FOI 26-351 Maternal Early Warning Score (MEWS)
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 26-351 Maternal Early Warning Score (MEWS)
- Request Date
- 10 Aug 2026
- Response Date
- 25 Aug 2026
- Information Requested
I am writing to request information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regarding the assessment of pregnant and recently pregnant patients by ambulance clinicians. I am particularly interested in the implementation of the national pre-hospital maternity decision tool and the use of Maternal Early Warning Score (MEWS) physiological parameters within the ambulance service. Please provide the following information based on your current practice as at the date of this request:
Does the Trust currently use the national pre-hospital maternity decision tool for ambulance clinicians assessing pregnant or recently pregnant patients?
If yes, please state the date it was introduced.
If no, please state whether another maternity assessment or escalation tool is currently used.
Does the Trust currently use the national Maternal Early Warning Score (MEWS) physiological parameters when assessing pregnant or recently pregnant patients in the pre-hospital environment?
If yes, please state whether this is incorporated into the national pre-hospital maternity decision tool or used separately. Is the national pre-hospital maternity decision tool / MEWS incorporated into the Trust’s electronic patient clinical record (ePCR) system?
If yes, please state whether the MEWS is automatically calculated by the system or manually calculated/recorded by clinicians.
Is use of the maternity decision tool and/or MEWS:
- a) mandatory for relevant patients;
- b) recommended but not mandatory; or
- c) neither?
Please provide the title, version number and date of the current Trust policy, clinical guideline or clinical practice document governing the pre-hospital assessment of pregnant/recently pregnant patients, if such a document exists.
If this document is publicly available, a link to the document would be sufficient.
If the Trust has undertaken any formal audit or review of implementation of the national pre-hospital maternity decision tool or MEWS, please provide: the date/year of the most recent audit or review; and the headline finding or reported compliance figure, if this is readily available
- Response
Does the Trust currently use the national pre-hospital maternity decision tool for ambulance clinicians assessing pregnant or recently pregnant patients?
Yes. The National Pre-Hospital Maternity Decision Tool is embedded within current JRCALC maternity guidance.
If yes, please state the date it was introduced.
October 2024
If no, please state whether another maternity assessment or escalation tool is currently used.
Not applicable.
Does the Trust currently use the national Maternal Early Warning Score (MEWS) physiological parameters when assessing pregnant or recently pregnant patients in the pre-hospital environment?
Yes. The National Pre-Hospital Maternity Decision Tool used by Scottish Ambulance Service clinicians is based on Maternal Early Warning Score (MEWS) physiological parameters.
If yes, please state whether this is incorporated into the national pre-hospital maternity decision tool or used separately.
The MEWS physiological parameters are incorporated within the National Pre-Hospital Maternity Decision Tool and are not used as a separate assessment tool.
Is the national pre-hospital maternity decision tool / MEWS incorporated into the Trust’s electronic patient clinical record (ePCR) system?
No. The National Pre-Hospital Maternity Decision Tool currently used within Scottish Ambulance Service is based on Maternal Early Warning Score (MEWS) physiological parameters. Whilst the physiological parameters have evolved through national clinical review, the tool is not currently incorporated into the electronic patient clinical record system and is not automatically calculated.
If yes, please state whether the MEWS is automatically calculated by the system or manually calculated/recorded by clinicians.
Not Applicable
Is use of the maternity decision tool and/or MEWS:
- a) mandatory for relevant patients;
- b) recommended but not mandatory;
- c) neither?
B - The use of the tool is recommended.
The Scottish Ambulance Service uses the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC) Maternity Guidance, which incorporates the National Pre-Hospital Maternity Decision Tool. The current version in use is [insert title, version number and publication date supplied by Clinical Governance].
This guidance is publicly available at: JRCALC – Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee
The Scottish Ambulance Service does not hold any recorded information relating to a formal audit or review of implementation of the National Pre-Hospital Maternity Decision Tool or Maternal Early Warning Score (MEWS).
