Bedside detection of clinical deterioration. Free to use.
NEWS2 (National Early Warning Score 2) is a validated clinical instrument used to assess bedside detection of clinical deterioration. The instrument contains 7 items.
Source / attribution: Royal College of Physicians, 2017
The instrument's primary construct — bedside detection of clinical deterioration — is operationalized through a fixed set of items, each with a defined response format. This standardisation is what allows NEWS2 scores to be compared meaningfully across clinicians, sites, and studies.
Like all screening or assessment instruments, NEWS2 is a structured aid — not a diagnostic test in isolation. Results should be interpreted alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Where a score crosses an actionable threshold, the next step is typically a more detailed clinical evaluation rather than a definitive diagnosis.
Answer all 7 items below to see your NEWS2 score and interpretation.
Each item is scored on a 5-point scale (3–3). Your score updates live as you answer.
All scoring runs in your browser. No data is sent anywhere — close the tab and the answers are gone.
NEWS2 uses simple summation: each item's selected response is converted to a numeric value, and the values are added to produce a total score. Reverse-scored items are inverted before summation.
Scoring notes: Single score of 3 in any one parameter triggers urgent review. Educational use only.
The cutoffs below are drawn from the published validation literature. Always interpret in clinical context.
| Score range | Band | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | Low | Low concern. |
| 5–6 | Medium | Concerning — review within 1 h. |
| 7–20 | High | Critical — emergency response. |
This is an illustrative walkthrough, not a real patient. Follow the same four steps with your own answers — or use the live calculator at the top of this page.
Read each question and choose the response that best fits. Each response has a number next to it — that number is the item's score. The example below uses illustrative answers.
| # | Item | Example response | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Respiratory rate (/min) | 9–11 | 1 |
| 2 | SpO2 (%) — scale 1 (no chronic hypercapnia) | 94–95 | 1 |
| 3 | On supplemental oxygen | No | 0 |
| 4 | Systolic BP (mmHg) | 101–110 | 1 |
| 5 | Heart rate (/min) | 41–50 | 1 |
| 6 | Consciousness | Alert | 0 |
| 7 | Temperature (°C) | ≥ 39.1 | 2 |
Add up all the item scores you noted in Step 1.
1 + 1 + 0 + 1 + 1 + 0 + 2 = 6
Find the row in the interpretation table whose range contains your total:
Total = 6 falls between 5 and 6 → Medium
Medium. Urgent review by clinician within 1 h.
A score is one input alongside history and examination. NEWS2 supports clinical judgment — it does not replace it.
If NEWS2 doesn't fit your context, related instruments in critical-care include:
| Scale | Measures | Items | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| qSOFA | Bedside identification of patients at higher risk of poor outcomes from suspected infection | 3 | — |
| APGAR Score | Rapid assessment of newborn at 1 and 5 min | 5 | — |
| ASA Physical Status | Pre-operative health status | 1 | — |
| CHA2DS2-VASc | Annual stroke risk in non-valvular atrial fibrillation | 8 | — |
| CURB-65 | 30-day mortality in community-acquired pneumonia | 5 | — |
| Glasgow Coma Scale | Level of consciousness after head injury | 3 | — |
| HAS-BLED | 1-year risk of major bleeding on oral anticoagulation | 9 | — |
| HEART Score | 6-week MACE risk in ED patients with chest pain | 5 | — |
NEWS2 (National Early Warning Score 2) is a validated instrument that assesses bedside detection of clinical deterioration.
NEWS2 contains 7 items. Items are summed to produce a total score.
Scores of 7–20 fall in the "High" band. Critical — emergency response.
Scores of 0–4 fall in the "Low" band. Low concern.
Yes — NEWS2 is in the public domain and free for clinical, educational, and research use without permission.
Royal College of Physicians. NEWS2 Standardising the assessment of acute illness severity in the NHS. London: RCP; 2017.
No. NEWS2 is a structured assessment aid. A score is one input alongside history, examination, and clinical context. Treatment decisions should never rest on a screening score alone.
NEWS2 is supported by the following peer-reviewed sources: