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Patient in bed in ICU

Recognising and managing deteriorating patients

A deteriorating patient refers to an individual whose medical condition is worsening or declining.

This can occur in a variety of health care settings and manifests through worsening vital signs, increasing symptoms, or decline in overall health. Timely recognition and appropriate intervention are crucial to prevent further deterioration and ensure that the patient receives appropriate care.

This webpage aims to provide useful resources to recognise and manage deteriorating patients in a variety of settings, including:

  • adult
  • mental health
  • maternity
  • children and young people
  • learning disability.