Irish Maternal Early Warning Score

Early Warning Systems (EWS) track the physiological parameters of individual patients and trigger a response when the parameter threshold has been reached. The use of early warning scores in adult hospital medicine has been shown to be beneficial in facilitating the early recognition of the deteriorating patient, thereby enabling prompt treatment. In 2012, a standardised National Early Warning Score was introduced in Ireland for all non-pregnant patients. The 2007 Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health recommended that EWS be introduced into maternity practice. However, the unique physiological changes of pregnancy even in health means that any scoring system must be specially adapted. The Obstetric Early Warning Score (OEWS) aims to promote early recognition of the pregnant patient at risk of deterioration. In 2013, a standardised Irish Maternity Early Warning System (IMEWS) was introduced nationally. However, the scoring system is only part of the package, once triggered it needs to be effectively communicated and acted upon promptly by appropriately trained clinicians. Despite undoubted shortcomings, the international evidence to date is supportive of the beneficial role of the OEWS in preventing maternal morbidity. Further research is needed to improve the sensitivity and specificity of the OEWS and how to better integrate it into every-day clinical practice.