TY - JOUR T1 - Early warning systems in the UK: variation in content and implementation strategy has implications for a NHS early warning system JF - Clinical Medicine JO - Clin Med SP - 424 LP - 427 DO - 10.7861/clinmedicine.11-5-424 VL - 11 IS - 5 AU - Caroline Patterson AU - Fiona Maclean AU - Cameron Bell AU - Elora Mukherjee AU - Leoni Bryan AU - Thomas Woodcock AU - Derek Bell Y1 - 2011/10/01 UR - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/11/5/424.abstract N2 - 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. ER -