Chart 4: Clinical response to the NEWS trigger thresholds
NEW score Frequency of monitoring Clinical response
0 Minimum 12 hourly • Continue routine NEWS monitoring
• Inform registered nurse, who must
assess the patient
Total
Minimum 4–6 hourly • Registered nurse decides whether increased
1–4
frequency of monitoring and/or escalation of
care is required
• Registered nurse to inform medical team
3 in single parameter Minimum 1 hourly caring for the patient, who will review and
decide whether escalation of care is necessary
• Registered nurse to immediately inform the
medical team caring for the patient
Total
• Registered nurse to request urgent assessment
5 or more
Minimum 1 hourly by a clinician or team with core competencies
Urgent response
in the care of acutely ill patients
threshold
• Provide clinical care in an environment with
monitoring facilities
• Registered nurse to immediately inform the
medical team caring for the patient – this
should be at least at specialist registrar level
Total • Emergency assessment by a team with critical
7 or more Continuous monitoring of care competencies, including practitioner(s)
Emergency response vital signs with advanced airway management skills
threshold • Consider transfer of care to a level 2 or 3
clinical care facility, ie higher-dependency unit
or ICU
• Clinical care in an environment with
monitoring facilities
National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2 © Royal College of Physicians 2017
