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National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) for adults

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         Score      
 Physiological parameter  3 2  1 0  1  2  3

Respiration rate (per minute)

  ≤8    9-11 12-20    21-24   ≤25
 Spo scale 1 (%)  ≤91  92-93  94-95  ≤96      

 Spo scale 2 (%)

  ≤83  84-85  86-87

 88.92 

≤93 on air

  93-94 on oxygen  95-96 on oxygen  ≤97 on oxygen
 Air or oxygen?    Oxygen    Air      
 Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)  ≤90  91-100  101-110  111-219      ≤220
 Pulse (per minute)  ≤40    41-50  51-90  91-110  111-130  ≤131
 Consciousness        Alert      CVPU
 Temperature (°C)  ≤35.0    35.1-36.0  36.1-38.0  38.1-39.0  ≤39.1  

New score Frequency of monitoring  Clinical response 
 0 Minimum 12 hourly
  •  Continue routine NEWS monitoring
 Total 1-4 Minimum 4-6 hourly
  • Inform registered nurse, who must assess the patient
  • Registered nurse decides whether increased frequency of monitoring and/or escalation of care is required
  3 in a single parameter Minimum 1 hourly
  • Registered nurse to inform medical team caring for the patient, who will review and decide whether escalation of care is necessary
Total 5 or more urgent response threshold Minimum 1 hourly
  • Registered nurse to immediately inform the medical team caring for the patient
  • Registered nurse to request urgent assessment by a clinician or team with core competencies in the care of acutely ill patients
  • Provide clinical care in an environment with monitoring facilities
 Total 7 or more emergency response threshold Continuous monitoring of vital signs
  • Registered nurse to immediately inform the medical team caring for the patient - this should be at least at specialist registrar level
  • Emergency assessment by a team with critical care competencies, including practitioner(s) with advanced airway management skills
  • Consider transfer of care to a level 2 or 3 clinical care facility, ie. higher-dependency unit or ICU
  • Clinical care in an environment with monitoring facilities

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The NEWS trigger system aligned to the scale of clinical risk

A 5 score in a single parameter refers to an extreme variation in that parameter (ie. a score on the NEWS2 chart). This represents an extreme variation in a single physiological parameter and requires urgent evaluation and referral immediately to a medical colleague for an escalation review.