List of NHS Acronyms

Acronym buster

Here is a helpful list acronyms and abbreviations that we use at Croydon Health Services

A

Acronyms - A

A&E

Accident & Emergency

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).

ADN

ADN Associate Director of Nursing

Adult social care

Adult social care Social care includes all forms of personal care and other practical assistance provided for people

AHP

AHP Allied Health Professional

AKI

AKI Acute Kidney Injury

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

AMU

AMU Assessment Medical Unit

AsiT

Association Of Surgeons In Training

 

B

Acronyms - B

BAF

BAF Board Assurance Framework

BME

BME Black and Minority Ethnic

BNF

British National Formulary

Board (of trust)

Board (of trust) The Trust Board is accountable for setting the strategic direction of the Trust, monitoring

C

Acronyms - C

CAI Infection

Community  Acquired Infection

CAS

CAS Central Alerting System

CAUTI

CAUTI – Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infection

CAMHS

Children and Mental Health Services

CCCG

Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group

CCG

Clinical Commissioning Group

CCU

Coronary care Unit

CHAH

Children’s Hospital at Home Team

CHD

Coronary Heart Disease

CHS

CHS Croydon Health Services

CIP

Cost Improvement Plan

Clinical Audit

Clinical audit measures the quality of care and services against agreed standards and suggests or makes improvements where necessary.

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.

Clinical Directorate

Clinical Directorates :

  • Integrated Adult Care
  • Integrated Women and Children’s, and Sexual Health
  • Integrated Surgery, Cancer and Clinical Support Services

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.

CNST

CNST Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts

COO

Chief Operating officer

COPD

COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

CRR

CRR Corporate Risk Register

CRES

Cost Releasing Efficiency Savings

CRL

CRL Capital Resource Limit

CST

Core Skills Training

CUSUM

CUSUM Cumulative Sum

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

CQRG

Clinical Quality Review Group

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.

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.

CRT-D

CRT-D cardiac resynchronisation therapy – defibrillators

CTG

Cardiotocograph

CSU

Clinical Support Unit

Culture

Culture Learned attitudes, beliefs and values that define a group or groups of people.

CUP

Cancer of Unknown Primary

D

Acronyms - D

DASV

DASV Domestic abuse and sexual violence

Datix

Datix This is the name of the incident reporting system at Croydon Health Services

DKA

Diabetic Keto Acidosis

DNA

Did Not Attend

DNAR

Do not attempt resuscitation.

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.

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.

DOLs

Deprivation Of Liberty

DTOC

Delayed Transfer of Care

DTA

Discharge to Assess

 

E

Acronyms - E

ECIP

Emergency Care Improvement Programme

ED

Emergency Department

EBME

The electrical and biomedical engineering

EIA

Equality Impact Assessment

EMB

Executive Management Board

EMIS

Electronic Medical Information System

ENT

Ear Nose & Throat

EWS

Early Warning System is based on vital signs such as blood pressure, heart and breathing rates

 

F

Acronyms - F

FFT

Friend & Family Test

FGM

Female Genital Mutilation

FNOF

Fractured Neck of Femur

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.

FRP

Financial Recovery Plan

FOI

Freedom of Information

FTSU

Freedom to Speak Up

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

Acronyms - G

GP

General Practitioner

GRE

Glycopeptide-resistant Enterococci

GDPR

General Data Protection Formulary

GREATiX

GREATiX A system for reporting clinical excellence

GMC

General Medical Council

GUM

Sexual Health Clinic (genitourinary medicine)

H

Acronyms - H

HAI

Hospital Acquired Infections

HCA

Health Care Assistants

HWE

Health Watch England

HEE

HEE Health Education England

Hep B&C

Hep B&C Hepatitis B&C

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.

HESL

HESL Health Education South London

HGD

HGD high-grade dysplasia

HIV

HIV human immunodeficiency virus

HSMR

HSMR Hospital standardised mortality ratio

HRA

HRA Health Research Authority

HR&OD

HR&OD Human Resources and Organisational Development

HV

Health Visitor

I

Acronyms - I

IBD

Inflammatory Bowel Disorder

ICO

Information Commissioner’s Office

IAC

Integrated Adult Care

IDA

Iron deficiency anaemia

IGT

Information Governance Toolkit

IHI

Institute for Healthcare Improvement

IMCA

Independent Mental Capacity Advocate

IP

Inpatient

IWCSH

Integrated Women’s Children and Sexual Health

ISC&CS/ISCCS

Integrated surgery, Cancer and Clinical Support

ITU/HDU

ITU/HDU Intensive Treatment Unit/ High Dependency Unit

J

Acronyms - J

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

JSCC

Joint Staff Consultative Committee

K

Acronyms - K

K2 CTG

Learning Package which all Midwives have been enrolled on.

KHWD

Knowing how we’re doing

KLOE

Key Lines of Enquiry

KPI

Key Performance Indicator

L

Acronyms - L

LAS

London Ambulance Service

LA

Local Authority

LD Learning Disabled

Learning Disabled

LFB

London Fire Brigade

LIFE

Living Independently for Everyone

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.

LHW

Local Health Watch

LMWH

Low Molecular Weight Heparin

LHB

Local Health Board

LOS

Length Of Stay

LTC

Long Term Condition

LTFM

Long-Term Fiscal Model

M

Acronyms - M

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.

MAU

Medical Assessment Unit

MAPPA

MAPPA

MARAC

Multi-agency Risk Assessment Conference

MASH

Multi agency safeguarding hub

MCA

Mental Capacity Act

MDT

Multi-Disciplinary Team

MECC

Make Every Contact Count

MINAP

Acute Coronary syndrome or Acute Myocardial Infarction

MMC

Medicine Management Committee

MOPAC

Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime

MRG

Mortality Review Group

MRI

Magnetic Resonance imaging

MRSA

MRSA Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

MSSA

Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus

MR

Medical Revalidation

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MHRA

Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

N

Acronyms - N

NAOGC

Oesopha-gastric Cancer

NAO

National Audit Office

NEWS

National early Warning System

NBV

New Birth Visit

NCEPOD

The National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death

NETA

NETA

NFF

No Fault Found

NHS

National Health Service

NHSE

NHS England

NHSI

National Health Service Improvement

NHS Number

National unique patient identifier that makes it possible to share patient information across the whole of the NHS safely, efficiently and accurately.

NHSR

NHS Resolution

NJR

National Joint Registry

NLCA

National Lung Cancer Audit

NMB

Nursing & Midwifery Board

NNAP

Neonatal Intensive and Special Care

NPDA

National Paediatric Diabetes Audit

NPSA

National Patient Safety Agency

NRLS

National Reporting and Learning System

NRPF

No Recourse Public Funds

NSPCC

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

nSTEMI

non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infraction

O

Acronyms - O

OBC

Outcomes based Commissioning.

OBD

Occupied Bed Days

OGD

Oesophago – Gastro-duodenoscopy

OPD Out Patient Department

Out Patient Department

OPTIMAL

Research project improvement

OP

Outpatient

OT

OT Occupational Therapy

OSC

Overview and Scrutiny Committee –

P

 

Acronyms - P

PALS

Patient Advice Liaison Service

PAU

Paediatric Assessment Unit

PCI

Percutaneous Coronary Interventions

PDR

Personal Development Review

PE

Pulmonary Embolism

PEWS

Paediatric Early Warning Score)

PGMC

Post Graduate Medical Centre

PHE

Public Health England

PHSO

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman

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.

PLACE

Patient Led Assessments of the Care Environment

PGMC

Post Graduate Medical Centre

PM

Post Mortem

PPI

Public Patient Involvement

P&D

Privacy and Dignity

PROMs

Patient Reported Outcome Measure

PTL

Patient Tracking List

PS&MC

Patient Safety & Mortality Committee

PWMH

Purley War Memorial Hospital

Q

 

Acronyms - Q

QESP

Quality, Experience, Safety Programme

Q&CGC

Quality & Clinical Governance Committee

R

 

Acronyms - R

RAG

Red Amber Green —- Grading

RAPG

Risk Assurance and Policy Group

RCA

Root Cause Analysis

RCEM

Asthma Paediatric and adult care in Emergency Department

RCN

Royal College of Nursing

RCPCH

Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Registration

From April 2009, every NHS trust that provides healthcare directly to patients must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

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.

RAMU

RAPID Assessment Medical Unit

RFID

Radio Frequency Identification

RTT

Referral To Treatment

S

 

Acronyms - S

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

SARs

Subject Access Requests

SALT

Speech & Language Therapy

SAU

Surgical Assessment Unit

SCBU

Special Care Baby Unit

SCR

Serious Case Reviews

SI

Serious Incident

SIRG

Serious Incident Review Group

SHMI

Summary Hospital- Level Mortality Indicator

SLAM

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

SOP

Standard Operating procedure

SRO

Senior Responsible Officer

SSNAP

Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme

STF

Sustainable and Transformation Fund

Superspells

Spells ending in transfer to another NHS hospital are linked together

T

 

Acronyms - T

TB

Tuberculosis

TIA

Transient Ischaemic Attack

T&O

Trauma & Orthopaedics

ToR

Terms of reference

TTA (medication)

To Take Away (medication)

U

 

Acronyms - U

UKAS

United Kingdom Accreditation Service

UKBHC

UK Board of Healthcare Chaplaincy

UNIFY

Data Collection System

UCC

Urgent Care Centre

V

 

Acronyms - V

VFM

Value for Money

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.

VitalPAC

An electronic track and trigger system that provides a recording mechanism for patient’s vital signs and essential screening tools.

VTE

Venous Thrombo Embolism

YTD

Year To Date

W

 

Acronyms - W

WHO

World Health Organisation

WTE

Whole time Equivalent

WRES

WRES Work Force Race Equality Standard