The Early Warning Score (EWS) is a tool developed to predict the deterioration of hospital
in-patients calculated from routinely obtained bedside vital signs (blood pressure, heart
rate etc). It is part of a package of interventions including Medical Emergency & Critical
Care Outreach teams that have developed over 15 years to prevent patient deterioration
progressing to cardiac arrest and likely death. It educates and empowers ward staff to
recognise and respond quickly and mandates institutional escalation so that staff with
critical care skills are brought promptly to the bedside of the sickest patients.