Responding to the rollout of the National Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) in A&Es in England, RCN Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Lynn Woolsey, said:

“Early escalation is critical for keeping patients safe, particularly children. Already saving lives in other parts of the NHS, this system is a vital tool for nursing staff to quickly identify when a child patient is deteriorating, and act.

"The emphasis on listening to children, young people, parents and carers is especially important and having a standardised approach across emergency departments and paediatric wards will help support consistent assessment, communication and decision-making. It will be crucial to ensure there are enough nursing staff, with enough capacity and the necessary training and support, to spot deterioration and use the system effectively.”

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