so that a seriously ill child is spotted in time, and that if a child is getting worse or a parent says something isn't right, "they will be listened to, their concerns will be acted on and lives will be saved". 3 Mixed · 2The Daily Mail and the Guardian both note that a similar National Early Warning System for adults is already used by NHS hospitals. 3 2