National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2)

Why it matters

NEWS2 gives a hospital one common language for acute illness. Each total is linked to a response: 0 to 4 is low risk with a ward based response; 5 or 6 is medium risk and the key threshold for urgent response; 7 or more is high risk, calling for an urgent or emergency response that includes staff with critical care skills [2]. A score of 3 in any single parameter also prompts urgent ward based review [2].

Key points

• The parameters are respiration rate, oxygen saturation, systolic blood pressure, pulse rate, level of consciousness or new confusion, and temperature, with 2 points added for supplemental oxygen [1].
• A second oxygen saturation scale is used for patients with confirmed hypercapnic respiratory failure [1].
• NHS implementation guidance requires NEWS2 to be recorded at least every 12 hours, more often as the score rises [3].
• NEWS2 was developed for adults and is not intended for children.

In Moana

Hospitals configure clinical rules in MOANA Desktop to the score and escalation policy they have adopted, such as NEWS2, so that patients are flagged by severity for the clinician to review.

Sources

1. National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2, Royal College of Physicians, 2017
2. NEWS2 chart 2: NEWS thresholds and triggers, Royal College of Physicians, 2017
3. National Early Warning Score 2 guideline, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, accessed 2026