The NHS is rolling out a new early warning system in emergency departments across England this winter to help doctors and nurses spot children whose condition is deteriorating, and treat them faster.

The National Paediatric Early Warning System, known as PEWS, gives staff a clear and consistent way to track the warning signs that a child is becoming more unwell. Staff measure, record and assess vital signs including blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate and oxygen levels, and the results produce an overall score. A higher score means the child is given more urgent attention.

The system is designed for the busy emergency department, where children may wait for treatment or be moved between areas of the hospital. Age-appropriate charts reflect the different normal ranges for babies, children and young people, and the scores link initial triage to ongoing monitoring as a child moves through care.

More than 90 hospitals in England already use PEWS on paediatric inpatient wards, where it was introduced in November 2023. NHS England says those trusts have consistently lower rates of cardiac arrest among their patients, and the move into emergency departments will make it the largest standardised scoring system for children's health in the world.

The programme was developed by NHS England with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Nursing. England's chief nursing officer, Duncan Burton, described the rollout as an important next step in improving care for children and young people this winter and beyond. More than six million children attend A&E in England each year. Read the full announcement on the NHS England website.