NEWS2 Score Calculator
Calculate the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) from routine vital signs to grade clinical deterioration risk. Widely used across UK hospitals as a standardized escalation trigger.
Formula & Reference
| Variable | Symbol | Formula | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEWS2 Score Calculator | — | NEWS2 = sum of 7 weighted vital-sign parameters | points |
Step-by-Step Examples
RR 16, SpO2 97% on room air, SBP 128, pulse 74, alert, temp 36.8°C.
- Every parameter falls in the normal band
- All seven parameters score 0
- Total = 0
RR 22, SpO2 94% on room air, SBP 105, pulse 105, alert, temp 38.4°C.
- RR 22 → 2 points
- SpO2 94% → 1 point
- SBP 105 → 1 point
- Pulse 105 → 1 point
- Temp 38.4 → 1 point
- Total = 6
RR 28 on oxygen, SpO2 90%, SBP 88, pulse 128, responds to voice, temp 39.2°C.
- RR 28 → 3, SpO2 90% → 3, on oxygen → 2
- SBP 88 → 3, pulse 128 → 2
- Voice (not alert) → 3, temp 39.2 → 1
- Total = 17
Real-World Applications
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Scale 2 applies only to patients with a documented, clinician-assigned target saturation range for hypercapnic respiratory failure risk — not to anyone who happens to have COPD.
A single parameter scoring 3 triggers escalation on its own, even when the total is low. Aggregate and single-parameter triggers work together.
It measures physiological disturbance, not cause. A normal NEWS2 does not exclude serious illness, and clinical concern always overrides the number.