Practice teams required to support care homes could help them learn to use early warning scores for patients developing acute illnesses, according to a new analysis.

The study, in the British Journal of General Practice yesterday, was based on research in care homes in the north of England. Its timing is relevant as practices and primary care networks face increasing pressure to provide systematic oversight of care homes, which have been badly hit by the pandemic.

The NEWS system has been tested as a way of helping staff decide when a resident needs further medical help. Researcher Dr Siân Russell found GPs and practice staff concerned about high turnover of care home staff and the difficulty in training carers to use the NEWS scores, which have been adopted in many clinical settings.

Dr Russell found that carers believed they could have been trained at a greater level – and that training programmes were not often delivered in the care setting, meaning only a few staff travelled to receive training. A GP interviewed for the project said: “Information is not consistent. Changes in staff does not help.”

There were also concerns that deficiencies in care, such as dehydration, could trigger a high score. The project in the north of England involved 47 care homes and was organised by a clinical commissioning group. Staff took monthly scores to develop baseline readings.

Dr Russell, from Newcastle University, writes: “In order for NEWS to be implemented effectively, health professionals such as GPs and community nurses need to work with care home staff and appreciate the knowledge, skills, and concerns of care home staff in regard to the health and care of residents.”