ABSTRACT
Recognising, monitoring, interpreting and responding to changes in a patient’s health status are core nursing skills. In 1999, the Audit Commission highlighted that hospitals should review services for acutely ill patients, recommending the training of ward staff to deal with deterioration in patients’ conditions and the availability of outreach services. In 2000, the Department of Health (DH) advised that outreach teams should be an integral part of critical care services. Outreach teams that respond to deteriorating patients have been established, but the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA 2007) reported that the deterioration of some patients is still not recognised or acted upon. Patient Safety First (2008) made recommendations towards improving the identification and management of deteriorating patients, which included the introduction of a communication tool to convey information.
