Isn't This Part Of Their Job Anyway?

A new early warning system is being introduced in hospital emergency departments in England to help busy NHS staff identify sick children who are dangerously deteriorating.

A high overall score means a child needs more urgent attention. Concerns from staff, parents, carers or the child themselves will trigger an immediate escalation of care.

So they weren’t already doing this? Every day there’s some new story about the NHS that makes you throw up your hands in despair…

The new National Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS) asks staff to check, log and grade vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels.

All things they should have been doing already as a basic minimum!  

On the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Cooper recently talked about the case of two-year-old Finlay Roberts, who died in 2024 after spending hours in a hospital corridor before being discharged. Cooper apologised to Finlay's parents on behalf of the NHS, saying: "No child should be treated in a corridor. No patient should be treated in a corridor."

 That’s Yvette Cooper, who has the NHS as her remit, in other words the boss of the NHS. And when the boss says ‘Jump!’ The NHS staff say ‘shan’t!’:

Whittington Health NHS Trust, where Finlay waited for treatment, extended its condolences to the family and said it continued to experience periods of exceptional demand across emergency care and, at times, some patients may receive care in temporary clinical areas, including corridors. 

So there, Yvette! What are you going to do about such outright defiance? 

A coroner raised concerns about a lack of basic observations done by busy staff.

Too busy to do the basics? Then why even have hospitals at all! 

Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, said the new early warning system for children in emergency departments was an "important next step in improving care for children and young people across England for this winter - and beyond". He added: "In fast-paced emergency departments, staff need to spot quickly when a child's condition is deteriorating. "This standardised approach will help them recognise the warning signs, communicate concerns, and make timely decisions when every moment matters."

Another NHS worker oblivious to the fact he’s admitting that staff are currently unable (or unwilling) to do the basics of their job.