NEWS2 score calculator (National Early Warning Score 2)
Enter your values. The answer and the full worked solution update as you type.
Result
| Parameter | Value | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Respiration rate | 18/min | 0 |
| SpO₂ (scale 1) | 95% | 1 |
| Air or oxygen? | air | 0 |
| Systolic blood pressure | 125 mmHg | 0 |
| Pulse | 92/min | 1 |
| Consciousness (ACVPU) | A: alert | 0 |
| Temperature | 37.8 °C | 0 |
Temperature is rounded to 0.1 °C. For exam practice only. A score is a study aid, not a clinical decision: real assessments follow the local protocol and clinical judgement.
Calculate the National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) from seven measurements: respiration rate, oxygen saturation, air or oxygen, systolic blood pressure, pulse, consciousness (ACVPU) and temperature. Choose SpO₂ scale 1 for most patients or scale 2 for patients with a prescribed target of 88–92%. The calculator shows the points for each parameter, the total and the clinical risk band with the response the Royal College of Physicians chart links to it.
Step-by-step solution
Score each parameter
Add the points
Clinical risk (RCP thresholds)
Key formulas
- NEWS2 risk
- 0–4 low; single 3 low–medium; 5–6 medium; ≥ 7 high
How to calculate a NEWS2 score
- Respiration rate: 12–20 scores 0, 9–11 scores 1, 21–24 scores 2, and 8 or less or 25 or more score 3.
- SpO₂ scale 1: 96% or more 0, 94–95% 1, 92–93% 2, 91% or less 3. On scale 2, 88–92% (or 93% or more on air) scores 0, and higher saturations on oxygen score points. Supplemental oxygen adds 2.
- Systolic blood pressure: 111–219 scores 0, 101–110 1, 91–100 2, and 90 or less or 220 or more 3. Pulse: 51–90 scores 0, 41–50 and 91–110 1, 111–130 2, and 40 or less or 131 or more 3.
- Consciousness: alert scores 0; new confusion, a response only to voice or pain, or no response scores 3. Temperature: 36.1–38.0 °C 0, 35.1–36.0 and 38.1–39.0 1, 39.1 or more 2, 35.0 or less 3.
- Add the seven scores: 0–4 is low risk, a 3 in any single parameter low–medium, 5–6 medium and 7 or more high risk.
Questions and answers
What is the source of NEWS2?
The Royal College of Physicians, London: National Early Warning Score (NEWS) 2, “Standardising the assessment of acute-illness severity in the NHS”, updated report of a working party, December 2017. The bands in this calculator are taken from its chart.
When is SpO₂ scale 2 used?
Only for patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure who have a prescribed oxygen target of 88–92%, as decided by a clinician. For everyone else scale 1 is used.
Why does a single 3 matter?
An extreme value in one parameter can be dangerous even when the total is low, so the RCP chart treats a 3 in any single parameter as a trigger for an urgent ward-based review.
What does the C in ACVPU mean?
New confusion. NEWS2 added it to the older AVPU scale; new confusion, a response only to voice or pain, or no response each score 3.
Is NEWS2 used for children or in pregnancy?
No. NEWS2 is for adults aged 16 and over; it is not validated for children or during pregnancy, where other early warning scores are used.
Practise it yourself
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