Health

England Introduces New Early Warning System for Children in A&E

By Today News Hours Editorial Desk

A new early warning system will be rolled out in hospital emergency departments across England to help NHS staff spot children who are rapidly deteriorating. The National Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) requires staff to record and grade vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels. A high overall score prompts urgent attention, and concerns raised by staff, parents, carers or the child themselves trigger an immediate escalation of care.

The initiative follows Health Secretary Yvette Cooper’s pledge to end “corridor care” for sick children after long waits for hospital beds. Cooper recently spoke on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg about the death of two‑year‑old Finlay Roberts, who died in 2024 after spending hours in a hospital corridor before being discharged. She apologized to Finlay’s parents, saying, “No child should be treated in a corridor. No patient should be treated in a corridor.” Whittington Health NHS Trust, where Finlay waited, extended condolences and noted that it still experiences periods of exceptional demand, during which some patients may receive care in temporary clinical areas, including corridors.

A similar early warning system for acutely ill adults, including those with sepsis, is already in use in emergency and general NHS wards. More than 90 hospitals in England have used the alert system in children’s wards, with age‑appropriate assessments for babies through teenagers. The NHS also plans to expand Martha’s Rule to all emergency departments. Martha’s Rule gives patients, families and carers the right to request a rapid review if they are concerned a patient’s condition is worsening and their concerns are not being addressed. The rule is named after Martha Mills, who died at 13 in 2021 after developing sepsis following a bike accident. A coroner ruled that her family’s concerns were not listened to and that she would probably have survived had she been moved to intensive care earlier.

A dedicated phone number will be available in A&E units to trigger an urgent review of a patient’s care. Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, said the new early warning system for children is an “important next step in improving care for children and young people across England for this winter – and beyond.” He added that the standardised approach will help staff recognise warning signs, communicate concerns and make timely decisions when every moment matters.

PEWS is a collaboration between NHS England, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Nursing.