EXPLODING BACTERIAMed Decision Speed Tools
ED Decision Tools

NEWS2 — National Early Warning Score 2

Detects physiologic deterioration from six vital signs plus consciousness — score it serially, because the trend is the point.

Routine monitoring
NEWS2 0
Minimum q12h observations
Respiratory rate (breaths/min)
SpO₂ — Scale 1 (%), the default scale
Supplemental oxygen
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)
Heart rate (bpm)
Temperature (°C)
Consciousness (ACVPU)
NEWS2 · UK national standard since 2017. Single-parameter rule: any one parameter scoring 3 warrants urgent review regardless of the total. This tool implements SpO₂ Scale 1 only — do NOT use it for a patient on a prescribed 88–92% target (hypercapnic respiratory failure), who requires Scale 2.