Recurring concern
Unreliable clinical Early Warning Score systems for deterioration
- Reports that mention this concern
- 67
- Times this concern has been raised
- 94
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 138
What this concern includes
Includes failures to obtain, record or repeat required EWS observations; calculate scores accurately; make charts and scores accessible; define monitoring intervals; and initiate review or escalation required by EWS or NEWS thresholds.
What is not included
- Excludes physiological monitoring that is not part of an Early Warning Score system.
- Excludes failures after a score has been correctly calculated, made available and escalated according to the applicable EWS protocol.
- Excludes fetal CTG, condition-specific monitoring and non-clinical scoring tools.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Reports and published responses 67 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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Concerns raised1
Delay in acting on abnormal NEWS observations
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure of Registered Nurses to calculate early warning scores accurately
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to follow NEWS/MEWS scoring processes for identifying acutely unwell patients
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- NHS England
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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NHS England
Continue supporting CQC inspection and regulation of mental health inpatient wards, including systems for identifying and responding to deteriorating patients.
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Concerns raised2
Failure to appropriately escalate care in response to deteriorating NEWS scores
Delays in clinical review of patients with deteriorating NEWS scores
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
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Concerns raised1
Deficiencies in operation of PAR scoring (now NEWS)
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised2
Failure to accurately calculate NEWS scores and trigger required medical review
Failure to continue NEWS observations
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Incorrect calculation of early warning scores
This report raised 14 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised2
Failure to understand the NEWS scoring system
Failure to apply the NEWS scoring system correctly
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure to act on elevated National Early Warning Scores
This report raised 9 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised3
Failure to use NEWS properly
Inaccurate NEWS scoring
Failure to report raised NEWS scores to doctors or critical care outreach
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
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University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Improve ward staff familiarity with National Early Warning observations, scoring and escalation through reflection and additional training.
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University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Disseminate National Early Warning System safety guidance to all staff through the weekly Spotlight on Safety message and Patient Observation Policy link.
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University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Develop the detailed business case for investment in an electronic National Early Warning System.
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University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Circulate a monthly patient-safety bulletin highlighting recognition and escalation of care for deteriorating patients.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026