Validation of the National Early Warning Score in the prehospital setting.

Background: Early intervention and response to deranged physiological parameters in the critically ill patient improves outcomes. A National Early Warning Score (NEWS) based on physiological observations has been developed for use throughout the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. Although a good predictor of mortality and deterioration in inpatients, its performance in the prehospital setting is largely untested.

Capability of Scottish emergency departments to provide physician-based prehospital critical care teams: a national survey.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish the current capabilities of emergency departments in Scotland to provide a prehospital medical team at the request of the ambulance service.

Methods: A prospective telephone survey of all major emergency departments in Scotland was conducted, requesting information on their ability to provide a prehospital team, the configuration of the team and the equipment, transport, training and governance arrangements for this service.

Results: All 25 major emergency departments in Scotland responded to the survey (100% response).