The rollout to A&E departments builds on the introduction of PEWS in children鈥檚 inpatient wards in November 2023, extending the system to the emergency frontline. The system aims to provide a simple, standardised way for staff and families to spot the warning signs and ensure children whose conditions are worsening get the attention they need, without delay.
Already used in paediatric wards, the scoring system will help A&E staff measure, record and assess vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rates, oxygen levels and consciousness. Scores will flag when a child may need more urgent attention.
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In response to the roll-out, Dr Mike McKean, Vice-President for Policy says:
I am delighted to see this initiative being rolled out ahead of the winter period, which is always a busy and challenging time for hospitals and healthcare professionals. The launch of the Emergency Department PEWS charts are extremely important tools that will support all paediatricians and wider child health teams to spot deterioration in children in hospital. Alongside training and resources, it will help teams across England improve equity, patient safety, and quality of care by providing standardised ED appropriate resources.
Professor Damian Roland, Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine, says:
The delivery of ED NPEWS links triage to ongoing observations in Children's Emergency Departments as well as standardising escalation across the country. It's link to the inpatient chart is the next stage in delivering a truly cross system approach to the recognition of sick children