UKMedCalc

For healthcare professionals. Educational tool only — not a medical device. Verify all results against the current BNF, NICE guidance and local policy, and apply clinical judgement.

Risk scoresAcute medicine

NEWS2 (National Early Warning Score 2)

The Royal College of Physicians' aggregate score for detecting deterioration in acutely ill adults — the NHS standard.

Use Scale 2 only for patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure and a prescribed target saturation of 88–92%

NEWS2 total

0

Low — continue routine monitoring

Single-parameter extreme
No

Caveats & limitations

  • A screening tool for deterioration, not a diagnosis — clinical concern overrides a low score.
  • Score every parameter at the same point in time, and interpret trend, not just a single total.
  • Chronic hypoxaemia outside hypercapnic respiratory failure still scores on Scale 1 — individualise escalation plans.
  • Does not apply to pregnancy, under-16s, or spinal cord injury (autonomic dysfunction blunts responses).

Evidence & UK guidance

Primary evidence

  • Royal College of Physicians. National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2: standardising the assessment of acute-illness severity in the NHS. London: RCP; 2017.

    Source

UK practice

NEWS2 is the mandated deterioration score across the NHS in England for adults in acute and ambulance settings. It is not validated for pregnancy (use MEOWS), children under 16 (use PEWS), or spinal cord injury. SpO₂ Scale 2 applies only to patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure (typically COPD) whose target saturation is 88–92%.

Official resources

Formula and citations last verified: 2026-08-03

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