PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Caroline Patterson
AU  - Fiona Maclean
AU  - Cameron Bell
AU  - Elora Mukherjee
AU  - Leoni Bryan
AU  - Thomas Woodcock
AU  - Derek Bell
TI  - Early warning systems in the UK: variation in content and implementation strategy has implications for a NHS early warning system
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.11-5-424
DP  - 2011 Oct 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 424--427
VI  - 11
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/11/5/424.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/11/5/424.full
SO  - Clin Med2011 Oct 01; 11
AB  - The Royal College of Physicians report Acute medical care: the right person, in the right setting–first time advocates the introduction of a standardised NHS Early Warning Score (NEWS).1 Recommendations for the optimum scoring system have been released by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). This study reviewed clinical practice in London and Scotland against national guidelines. All hospitals responsible for acute medical admissions completed a telephone survey (n=25 London; n=23 Scotland). All used an early warning system at point of entry to care. Eleven different systems were used in London and five in Scotland. Forty per cent of London hospitals and 70% of Scottish hospitals incorporated the minimum data set recommended by NICE. Overall, Scotland was closer to achieving standardisation. If NEWS is implemented, consideration of the NHS QIS approach may support a more consistent response.