List of NHS Acronyms
Acronym buster
Here is a helpful list acronyms and abbreviations that we use at Croydon Health Services
A
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A&E |
Accident & Emergency |
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Acute Trust |
A trust is an NHS organisation responsible for providing a group of healthcare services. An acute trust provides hospital services (but not mental health hospital services, which are provided by a mental health trust). |
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ADN |
ADN Associate Director of Nursing |
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Adult social care |
Adult social care Social care includes all forms of personal care and other practical assistance provided for people |
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AHP |
AHP Allied Health Professional |
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AKI |
AKI Acute Kidney Injury |
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Audit Commission |
The Audit Commission regulates the proper control of public finances by local authorities and the NHS in England and Wales. The Commission audits NHS trusts, primary care trusts and strategic health authorities to review the quality of their financial systems. It also publishes independent reports which highlight risks and good practice to improve the quality of financial management in the health service, and, working with the Care Quality Commission, undertakes national value-for money studies. Visit: www.audit-commission.gov.uk |
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AMU |
AMU Assessment Medical Unit |
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AsiT |
Association Of Surgeons In Training |
B
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BAF |
BAF Board Assurance Framework |
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BME |
BME Black and Minority Ethnic |
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BNF |
British National Formulary |
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Board (of trust) |
Board (of trust) The Trust Board is accountable for setting the strategic direction of the Trust, monitoring |
C
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CAI Infection |
Community Acquired Infection |
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CAS |
CAS Central Alerting System |
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CAUTI |
CAUTI – Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection |
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CAMHS |
Children and Mental Health Services |
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CCCG |
Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group |
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CCG |
Clinical Commissioning Group |
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CCU |
Coronary care Unit |
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CHAH |
Children’s Hospital at Home Team |
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CHD |
Coronary Heart Disease |
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CHS |
CHS Croydon Health Services |
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CIP |
Cost Improvement Plan |
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Clinical Audit |
Clinical audit measures the quality of care and services against agreed standards and suggests or makes improvements where necessary. |
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Clinical Coding |
Clinical Coding Officers are responsible for assigning ‘codes’ to all inpatient and day case episodes, They use special classifications which are assigned to and reflect the full range of diagnosis (diagnostic coding) and procedures (procedural coding) carried out by providers and enter these codes onto the Patient Administration System.
The coding process enables patient information to be easily sorted for statistical analysis. When complete, codes represent an accurate translation of the statements or terminology used by the clinician and provides a complete picture of the patient’s care. |
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Clinical Directorate |
Clinical Directorates :
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Clostridium difficile/ C. Difficile/C Dif |
Clostridium difficile or C. Difficile Clostridium difficile also known as C.difficile or C.dif, is a gram positive bacteria that causes diarrhoea and other intestinal disease when competing bacteria in a patient or persons gut are wiped out by antibiotics. C. difficile infection can range in severity from asymptomatic to severe and life- threatening, especially among the elderly. People are most often nosocomially infected in hospitals, nursing homes, or other institutions, although C. difficile infection in the community and outpatient setting is increasing. |
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CNST |
CNST Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts |
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COO |
Chief Operating officer |
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COPD |
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease |
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CRR |
CRR Corporate Risk Register |
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CRES |
Cost Releasing Efficiency Savings |
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CRL |
CRL Capital Resource Limit |
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CST |
Core Skills Training |
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CUSUM |
CUSUM Cumulative Sum |
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CQC |
CQC The Care Quality Commission (CQC) replaced the Healthcare Commission, Mental Health Act Commission for Social Care Inspection in April 2009. The CQC is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. It regulates health and adult social care services, whether provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies or voluntary organisations. Visit: www.cqc.org.uk |
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CQRG |
Clinical Quality Review Group |
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CQUIN |
CQUIN Commissioning for Quality and Innovation. The system was introduced in 2009 to make a proportion of healthcare providers’ income conditional on demonstrating improvements in quality and innovation in specified areas of patient care. |
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CRS Cerner millennium |
CRS Cerner Millennium System is the newly introduced IT system at Croydon Health Services. This is an electronic system that captures patient data. |
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CRT-D |
CRT-D cardiac resynchronisation therapy – defibrillators |
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CTG |
Cardiotocograph |
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CSU |
Clinical Support Unit |
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Culture |
Culture Learned attitudes, beliefs and values that define a group or groups of people. |
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CUP |
Cancer of Unknown Primary |
D
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DASV |
DASV Domestic abuse and sexual violence |
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Datix |
Datix This is the name of the incident reporting system at Croydon Health Services |
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DKA |
Diabetic Keto Acidosis |
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DNA |
Did Not Attend |
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DNAR |
Do not attempt resuscitation. |
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Dignity |
Dignity is concerned with how people feel, think and behave in relation to the worth or value that they place on themselves and others. To treat someone with dignity is to treat them as being of worth and respect them as a valued person, taking account of their individual views and beliefs. |
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Discharge |
Discharge The point at which a patient leaves hospital to return home or be transferred to another service, or the formal conclusion of a service provided to a person who uses services. |
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DOLs |
Deprivation Of Liberty |
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DTOC |
Delayed Transfer of Care |
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DTA |
Discharge to Assess |
E
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ECIP |
Emergency Care Improvement Programme |
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ED |
Emergency Department |
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EBME |
The electrical and biomedical engineering |
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EIA |
Equality Impact Assessment |
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EMB |
Executive Management Board |
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EMIS |
Electronic Medical Information System |
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ENT |
Ear Nose & Throat |
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EWS |
Early Warning System is based on vital signs such as blood pressure, heart and breathing rates |
F
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FFT |
Friend & Family Test |
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FGM |
Female Genital Mutilation |
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FNOF |
Fractured Neck of Femur |
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FT |
Foundation Trust is a type of NHS trust in England that has been created to devolve decision-making from central government control to local organisations and communities so they are more responsive to the needs and wishes of their local people. NHS foundation trusts provide and develop healthcare according to core NHS principles – free care, based on need and not on ability to pay. NHS foundation trusts have members drawn from patients, the public and staff, and are governed by a board of governors comprising people elected from and by the membership base. |
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FRP |
Financial Recovery Plan |
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FOI |
Freedom of Information |
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FTSU |
Freedom to Speak Up |
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FY1 & FY2 |
A Foundation doctor (FY1 or FY2 also known as a house officer) is a grade of medical practitioner in the United Kingdom undertaking the Foundation programme – a two-year, general postgraduate medical training programme which forms the bridge between medical school and specialist/general practice training. The grade of Foundation Doctor has replaced the traditional grades of pre-registration doctors and senior house officers. |
G
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GP |
General Practitioner |
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GRE |
Glycopeptide-resistant Enterococci |
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GDPR |
General Data Protection Formulary |
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GREATiX |
GREATiX A system for reporting clinical excellence |
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GMC |
General Medical Council |
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GUM |
Sexual Health Clinic (genitourinary medicine) |
H
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HAI |
Hospital Acquired Infections |
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HCA |
Health Care Assistants |
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HWE |
Health Watch England |
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HEE |
HEE Health Education England |
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Hep B&C |
Hep B&C Hepatitis B&C |
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HES |
HES Hospital Episode Statistics is the national statistical data warehouse for England of the care provided by NHS hospitals and for NHS hospital patients treated elsewhere. |
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HESL |
HESL Health Education South London |
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HGD |
HGD high-grade dysplasia |
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HIV |
HIV human immunodeficiency virus |
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HSMR |
HSMR Hospital standardised mortality ratio |
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HRA |
HRA Health Research Authority |
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HR&OD |
HR&OD Human Resources and Organisational Development |
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HV |
Health Visitor |
I
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IBD |
Inflammatory Bowel Disorder |
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ICO |
Information Commissioner’s Office |
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IAC |
Integrated Adult Care |
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IDA |
Iron deficiency anaemia |
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IGT |
Information Governance Toolkit |
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IHI |
Institute for Healthcare Improvement |
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IMCA |
Independent Mental Capacity Advocate |
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IP |
Inpatient |
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IWCSH |
Integrated Women’s Children and Sexual Health |
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ISC&CS/ISCCS |
Integrated surgery, Cancer and Clinical Support |
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ITU/HDU |
ITU/HDU Intensive Treatment Unit/ High Dependency Unit |
J
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JAG |
The Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG) was established in 1994 and set standards for individual endoscopists set standards for training in endoscopy quality assure endoscopy units quality assure endoscopy training courses |
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JSCC |
Joint Staff Consultative Committee |
K
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K2 CTG |
Learning Package which all Midwives have been enrolled on. |
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KHWD |
Knowing how we’re doing |
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KLOE |
Key Lines of Enquiry |
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KPI |
Key Performance Indicator |
L
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LAS |
London Ambulance Service |
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LA |
Local Authority |
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LD Learning Disabled |
Learning Disabled |
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LFB |
London Fire Brigade |
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LIFE |
Living Independently for Everyone |
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LiA |
Listening into Action (LiA) LiA is about re-engaging with employees and unlocking their potential so they can get on and contribute to the success of your organisation, in a way that makes them feel proud. |
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LHW |
Local Health Watch |
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LMWH |
Low Molecular Weight Heparin |
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LHB |
Local Health Board |
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LOS |
Length Of Stay |
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LTC |
Long Term Condition |
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LTFM |
Long-Term Fiscal Model |
M
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MUST |
Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool MUST’ is a five-step screening tool to identify adults, who are malnourished, at risk of malnutrition (under nutrition), or obese. It also includes management guidelines which can be used to develop a care plan. |
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MAU |
Medical Assessment Unit |
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MAPPA |
MAPPA |
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MARAC |
Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conference |
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MASH |
Multi agency safeguarding hub |
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MCA |
Mental Capacity Act |
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MDT |
Multi-Disciplinary Team |
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MECC |
Make Every Contact Count |
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MINAP |
Acute Coronary syndrome or Acute Myocardial Infarction |
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MMC |
Medicine Management Committee |
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MOPAC |
Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime |
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MRG |
Mortality Review Group |
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MRI |
Magnetic Resonance imaging |
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MRSA |
MRSA Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) |
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MSSA |
Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus |
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MR |
Medical Revalidation |
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MRI |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
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MHRA |
Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency |
N
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NAOGC |
Oesopha-gastric Cancer |
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NAO |
National Audit Office |
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NEWS |
National early Warning System |
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NBV |
New Birth Visit |
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NCEPOD |
The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death |
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NETA |
NETA |
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NFF |
No Fault Found |
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NHS |
National Health Service |
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NHSE |
NHS England |
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NHSI |
National Health Service Improvement |
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NHS Number |
National unique patient identifier that makes it possible to share patient information across the whole of the NHS safely, efficiently and accurately. |
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NHSR |
NHS Resolution |
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NJR |
National Joint Registry |
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NLCA |
National Lung Cancer Audit |
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NMB |
Nursing & Midwifery Board |
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NNAP |
Neonatal Intensive and Special Care |
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NPDA |
National Paediatric Diabetes Audit |
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NPSA |
National Patient Safety Agency |
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NRLS |
National Reporting and Learning System |
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NRPF |
No Recourse Public Funds |
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NSPCC |
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children |
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nSTEMI |
non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infraction |
O
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OBC |
Outcomes based Commissioning. |
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OBD |
Occupied Bed Days |
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OGD |
Oesophago – Gastro-duodenoscopy |
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OPD Out Patient Department |
Out Patient Department |
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OPTIMAL |
Research project improvement |
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OP |
Outpatient |
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OT |
OT Occupational Therapy |
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OSC |
Overview and Scrutiny Committee – |
P
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PALS |
Patient Advice Liaison Service |
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PAU |
Paediatric Assessment Unit |
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PCI |
Percutaneous Coronary Interventions |
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PDR |
Personal Development Review |
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PE |
Pulmonary Embolism |
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PEWS |
Paediatric Early Warning Score) |
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PGMC |
Post Graduate Medical Centre |
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PHE |
Public Health England |
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PHSO |
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman |
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Picker Institute UK |
Picker research and gather patient’s views of healthcare using surveys, focus groups and other methods as for example by supporting the national survey programme in the NHS for the Care Quality Commission. |
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PLACE |
Patient Led Assessments of the Care Environment |
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PGMC |
Post Graduate Medical Centre |
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PM |
Post Mortem |
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PPI |
Public Patient Involvement |
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P&D |
Privacy and Dignity |
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PROMs |
Patient Reported Outcome Measure |
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PTL |
Patient Tracking List |
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PS&MC |
Patient Safety & Mortality Committee |
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PWMH |
Purley War Memorial Hospital |
Q
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QESP |
Quality, Experience, Safety Programme |
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Q&CGC |
Quality & Clinical Governance Committee |
R
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RAG |
Red Amber Green —- Grading |
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RAPG |
Risk Assurance and Policy Group |
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RCA |
Root Cause Analysis |
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RCEM |
Asthma Paediatric and adult care in Emergency Department |
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RCN |
Royal College of Nursing |
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RCPCH |
Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health |
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Registration |
From April 2009, every NHS trust that provides healthcare directly to patients must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). |
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R&D |
Research & Development - The people who do research are mostly the same doctors and other health professionals who treat people. A clinical trial is a particular type of research that tests one treatment against another. |
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RAMU |
RAPID Assessment Medical Unit |
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RFID |
Radio Frequency Identification |
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RTT |
Referral To Treatment |
S
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Safeguarding |
Ensuring that people live free from harm, abuse and neglect and, in doing so, protecting their health, wellbeing and human rights. Children, and adults in vulnerable situations, need to be safeguarded |
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SARs |
Subject Access Requests |
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SALT |
Speech & Language Therapy |
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SAU |
Surgical Assessment Unit |
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SCBU |
Special Care Baby Unit |
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SCR |
Serious Case Reviews |
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SI |
Serious Incident |
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SIRG |
Serious Incident Review Group |
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SHMI |
Summary Hospital- Level Mortality Indicator |
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SLAM |
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust |
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SOP |
Standard Operating procedure |
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SRO |
Senior Responsible Officer |
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SSNAP |
Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme |
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STF |
Sustainable and Transformation Fund |
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Superspells |
Spells ending in transfer to another NHS hospital are linked together |
T
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TB |
Tuberculosis |
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TIA |
Transient Ischaemic Attack |
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T&O |
Trauma & Orthopaedics |
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ToR |
Terms of reference |
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TTA (medication) |
To Take Away (medication) |
U
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UKAS |
United Kingdom Accreditation Service |
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UKBHC |
UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy |
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UNIFY |
Data Collection System |
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UCC |
Urgent Care Centre |
V
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VFM |
Value for Money |
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ViEWS VitalPAC |
Early Warning System is a tool for bedside evaluation incorporated into VitalPAC. It is based on seven physiological parameters: pulse; temperature; systolic blood pressure; respiratory rate; AVPU (the level to which the patient responds), oxygen saturation, plus the patient’s inspired oxygen requirements. |
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VitalPAC |
An electronic track and trigger system that provides a recording mechanism for patient’s vital signs and essential screening tools. |
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VTE |
Venous Thrombo Embolism |
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YTD |
Year To Date |
W
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WHO |
World Health Organisation |
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WTE |
Whole time Equivalent |
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WRES |
WRES Work Force Race Equality Standard |