NEWS2 Escalation Audit

Audit whether abnormal NEWS2 scores are recognised, escalated, reviewed and documented in line with local deterioration pathways.

Audit Tool
Demo Data · Phase 1 preview
Trigger episodes reviewed
12
Demo sample
Overall compliance
72%
Mean across 21 criteria
NEWS2 correctly calculated
78%
Target 95%
Escalation completed
74%
Where required
Review within local target
58%
Target 90%
Repeat obs within local target
61%
Target 90%
CCOT escalation where indicated
70%
Target 90%
Criteria meeting / below target
0 · 21
Most common gap: Escalation not documented
Safety concerns
5
Deterioration-related

Compliance by audit criterion

Bars show local performance vs target

Full set of observations documented84% / 95%
NEWS2 score documented96% / 100%
NEWS2 calculated correctly78% / 95%
Oxygen scale documented/identifiable71% / 90%
New confusion / altered consciousness documented68% / 90%
NEWS2 trigger recognised82% / 95%
Escalation requirement identified80% / 95%
Escalation completed where required74% / 95%
Escalated to appropriate person/team79% / 90%
Time of escalation documented63% / 90%
Clinical review completed where required76% / 95%
Clinical review within local target time58% / 90%
Clinical response / plan documented72% / 90%
Repeat observations within local target61% / 90%
CCOT / MET escalation where indicated70% / 90%
Sepsis considered where relevant66% / 90%
Oxygen therapy reviewed where relevant69% / 85%
Ceiling of care reviewed where relevant55% / 80%
Reason for delay documented where relevant47% / 80%
Documentation clear for another clinician74% / 90%
Safety concerns escalated / actioned88% / 100%

Compliance by ward / unit

Overall compliance

Clinical review within local target — trend

Weekly compliance

Escalation route distribution

Where NEWS2 triggers were escalated to

Reasons for delayed / incomplete escalation

Pareto of documented delay reasons

Improvement opportunities

Suggested local actions from dashboard signals

  • Clinical review within target time is the largest gap — consider EPR-based escalation timers.
  • Documented reason for delay is under 50% — add a structured field to escalation notes.
  • NEWS2 calculation accuracy varies — targeted teaching and aide-mémoire at induction.
  • SDEC compliance is below other areas — review SDEC-specific escalation pathway.

Suggestions are local implementation ideas, not national guidance. Edit in the Improvement tab.