Vital signs stories

Nov 2, 2026

NHS launches National Paediatric Early Warning System in A&E departments across England

The NHS is introducing an early warning system designed to spot deteriorating health in children faster across A&E departments in England. The National Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS), described as the world's largest such system, will include parental concerns as a trigger for urgent checks, with more than 90 hospitals already implementing it.

Nov 2, 20265 sources

Top claims

▪More than 90 hospitals across England already use the inpatient National Paediatric Early Warning System, showing consistently lower rates of cardiac arrests among child patients.
▪Whittington Health NHS Trust stated that periods of exceptional emergency care demand force some hospital patients to receive care in temporary clinical areas such as corridors.
▪The National Paediatric Early Warning System requires medical staff to measure, record, and score vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, oxygen levels, and consciousness.

People involved

Yvette Cooper

Subtopics

Child health1 Clinical decision support1 Emergency medicine1 Healthcare Policy1 Medical errors1 Patient engagement1 Patient safety1

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