England rolls out paediatric early warning system in A&E
A national paediatric early warning system is being introduced in English emergency departments to flag rapidly deteriorating children.
The NHS is deploying a new National Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) across hospital emergency departments in England to help staff spot children whose condition is worsening quickly.
PEWS asks clinicians to check, log and grade vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels. A high overall score signals that a child needs more urgent attention, and any concerns raised by staff, parents, carers or the child will trigger an immediate escalation of care.
The move comes after Health Secretary Yvette Cooper promised to stop “corridor care” for sick children, citing long waits for hospital beds. Cooper referenced the 2024 death of two‑year‑old Finlay Roberts, who spent hours in a crowded corridor at Whittington Health NHS Trust before being discharged.
On BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Cooper apologised to Finlay’s parents, stating, “No child should be treated in a corridor. No patient should be treated in a corridor.” Whittington Health extended its condolences and noted that it continues to face periods of exceptional demand, sometimes requiring care in temporary clinical areas, including corridors.
The PEWS rollout is timed for the winter season, when NHS pressure peaks. It mirrors an existing early warning system used for acutely ill adults, including sepsis patients, in emergency and general wards.
More than 90 hospitals across England already use the alert system on children’s wards, with age‑appropriate assessments for babies through teenagers.
The NHS also plans to extend Martha’s Rule to all emergency departments. The rule gives patients, families and carers the right to request a rapid review if they believe a patient’s condition is deteriorating and their concerns are not being addressed. It is named after Martha Mills, who died aged 13 in 2021 after sepsis went unrecognised; a coroner ruled that earlier intensive‑care intervention could have saved her.
While the new system aims to reduce tragic outcomes like Finlay’s and Martha’s, its effectiveness will depend on consistent implementation amid ongoing demand pressures.
