National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) for Sepsis
NEWS2 is the UK standard early warning score endorsed by NICE for sepsis screening. Triggers escalation based on physiological parameters. Replaced NEWS1 in 2017.
Score interpretation
Low clinical risk. A score of 3 in any single parameter (low–medium risk) needs an urgent ward-based review within 30 minutes.
→ 4-hourly monitoring. Ward-based care. Review frequency based on clinical context.
Medium risk. Increased monitoring required.
→ 1-hourly monitoring. Senior nurse/doctor review within 30–60 minutes. Consider higher care environment.
High clinical risk. Possible sepsis or acute deterioration.
→ Continuous monitoring. Emergency assessment by outreach/critical care team (within 30 minutes). Sepsis Six bundle if sepsis suspected. HDU/ITU referral.
Interpretation bands for the NEWS2 Sepsis. Apply clinical judgement and local guidance.
References
- Royal College of Physicians. National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2: Standardising the assessment of acute-illness severity in the NHS. 2017.
- NICE NG51. Sepsis: recognition, diagnosis and early management. 2016.
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.
- Hydroxychloroquine (Ophthalmic Toxicity Monitoring) · Antimalarial — Ophthalmic Toxicity Monitoring Drug
- Ceftriaxone (Paediatric) · Third-Generation Cephalosporin — Meningitis / Sepsis / Community-Acquired Pneumonia
- Gentamicin (Paediatric) · Aminoglycoside — Neonatal Sepsis / Gram-Negative Infections in Children
- Piperacillin-Tazobactam (Burns — Sepsis) · Antibiotic — Extended-Spectrum Penicillin + Beta-Lactamase Inhibitor
- Meropenem (Burns — Severe Sepsis/MDR) · Antibiotic — Carbapenem
- Difficult Airway Algorithm (DAS) · DAS 2015; Royal College of Anaesthetists
- Major Haemorrhage Protocol · NICE NG24; UK MHP guidelines
- New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation · ESC 2020 AF Guidelines; NICE NG196
- Hypertensive Emergency · ESC/ESH 2018 Hypertension Guidelines; NICE NG136
- Bradycardia Management · Resuscitation Council UK ABCDE; ESC 2021 Pacing Guidelines
- Ventricular Tachycardia / Fibrillation · Resuscitation Council UK ACLS; ESC 2022 Ventricular Arrhythmia Guidelines
Decision support only — verify against a current formulary, NICE, or your local guideline before clinical use.