This letter comments on the publication by Goldhill et al. describing experience with a “patient-at-risk team” (PART) (Anaesthesia 1999;54:853-860).  The authors suggest that their own Early Warning Scoring System (EWSS) might be a useful tool for the detection of patients with impending critical illness who might benefit from evaluation by a PART.  The EWSS is based on five parameters: pulse, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, temperature, and response to stimulus.