Research and commentary. Internal emergency admissions shown to have better outcomes.

Despite paediatric early warning systems (PEWS) being relatively commonplace in children’s wards and departments, few studies have demonstrated improved clinical outcomes as a result of their implementation. Most studies have combined PEWS implementation with a specialist ‘rapid response’ team, however, a recent survey of UK hospitals identified that, while 85% had a PEWS, only 18% had a rapid response team (Roland et al 2014).