The National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) is a standardised clinical tool used across the NHS to identify acutely ill and deteriorating patients early. Introduced by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), NEWS2 helps healthcare professionals recognise deterioration, escalate care appropriately, and improve patient outcomes. This blog explains what NEWS2 is, how it works, how…
Category: Immediate Life Support (ILS)
Recognising the Deteriorating Patient
Early recognition of a deteriorating patient is one of the most important skills in healthcare. Failure to identify deterioration in time can lead to cardiac arrest, unplanned ICU admission, or death. Conversely, early recognition and prompt escalation save lives. This blog explains how to recognise the deteriorating patient, key warning signs, assessment tools, and what…
What Is the Chain of Survival in Immediate Life Support (ILS)?
The Chain of Survival is a fundamental concept in Immediate Life Support (ILS) that describes a sequence of critical actions which, when performed rapidly and effectively, significantly improve survival from cardiac arrest. In ILS training, the Chain of Survival guides healthcare professionals to recognise emergencies early, act decisively, and work as a team to save…
Immediate Life Support (ILS)
Immediate Life Support (ILS) is a core clinical skill set designed to help healthcare professionals recognise and manage cardiac arrest and peri-arrest situations until advanced help arrives. It bridges the gap between Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS), focusing on early recognition, effective teamwork, and timely interventions that save lives. This blog…