29th December 2017
Overview of the National Early Warning ScoreAs a specialist provider of clinical skills training courses to the healthcare sector, we wanted to inform all previous delegates of a change to the National Early Warning Score (NEWS), now referred to as NEWS2. The National Early Warning Score (NEWS) was first published in 2012, however, following a review an updated version has been released in December 2017. Here is an outline of the changes made to the National Early Warning Score (NEWS), as well downloadable resources for further reading and implementation of National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS).
The National Early Warning Score 2 ChartThe NEWS chart has been updated. In the new NEWS2 chart: i. the recording of physiological parameters has been reordered to align with the Resuscitation Council (UK) ABCDE sequence ii. the ranges for the boundaries of each parameter score are now shown on the chart iii. the chart has a dedicated section (SpO2 Scale 2) for use in patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure (usually due to COPD) who have clinically recommended oxygen saturation of 88–92% iv. the section of the chart for recording the rate of (L/min) and method/device for supplemental oxygen delivery has been improved v. the importance of considering serious sepsis in patients with known or suspected infection, or at risk of infection, is emphasised. A NEW score of 5 or more is the key trigger threshold for urgent clinical review and action vi. the addition of ‘new confusion’ (which includes disorientation, delirium or any new alteration to mentation) to the AVPU score, which becomes ACVPU (where C represents confusion) viii. the chart has a new colour scheme, reflecting the fact that the original red–amber–green colours were not ideal for staff with red/green colour blindness.
Downloads and further information:NEWS 2 ChartNEWS 2 Executive SummaryNEWS 2 Full ReportRoyal College of Physicians: Update on NEWS