NHS Jargon buster
Come across an NHS word, phrase or acronym you don’t understand? Find it in our handy guide – just click on the first letter.
If you are looking for more Trafford specific acronyms, click here
A
AandE, A&E – Accident and Emergency
The hospital department dealing with people who need treatment resulting from sudden illness or injury.
ABV – Alcohol by Volume
The strength of pure alcohol in an alcoholic drink, e.g. 12% ABV
AC – Audit Commission
National organisation responsible for ensuring Public Services is provided in the most cost effective way.
Acute Care
Hospital-based health services
Activity
The level of work carried out in a given period – e.g. the number of patients seen
ADSS – Association of Directors of Social Services
National body and forum for those responsible for providing social (non clinical) care.
ADV – Advocate
An advocate is a person who supports or speaks in favour of another person.
AHP – Allied Health Professionals
Professional services which are allied to Medicine, Physiotherapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Podiatry, and Occupational Therapy.
ALD
Adults with Learning Disability
Ambulance Trust
A legal entity responsible for providing ambulance services within a defined geographic area
Any willing provider
Model for providing healthcare by selecting who provides care from a list of those willing to offer it and who meet certain standards.
APH – Association for Public Health
National organisation concerned with the Health of the population.
AQH – Association for Quality in Healthcare
National organisation ensuring our healthcare is of the highest standard.
ASW – Approved Social Worker
Social worker recognised through qualification and experience.
AT – Acute Trust
An NHS body that provides medical and surgical services from one or more hospitals
AfC – Agenda for Change
Government proposal for reforming NHS staff pay systems.
Attn – Attention (For the attention of)
Directed to a particular person or department of an organisation.
Acute
A disease or conditionwith severe symptoms that only lasts for a short time.
Acute Trust
An NHS body that provides medical and surgical services from one or more hospitals
B
Bill
A draft of intended legislation that becomes an Act once both Houses of Parliament approve it.
Booked Admission Scheme
Electronic booking system for admission into hospital.
BACCH – British Association for Community Child Health
National organisation concerned with matters relating to the health of children.
BBV – Blood Borne Virus
Virus carried in the blood stream.
BDA – British Dental Association
National association responsible for Dentists.
Best Value
Sets a duty to deliver services of a clear standard, covering cost and quality, by the most effective, economic and efficient means available. Newly introduced for the health service under the NHS Plan
Better Care Better Value indicators
National benchmarks of good practice
BHF – British Heart Foundation
A national voluntary organisation concerned with Heart Disease.
BIR – British Institute of Radiology
National body for the science of x-rays and radioactive substances used in diagnoses and treatment.
BMA – British Medical Association
Professional association of doctors, which acts as a trade union, a scientific and an educational body.
BMJ – British Medical Journal
Journal for use by medical professionals.
BMS Booking Management System
The systems to manage the way appointments are made.
BPAS – British Pregnancy Advisory Service
National organisation providing advice for pregnant women.
BS – Beacon Services
A service, which has been, identified as providing outstanding quality.
BTS – Blood Transfusion Service
National service for the collection and distribution of blood supplies.
BUPA – British United Provident Association
Private healthcare company.
C
Caldicott Guardian
A person with responsibility for policies that safeguard the confidentiality of patient information.
Care Home
A residential home providing nursing and personal care, in addition to living accommodation.
Carer
A friend or relative who looks after an ill, disabled or older person on an informal, voluntary and long term basis.
Choice
Patients acting as consumers in exercising a “choice” of treatment provided.
Commissioning
The process of identifying, quantifying, monitoring and evaluating, a service within the NHS
Compact
An agreement between the Government and the voluntary and community sector, designed to improve relationships with commitments on both sides
CA – Clinical Audit
An evaluation by health professionals of the clinical standards they are achieving.
CAB – Citizens Advice Bureau
‘National organisation with local branches to provide advice and help
Care pathway
The process of diagnosis, treatment and care negotiated with the involvement of the patient and his/her carer or family
Care plans
Written agreements setting out how care will be provided to individuals
Carewell
Telephone healthcare service for people with long term conditions providing one-to-one nurse led coaching and support to patients to help manage their condition
CAMHS – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
A Service provided for children and young people with emotional, behavioural and mental health needs
Capital
Money spent on buying land, constructing, adapting or modernising buildings and buying major items of equipment
CC – Community Care
Provides social care and treatment outside of hospitals.
CCG – Clinical Commissioning Group
The group who commission services in the area.
CCF – Congestive Cardiac Failure
Disease of the Heart.
CCP – Community Care Plan
A document which lays out the care and treatment of patients outside of hospital.
CDC – Child Development Centre
A service devoted to the study and delivery of help related to child development.
C diff – Clostridium difficile (C. difficile)
Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) is a bacterium that can be present naturally in the gut. Does not cause any problems in healthy people however some antibiotics that are used to treat other health conditions can cause the bacteria to multiply and produce toxins (poisons) causing illness. As C. difficile infections are usually caused by antibiotics most cases happen in a healthcare environment, such as a hospital or care home
CDS – Community Dental Service
Dental services provided in the District by non-contracted staff.
CE – Chief Executive
The most senior manager within an organisation.
CFS – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A condition with a wide range of symptoms but particularly characterised by profound muscular fatigue after physical activity. Also sometimes known as M.E.
CG – Corporate Governance
A system that incorporates processes to minimise all risks in an organisation.
CG – Caldicott Guardian
A person with responsibility for policies that safeguard the confidentiality of patient information.
CG – Clinical Governance
A system of steps and procedures adopted by the NHS to ensure that patients receive the highest possible quality of care.
CGR – Clinical Governance Review
Assesses NHS trusts across seven components of performance
CGSU – Clinical Governance Support Unit
A group of staff that offer support to Health Services to measure the success/value of the services being offered.
CH – Care Home
A residential home providing nursing and personal care, in addition to living accommodation.
CHAI – Commission for Healthcare Audit and Inspection
National organisation involved with performance of the NHS.
Chair (person)
A chairman, also commonly chair is the highest officer of an organised group.
CHD – Coronary Heart Disease
Diseases affecting the heart or connecting arteries/veins.
CHI – Commission for Health Improvement
The process of providing information for better healthcare.
CAMHS – Child and adolescent mental health services
Services provided for children and young people with emotional, behavioural and mental health needs. They include services provided by PCTs, NHS trusts, social services and the voluntary sector
CHRC – Community Health and Resource Centres
Places where local people can get information on health and health care.
CHS – Community Health Services
NHS services provided outside a hospital.
Clinician
A health professional directly involved with the care and treatment of patients
CMHT – Community Mental Health Teams
Made up of health and social services staff.
CMO – Chief Medical Officer
The government’s principal advisor and the professional lead for all medical staff in England.
CN – Clinical Negligence
Is a breach of duty by a healthcare practitioner in the performance of their duties.
CNO – Chief Nursing Officer
The government’s principal advisor and the professional lead for all Nursing staff in England.
CNST – Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts
Standards based on legislative requirements/codes of practice.
CNT – Clinical Network
A network of health professionals from different NHS organisations working together across institutional and local boundaries, to provide care for a particular disease or patient group.
CO – Carbon Monoxide
A poisonous gas.
COMAH – Control of Major Accident Hazards
A system to help reduce accidents and the hazards that cause them.
Commissioning
Process of identifying, quantifying, procuring, monitoring and evaluating a service within the NHS
Community care
Locally-based health or social care services provided to patients in and around their home designed to keep people independent
Community services
Care provided outside hospital by nurses, midwives, therapists and other professionals
Comm. Paed – Community Paediatrician
A doctor specialising in conditions affecting children working in a community (not hospital).
Compact
An agreement to work in partnership on key priority areas, signed up to by all NHS Trusts and Local Authorities across Birmingham and Solihull.
Concordat
Agreement
Consortium
Two or more individuals, companies or organisations with the objective of participating in a common activity or pooling their resources to achieve a common goal. Here relates to groups of general practices.
Constitution
A set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which an organization is governed.
Contingency
Action to manage risk
Continuing care
Health care provided over an extended period of time for people with long-term needs or disability / people’s care needs after hospital treatment has finished
COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Another name for lung conditions including emphysema and bronchitis
Co-terminosity
Having the same geographic boundaries
CP – Care Pathway
The diagnosis, treatment and care of an individual.
CPA – Care Programme Approach
A system for assessing the health and social (non clinical) care needs of people living with a mental illness.
CPD – Continuing Professional Development
Part of a process of lifelong learning for all healthcare professionals helping them to care for patients.
CPK – Care Package
Following individual assessment, an appropriate package or programme of care is agreed.
CPL – Care Plan
A signed written agreement setting out how care will be provided for people with more complex needs.
CQC – Care Quality Commission
Regulates, inspects and reviews all adult social care services in the public, private and voluntary sectors in England
CQUINS
Commissioning for Quality and Innovation
CSR – Comprehensive Spending Review
A full inquiry into an area of spending by a public body.
CSU – Commissioning Support Unit
CT – Care Trust
NHS trusts that work in both health and social (non clinical) care.
CTs – Children’s Trusts
A future idea for bringing all local Health Services for children into one organisation.
CVD – Cardiovascular Disease
Heart disease.
D
Day Case
A patient who has an investigation, treatment or operation and is admitted and discharged on the same day.
Day Care
Social support that is provided in a non-residential centre.
Day Surgery
A surgical procedure/treatment completed in one day.
Delayed Discharge
Where a patient who is fit for discharge remains in an acute hospital bed.
Dentist
Independent contractor who may provide National Health Services or private dental treatment.
Dental UDAs
Unit of activity for dentists
Disinvestment
The process of reducing or removing funds
DAT – Drug Action Team
A group of staff/services involved with the treatment and prevention of drug use.
DDA – Disability Discrimination Act
Law to end discrimination faced by disabled people.
DEAS -Department of Education and Skills
Government Department
DEFRA – Department of Environmental, Food and Rural Affairs
Government Department
DES – Directly Enhanced Service
Extra services (usually of a specialist nature) specified by a Primary Care Trust.
DfES – Department for Education and Skills
Government Department.
DfT – Department for Transport
Government Department.
DGH – District General Hospital
A Hospital servicing one geographical area, e.g. Wythenshawe Hospital.
DLA – Disability Living Allowance
An allowance paid to disabled people.
DN -District Nurse
A registered nurse who has been trained to provide nursing care to people in their own homes.
DNA – Did not Attend
Failure to keep an appointment by a patient.
DOH – Department of Health
The department that supports the government in improving the health and well being of the population in England.
DOS – Directory of Services
A book containing lists of services available.
DRC – Disability Rights Commission
A body which promotes the rights of disabled people.
DRE – Disability Resource Exchange
A local service for all the aspects of disability, run by disabled people.
DTI – Department of Trade and Industry
Government Department.
DWP – Department for Work and Pensions
Government Department
E
Elective
Care that is planned in advance. It may be as a day case or inpatient
EandD, E&D – Equality and Diversity
A Code of Conduct that recognises areas where improvements are needed, takes action to make appropriate improvements, and has clearly defined performance management systems to measure those improvements.
EA – Earned Autonomy
NHS Organisations that are rated with three stars under the performance assessment framework and have earned some independence from Central NHS Management.
EAZ – Education Action Zone
National Government initiative aimed at building on the roles of schools by using partnerships and raising levels of educational attainment.
EBP – Electronic Booking Programme
A process to book hospital appointments at both a time and place that is convenient to the patient.
EBP – Evidence Based Practice
Planning and Managing services based on previously successful activities.
EC – Elective Care
Elective care is given at a planned/prearranged time rather than in response to an emergency.
EDBN – European Deaf Blind Network
Network of voluntary sector groups of deaf/blind people and their supporters.
EFL – External Financing Limit
Term used to describe financial limits.
EH – Electronic Health
Electronic health is more commonly called e-health and relates to the whole environment.
EHC – Emergency Hormonal Contraception
Contraceptive drug taken within 72 hours of sexual intercourse.
EMA – Emergency Medical Admission
An admission to hospital, which has not been planned.
EMAS – Employment Medical Advisory Service
Service which helps decide an individual’s ability/inability to work through illness/incapacity.
ENT – Ear, nose and throat
A specialist within medicine.
EoL – End of Life
EP – Emergency Plan
A plan outlining how to deal with a serious or major incident.
EPP – Expert Patient Programme
A programme aimed at increasing a patient’s skills in managing their medical conditions.
EPR – Electronic Patient Records
Medical records are held electronically for each individual registered with a GP.
ES – Essential Services
Services of a basic standard, which are indispensable.
EWTD – European Working Time Directive
Rules about the maximum hours which can be worked.
Exec – Executives
Are responsible for the day-to-day management of an NHS organisation.
F
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
A list of common questions that, when put together, is a good method to explain a complex plan.
FB – Future builders
Future builders will contribute to the development of four key government public service priorities including health and social care.
FFS – Five Facet Survey
Examination of aspects of a building such as space, condition, health and safety etc.
FIA – Freedom of Information Act 2000
A law giving people the general right to recorded information held by public authorities.
FOI – Freedom of Information
The general right to recorded information held by public authorities.
FPA – Family Planning Association
National body associated with sexual health and contraception.
FPC – Family Planning Clinic
A clinic that specifically deals with supplying advice on family planning and contraceptives.
FT – Foundation Trust
An Acute Trust which has earned the right to govern itself, through the provision of excellent service.
FTE – Full time equivalent
G
GDC – General Dental Committee
National body regulating Dentists.
GDP – General Dental Practitioner
Dentist
GMC – General Medical Council
National body regulating Doctors.
GMS – General Medical Services
Services provided by NHS general practitioners.
GNA – Generic Nursing Assistant
Assistant or a nurse who is not specialised.
GNP – Gross National Product
The total economic outputs of a country.
GOC – General Optical Council
National body regulating Opticians.
Governing Body
A body of persons or officers having ultimate control. They are mainly constituted for the purpose of administration.
GP – General Practitioner
A local Doctor within Primary Health Care Services.
GP consortia
Groups of GP practices who will be taking over the role and responsibilities from Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) for commissioning health services for the local population
GP consortia pathfinder
GP groups who are forming the first wave of emergent GP Consortia, helping to set out the new direction for the NHS
GPWSI – G P With Specialist Interest
A local Doctor within Primary Health Care who also has some interest in a particular area of medicine.
GUM – Genito-Urinary medicine
Specialist in Medicine concerned with diseases and conditions, which result from sexual activity.
H
Health inequality
Differences in health which can be seen observed between groups due to one group experiencing an advantage over another group
HOSC – Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Overview and Scrutiny Committees are structured to cover every aspect of Local Authority work ensuring that Cabinet Members are accountable for the decisions they make and for the services being delivered across the city. Health and Adults OandS Committee oversee health issues looking at the work of the NHS across the local area
HAD – Health Development Agency
A special health authority that aims to improve the health of people in England.
HAS – Health Advisory Service
A service to give advice on all health matters.
HC – Health Community
This includes all health organisations and staff within an identified area.
HCA – Health Care Assistant
Assistant employed to support other health care professions.
HE – Health Economy
All organisations within a local area who are engaged in providing services.
HEA – Health Equity Audit
Supports the narrowing of the health inequalities gap by informing the planning process to reduce inequalities in a local area.
Healthwatch
Learn more about who we are and what we do.
HER – Electronic Health Record
Patient’s records kept electronically (on computer).
HES – Hospital Episode Statistics
Record of activity in hospitals.
HFEA – Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
National body to oversee scientific assisted conception.
HI – Health Improvement
Increasing the well-being of individuals or communities.
HIMP – Health Improvement and Modernisation Programme
A programme set up to modernise health improvement.
HIMP – Health Improvement Programme
A programme set up to improve health.
HIQ – Health Inequalities
Differences in the health of people across communities or geographical areas.
HLC – Healthy Living Centre
A project aimed at improving people’s health through community action.
HMR – Hospital Medical Record
Patient records held at a hospital.
HP – Health Promotion
Promotion of healthier living.
HPC – Health Professions Council
Government regulating body set up to protect the health and wellbeing of people who use the services of the Allied Health Professionals registered with them. At the moment, they register members of13 professions.
HPE – Health Promotion England
It develops and delivers public education campaigns and promotes healthy living.
HR – Human Resources
The management of people as employees.
HSE – Health and Safety Executive
Health and safety inspectors who are the enforcers for all risks associated with working activity.
HSG – Health Service Guidelines
Guidelines to which the Health Service should follow.
HSJ – Health Service Journal
Health Service’s weekly magazine.
HV – Health Visitor
A trained nurse who has done further training to specialise in the prevention of ill health.
HWBB
Health and Wellbeing Board
I
Inpatient
An inpatient is a patient who has been admitted to a hospital and is occupying a bed
Integrated services
Services that are provided across professions and organisations according to people’s needs
I/C – Intermediate Care
Treatment and care given after an acute hospital stay or to prevent a person needing one.
ICAS – Independent Complaints Advisory Service
A national system to assist people to make a complaint about treatment and care.
ICATS – Integrated Clinical Assessment Service
This type of service aims to provide the most appropriate care for a patient at the most appropriate time by the most appropriate person.
ICU – Intensive Care Unit
Units within Hospitals devoted to the care of seriously ill people.
IMandT, IM&T – Information Management and Technology
The computer department.
Involvement, Engagement and Partnership Committee
A group established to help steer and co-ordinate engagement and involvement.
IPPC – Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control
Controlling or preventing the emission of pollution.
IRP – Independent Reconfiguration Panel
An independent panel established to provide the Secretary of State with advice when issues of substantial variation or development have been referred to him for a decision.
IS – Income Support
Benefits paid for people to reach a minimum income.
IT – Information Technology
The use of computer equipment.
IV – Intravenous
Into a vein in the body.
IWL – Improving Working Lives
A blueprint by which NHS employers and staff can measure the management of human resources.
J
JAQ – Job Analysis Questionnaire
A technique for comparing different types of jobs through the Agenda for Change Process to enable the correct pay to be set.
JC – Joint Commissioning
Where two or more Trusts join together to plan services.
JCB – Joint Commissioning Board
Group of people set up to commission a service for more than one area.
JCCG – Joint Clinical Contracting Groups
JCVI – Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation
National Committee set up to consider vaccination and immunisation.
JMMC – Joint Medicines Management Committee
Local committee which considers medicines.
JSNA – Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
Combined process between local authorities and Primary Care Trusts to identify the current and future health and wellbeing needs of a local population and inform the collective priorities, investment and targets to lead to improved outcomes and reduce health inequalities
K
KSF – Knowledge Skills Framework
A system implemented within a Trust to measure an individual’s performance.
KPI – Key Perfomance Indicators
Indicators which show how well organisations or individuals are performing against their remit
L
Long Term Sustainability Model
The financial model which is linked to planning of health care expenditure
LA – Learning Accounts
A way of paying for learning for employees who work within the NHS.
LA – Local Authority
The local council.
LATs – Local Area Teams
(working with the National Commissioning Board)
LC – Local Compacts
Agreements with councils and other public bodies, including the NHS.
LCN – Local Commissioning Network
Local leadership groups of the CCG, forming the link between member practices. They support the Governing Body in developing the key priority areas and determine what actions need to be taken at local level to enable collective delivery of the CCG’s objectives.
LD – Learning Difficulties
People with development impairment.
LDC – Local Dental Committee
Committee which considers Dentists and local services.
LDP – Local Delivery Plan
Shows how the NHS, working with Social Services and other partners, plans to make improvements in health and health care.
LES – Local Enhanced Service
Extra services provided by a local GP Practice.
LGA – Local Government Association
National body of all local councils.
LINkS – Local Involvement Networks
LINks (Such as Trafford LINk, the forerunner of Healthwatch Trafford) became defunct in April 2013, when their role was taken over by the new Healthwatch network. LINks aimed to give citizens a stronger voice in how their health and social care services were delivered. Run by local individuals and groups and independently supported, the role of LINks was to find out what people wanted and monitored local services. Each local authority (that provides social services) was given funding and were under a legal duty to make contractual arrangements that enable LINks activities to take place.
LIT – Local Implementation Team
A team set up to implement local changes to practice.
LMC – Local Medical Committee
Committee which considers Doctors and local services.
LNP – Local Network Provider
Support organisation for Patient and Public Involvement Forums.
LOC – Local Optical Committee
Committee which considers Opticians and local services.
LOS – Length of Stay
Varying length of a hospital stay.
LPC – Local Pharmaceutical Committee
Committee, which considers Pharmacists and local services.
LSCB – Local Safeguarding Children Board
Board with bringing together key people in the area with responsibility for safeguarding
LSCG – Local Specialised Commissioning Group
This is a group of several Primary care Trusts (PCTs) which together commission specialised services.
LSOA – Lower Super Output Area
Super Output Area is a unit of geography used in the UK for statistical analysis. They are developed and released by Neighbourhood Statistics. Lower Super Output Area – consists of a population of around 1500.
LSP – Local Strategic Partnership
A local grouping of all public service providers (including voluntary sector) to plan joint actions.
LTC – Long Term Condition
A condition that the patient has lived with for many years.
LVF – Left Ventricular Failure
Particular type of Heart failure.
M
Morbidity
A disease or the incidence of disease within a population.
Mortality
The number of deaths in a given time or a community.
Multi-disciplinary
Involving representatives from a number of different services and organisations, with different skills
MAS – Minor Ailments Scheme
Local schemes to allow people to access medicines for minor conditions without visiting the Doctor’s surgery.
MCA – Mental Capacity Act
Act of Paliament
MDT – Multi Disciplinary Team
A Team made up of both Health and Social Care workers.
MH – Manual Handling
Moving objects and people without the help of a machine.
MH – Mental Health
Disorder of the Mind.
MHT – Mental Health Trust
Provides treatment and care for patients who are mentally ill either provided from a hospital or in the community.
MM – Modern Matrons
Provide strong leadership on wards and are highly visible and accessible to patients.
MMR – Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccination
Vaccines combined in one injection.
MoCAM – Models of Care for Alcohol Misusers
Provide practice guidance for local health organisations and their partners in delivering a planned and integrated local treatment system for adult alcohol misusers.
MPW – Making Partnerships Work
An agreement between the Department of Health, the NHS and the voluntary and community sector, which aims to promote the voluntary and community sector’s increasing role in contributing to the delivery of the NHS.
MRC – Medical Research Council
National body which regulates Medical Research.
MRSA – Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
A common skin bacterium that is resistant to some antibiotics
MSLC – Maternity Services Liaison Committee
Set up by hospitals to identify ways of achieving changes in maternity care and to make suggestions to the hospitals and PCTs.
N
NHS CB – NHS Commissioning Board
Proposed entity that will have the responsibility for holding GP Consortia to account and for allocating and accounting for NHS resources. NHS Commissioning Board will be established in shadow form as a Special Health Authority in 2011/12 and will become fully operational from 1 April 2012
NHS Confederation
An independent organisation that influences policy by bringing together the full range of NHS bodies to transform health services.
NHS Direct
A now defunct 24 hour, nurse-led telephone help line providing confidential health care advice and information. Replaced by the NHS 111 service.
NHS Direct Online
What was the NHS Health advice and information website. Now replaced by NHS Choice website
NHS Operating Framework
Each year details the national expectations for progress on reform and improving services to patients. The framework includes a description of key national priorities.
NHS Trust
A generic term for a legal entity/organisation providing health and social care services within the NHS.
Non-elective
Unplanned, emergency procedure
NAO – National Audit Office
National system of financial control of Public services.
NAPP – National Association of Patient Participation
Nat Pact – National Primary and Care Trust Development Programme
A Programme that provides organisational development support for PCTs and care Trusts.
NCAA – National Clinical Assessment Authority
A national body that provides a support service to the NHS. It gives advice to PCTs, NHS trusts and Strategic Health Authorities when they are faced with concerns over the performance of a certain doctor.
NCSC – National Care Standards Commission
A body that oversees standards in care homes.
NELH – National Electronic Library for Health
A website for health professionals providing up-to-date best practice information on diagnosis and treatment.
NES – National Enhanced Service
National service for very specialised services.
NEW – Nights, Evenings and Weekends Service
Primary Care provided out of normal daytime hours.
NICE – National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence
Statutory body responsible for deciding what treatment should be made available on the NHS / rovide patients, health professionals and the public with authoritative, robust and reliable guidance on current best practice.
NMAC – National Medical Advisory Committee
National Committee set up to advise the government on medical matters.
Non-exec – Non-executive Director
A member of the public appointed to the Board of NHS Trusts.
NPFIT – National Programme for IT
National plan for development of computerised systems in the NHS.
NPSA – National Patient Safety Agency
A body whose one core purpose is to improve patient safety by reducing the risk of harm through error.
NRT – Nicotine Replacement Therapy
The use of patches and gum to help smokers quit.
NSF – National Service Framework
A series of standards for a variety of conditions/groups within the community, which lay down minimum standards for service.
NSPCC – National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
National charity for children.
NVQ – National Vocational Qualification
A nationally recognised qualification, which recognises a person’s ability to do a particular job well.
O
OA – Open Appointment
No appointment necessary.
OATs – Out of Area Treatments
Out of Area Treatments.
OD – Organisational Development
Modernisation and change within an organisation.
OP – Out Patient
Treatment and care provided at a Hospital whilst the patient stays at home.
OPT – Optician
Specialist health professionals who test eyes and prescribe lenses to correct sight problems.
OSC – Overview and Scrutiny Committee
Committee of local councillors and others who oversee and scrutinise the work of the NHS.
OT – Occupational Therapy
To support and advise people who have been injured/ill, enabling them to get back to normal/return to work.
P
Paediatric care
The clinical specialty dealing with children’s illnesses
Palliative Care
Care which gives relief from symptoms but does not cure diseases. It is often given to people who are terminally ill
Performance Indicators
Measures of achievement in particular clinical and managerial areas used to assess the performance of a Trust.
Performance Management
A process for monitoring the commissioning and provision of services.
Pharmacists
Specialist health professionals who make, dispense and sell medicines.
Provider
The name used to describe any organisation that provides a service to the NHS.
PAF – Performance Assessment Framework
The framework against which all NHS organisations are assessed, leading to the star ratings.
PALS – Patient Advice and Liaison Service
A service to support patients or their relatives with concerns about their NHS care/treatment and to provide information about local health services
PAS – Patient Administration System
A computer system to manage patient records.
PBC – Practice Based Commissioning
PBC engages GPs and other primary health care professionals in the commissioning of health services.
PbR – Payment by Results
Financial system to provide a transparent, rules based system for paying Trusts. The money hospitals receive is linked to the amount of work they do, is fixed by a national tariff and aims to reward efficiency, support patient choice and encourage activity for sustainable waiting time reductions
PC – Patient Choice
A scheme that offers choice to patients in England who have been waiting for more than six months for heart surgery.
PC – Primary Care
Health services, which are first point of contact for patients, e.g. GP’s Surgeries, Pharmacists, Local Dentists and Opticians.
PCA – Patient Choice Advisor
Advisors who can help patients make a choice about their treatment.
PCT – Primary Care Trust
Local NHS organisations responsible for the planning and securing of health services and improving the health of the local population.
PEAT – Patient Environment Action Team
PEAT teams include people from outside the Trust, such as infection control, personnel and patient representatives
and provide a local ‘snapshot’ of environmental cleanliness
and food standards in a hospital on the day.
PEC – Professional Executive Committee
A committee made up of local GP’s, nurses, Allied Health Professionals, a Social Service Representative as well as the Trust’s Executive Directors who are responsible for making decisions affecting clinical practice.
PF – Patients Forum
An officially constituted forum of local people.
PFI – Private Finance Initiative
An initiative to attract private money into the NHS.
PH – Public Health
Improving, promoting and protecting our quality of life and reducing health inequalities, working in partnership with others.
PHSO – Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Independent organisation to help you make a complaint.
PHC – Primary Health Care
Health services which are provided as a first response to illness – for example, General Practice.
PHEL – Public Health Electronic Library
On-line information service for Public Health.
PI Performance Indicator
A system to measure how a system is working.
PIL – Patient Information Leaflet
Written information for patients.
PIN – Personal Identification Number
A code number for a user of a system.
PLP – Personal Learning Plan
A record which shows the learning undertaken for an individual.
PLT – Protected Learning Time
GP practices within CCPCT close for half a day each month for training.
PMI – Private Medical Insurance
Insurance to pay for Private Medicine.
PMS – Personal Medical Services
Allows Primary care providers such as GPs to test different ways of delivering services.
PNA – Partial Nail Avulsion
Partial removal of a toenail.
PP – Patient Pathway
The route followed by a patient through and out of the NHS and Social Care Services.
PPA – Prescription Pricing Authority
Organisation that sets the prices of drugs.
PPG – Patient Participation Group
Groups run by local practices to hear the views of their patients on how services can be improved.
PPI – Patient and Public Involvement/ Influence
Increasing the involvement and influence of patients and the public (Local people) on the decisions made by NHS locally.
PR – Performance Ratings
The Government is responsible for setting priorities that in turn determine the indicators relating to key targets.
PRP – Performance Related Pay
System of bonuses for good work.
PS – Patient Surveys
A survey that enables local managers and health professionals to take account of patients’ views and provide data.
Public Health
The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts and informed choices of society, organisations, public and private, communities and individuals.
Q
QA – Quality Assurance
All actions taken to ensure that standards and procedures are adhered to and that delivered products or services meet performance requirements.
QARC – Quality Assurance Reference Centres
Regional centres that monitor and ensure that NHS screening services meet minimum standards.
QIPP – Quality Innovation Productivity and Prevention
QOF – Quality and Outcomes Framework
System of bonuses for good work in Primary care.
R
Recurring costs
All funding that is guaranteed to be received every year is recurrent
Resource Allocation System
A formula used to allocating funding dependant on need
Respite Care
Provides an opportunity for a carer to have a break.
Ringfenced
Usually referring to money or other resources where it can only be used for defined purpose
RandD, R&D – Research and Development
Research and Development.
RCGP – Royal College of General Practitioners
National body for GPs.
RCN – Royal College of Nursing
National body for Nurses.
RES – Race Equality Scheme
A statement of how a public body plans to meet both its general and specific duties to promote equality under the Race Relations Act.
RNCC – Registered Nursing Care Contribution
The assessed care provided by a registered general nurse to a patient in a nursing bed in a care home setting.
RNIB – Royal National Institute for the blind
National body concerned with blindness.
RNID – Royal National Institute for Deaf People
National body concerned with deafness.
RPST – Risk Pooling Scheme for Trusts
Standards against which all Trusts are measured to demonstrate they have efficient measures.
RRT – Rapid Response Team
Provide emergency care at home and prevent unnecessary hospital admission especially of older people.
S
Services
A term used to cover all patient treatments and consultations offered by the NHS
Specialised services
Services, which are unusual or complex and may have to be provided outside the area in larger centres of population.
SAP – Single Assessment Process
This ensures that older people receive appropriate, effective and timely responses to their health and social care needs.
SC – Secondary Care
Services provided by medical specialists who generally do not have first contact with patients (e.g. cardiologist, urologists, dermatologists; a hospital).
SC – Social Care
Non-medical care which is aimed at providing vulnerable people with care and support to enable them to live their lives as fully as possible.
SCBU – Special Care Baby Unit
Specialists who care for very ill babies.
SCG – Specialised Commissioning Group
A group of many PCTs who collaboratively commission very specialised services.
SCR – Serious Case Review
SE – Social Exclusion
This refers to people who are excluded from society. This is usually caused by lack of money, work, education, disability, ethnic grouping or gender.
SHA – Strategic Health Authority
A health authority who manages the performance of the NHS across a region.
SIRI – Serious Incidents Requiring Investigation
SLA – Service Level Agreement
A contract between a service provider and a customer. It should specify which services are to be provided, and how they are to be measured and delivered.
SLT – Speech and Language Therapy
Help for people with speech or language Problems.
SMR – Standardised Mortality Ratio
Statistical measure used to assess the health of a population.
SO – Standing Orders
Basic rules of an organisation.
SOA – Super Output Area
A unit of geography used in the UK for statistical analysis. They are developed and released by Neighbourhood Statistics.
SoS – Secretary of State
UK cabinet position responsible for the Department of Health
SPL – Service Plan
The written end product of a process to identify the aims and objectives and the resource requirement of an organisation over a three to five year period.
SPS – Specialised Services
Services, which are unusual or complex and may have to be provided outside the area in larger centres of population.
SSFH – Secretary of State for Health
Government Minister responsible for Health.
SSI – Social Services Inspectorate
Undertakes reviews of social service departments.
STD – Sexually Transmitted Disease
Disease transmitted from person to person during sexual activity.
STKH – Stakeholder
A person or organisation with an interest in a particular issue.
T
Topslice
Removal of part of a budget so that it can be used to fund some centralised service
Trust
A generic term for a legal entity/organisation providing health and social care services within the NHS.
TBA – To Be Announced
T/C – Transitional Care
Care services provided to a patient moving from acute to community care.
TC – Treatment Centre
A centre for diagnosis and treatment of patients, often taking place in one day.
TC – Tertiary Care
The third and highly specialised stage of treatment, usually provided in a specialist hospital centre. See also primary care and secondary care
TCS – Transforming community services
U
Unscheduled Care
Services that operate outside of normal working hours, such as AandE and Walk-in Centres
Uplift
Inflation
Upstream interventions
Upstream interventions target the circumstances that produce adverse health behaviours
User
In the NHS context: a person who uses health and/or social services.
V
W
WIC – Walk in Centre
The provision of primary care services to people without the need for an appointment
W3C Web Guidelines – World Wide Web Consortium Guidelines
Guidelines that were developed to facilitate optimal website accessibility
WDC – Workforce Development Confederation
The development of staff employed to provide NHS services.
Wipp – Working in partnership programme
