NHS’s new paediatric health alert system

As reported by nhe, the NHS unveils a national early warning system to help medical professionals monitor children’s health and respond to deteriorating conditions swiftly

The system can measure a range of different things such as blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels and consciousness.

The innovation is a result of over three years’ worth of work and collaboration between NHS England, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, and the Royal College of Nursing.

While many similar tools already exist across the health service, this latest roll-out gives clinicians a national, standardised process for staff, patients and their families.

The system allows doctors and nurses to easily progress care and act on concerns from parents – for example, if a parent believes their child’s health is worse than their system score shows, care will be immediately escalated.

The national paediatric early warning system adds to the already existing tool for adults; the new innovation comprises four separate charts for age, including:

• 0-11 months
• 1-4 years
• 5-12 years
• 13 years and over

As the programme continues, the NHS will implement guidance from Martha’s Rule within the early warning system.

England’s chief nursing officer, Dame Ruth May, said: “This standardised method of tracking deterioration will improve working methods and safety, supporting doctors and nurses to do the very best for the children and young people in their care.”

She added: “With this initial roll-out taking place in hospitals, we are working towards extending this to other settings including accident and emergency departments, ambulances and the community in the future.”