The National Paediatric Early Warning System (PEWS), which was led by NHS England in collaboration with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and the Royal College of Nursing, will be introduced in emergency departments from this winter.

Health and social care secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘I've been clear that children's health needs to be a much greater focus for the whole NHS. All of us want the reassurance of knowing that if a child is seriously ill, it will be spotted in time by the NHS and that's exactly what this new early warning system, developed by expert clinicians, is designed to do. So if a child is getting worse or when a parent says something isn't right, they will be listened to, their concerns will be acted on and lives will be saved.

‘This is just one measure we're taking to make children's health a priority. I have also asked the NHS to draw up new standards for how children are treated in A&E and draw up plans to urgently put an end to corridor care for children.'

More than 90 hospitals across England are already using the national PEWS system in paediatric inpatient wards. Data shows these trusts have consistently lower rates of cardiac arrests among their patients.

The roll out forms part of a range of measures outlined by the NHS to get winter ready, such as opening flu vaccination bookings earlier than ever.

All NHS trusts completed their plans for winter by the end of August, with plans stress tested by end of September.

It also comes just a month after the NHS announced it was expanding Martha's Rule to all hospital A&E departments and waiting rooms to further boost patient safety for some of the most vulnerable patients.