The National Patient Safety Agency’s (NPSA) National Reporting and Learning System (2007) identified that 11% of deaths in 2005 were the result of deterioration that was not recognised or acted on. In response to this, the Royal College of Physicians (2012) and NPSA (2007) recommended the use in clinical areas of an early warning score (EWS) to identify early signs of deterioration in patients. Traditionally, the EWS has been used in hospitals, but the national early warning score (NEWS) has recently been recommended for use before admission to hospital.

Two community health providers undertook a collaborative project in association with the West of England Academic Health Science Network to promote the use of NEWS in community health services across west England. This resulted in suitable community tools and stronger links across the region that help to recognise deteriorating patients sooner.