DHSS JARGON BUSTER

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Symbols

As part of our commitment to excellent customer services, we do our best to always communicate in plain English. However at times it is difficult not to use professional jargon or the acronyms that have become a habit to us but are a mystery to you. That is why we have developed this Jargon Buster to help you understand those unavoidable words and abbreviations and give you the confidence in our service that comes with understanding.

Simply select the first letter of the word, phrase, term or abbreviation from the links above to view an explanation.

If you have come across any jargon that you don’t understand and it is not featured in this list, send an email by clicking this link, stating the word, phrase, term or abbreviation and we will get back to you as soon as possible as well as updating the list.

A

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
A & E	Accident and Emergency Department
A ‘Drip’	Is how fluids are administered into a vein for such purposes as hydrating the body, correcting electrolyte imbalance, or introducing nutrients
AA	Achievement Age
AA	Alcoholics Annonymous
AA	Attendance Allowance
AAA	Abdominal Aortic Aneurism
ABG	Arterial Blood Gas
A&E	Accident and Emergency Department
ACT	Activated Clotting Time
ADA	Adoption Allowance
AED	Automated External Defibrillator
AF	Atrial Fibrillation
AHP	Allied Health Professional
AK	Above knee
APD	Automatic Peritoneal Dialysis
ATC	Assessment and Therapy Centre ATC (at RDCH) - Assessment and Therapy Centre
Admission	A term used when a patient comes into the hospital.
Advocacy	A range of support available to patients and users of services to enable them to have access to a volunteer, or other designated person who will speak for them and ensure that their interests are represented.
Acute services	Medical and surgical treatment provided mainly in hospitals.
Agenda for Change	Agenda for change is the brand new pay system for the NHS. It is part of a harmonised package of terms and conditions which applies to all directly employed NHS staff, except doctors, dentists and the most senior management posts at or just below board level.
Allied Health Professionals	The Allied Health Professions include professionals such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiary(chiropody), dietetics, speech and language therapy and healthcare assistants. AHPs used to be known as Professionals Allied to Medicine (PAMs).
Ambulatory care	Services where people do not stay in hospital overnight. E.g. x-ray, day surgery
ARDS	Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome
ARF	Acute Renal Failure
Assessment	Considering the circumstances of an individual, family, group or community when looking at a future plan of action.

B

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
BA	Bereavement Allowance
BB	Blanket Bed (at RDCH) - Accommodates ward day patients, and those people who have attended the adjacent Minor Illness and Injury Unit but require further intervention and/or assessment for a few hours before leaving hospital
BID	Twice Daily (bis in die)
BiPAP	Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure
BK	Below knee
BL	Budgeting Loans
BLS	Basic Life Support
BMA	British Medical Association
BMS	Biomedical Scientist
BMI	Body Mass Index
BMJ	British Medical Journal
BNF	British National Formulary - A joint publication of the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. “BNF” aims to provide prescribers, pharmacists and other health care professionals with sound up-to-date information about the use of medicines.
BP	Bereavement Payment, Blood Pressure
Beds	The number of beds in a ward or department which refers to staffed beds used overnight.
Benchmarking	A method used by public sector organisations, charities and private companies for gauging their performance by comparing it to that of other organisations, typically of a similar size.

C

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
C&S	Culture and sensitivity
CA	Carer’s Allowance
CAPD	Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
C/Spine	Cervical spine
CCF	Congestive cardiac failure
CCU	Coronary Care Unit
CD	Controlled Drugs
CHB	Child Benefit
CMV	Continuous Mandatory Ventilation
CNA	Cannot attend - (used to indicate the cancellation of a Hospital appointment following contact by the patient)
CNS	Clinical Nurse Specialist
COPD	Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CoSHH	Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
CPAP	Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
CPN	Community Psychiatric Nurse
CPD	Continuing Professional Development
CPR	Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation
CRF	Chronic Renal Failure
CSU	Catheter Specimen of Urine
CT	Computerised Tomography Care Programme Approach (CPA) - Co-ordinated care for people who use specialist mental health services
CTG	Cardiotocography An electronic system that monitors foetal heart rate during labour.
CT SCANNER	Computed Tomography Scanner A scanner that produces detailed cross-section images of the body that cannot be provided using conventional X-Rays
CXR	Chest X-ray
Caldicott Standards	These are a set of standards that regulate the use of patient information throughout the NHS.
Carer	A person who provides personal care on a regular basis to another person who is e.g. frail, disabled or has a mental health problem. Co-ordinated care for people who use specialist mental health services. The definition used by social services is: a person who provides a substantial amount of care on a regular basis, and who is not employed to do so by an agency or organisation. A carer is usually a friend or relative looking after someone who is frail or ill at home.
Clinical Audit	A quality assurance programme which involves defining the expected level of quality in a specific area of care, measuring and comparing actual practice against the expected level, and taking action to improve any deficiencies identified
Clinical Governance	Can be defined as a framework through which NHS organisations are accountable for continuously improving the quality of their services and safeguarding high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish
Clinical team	A clinical team may comprise of doctors, nurses and other health staff who provide services of a particular type, eg audiology.
Clinician/clinical staff	A health professional who is directly involved in the care and treatment of patients, for example, nurses, doctors, therapists.
Commission for Health Improvement (CHI)	An independent body that inspects hospitals to make sure Government standards are met.
Commissioning	A process of identifying a community’s social/and or health care needs and finding services to meet them.
Community care	Care for people with learning disabilities or a mental illness, which is provided outside a hospital setting.
Community Hospital	A Community Hospital supports the District General Hospital, by offering integrated health and social care designed to meet the needs of the local population.
Community Mental Health Team (CMHT)	A team of health and social service professionals who work together to provide services to those with a mental illness.
Co-morbidity	A term used to signify multiple illnesses.
Coronary Care Unit (CCU)	A dedicated unit for specialist coronary care.
Corporate governance	A framework through which organisations are accountable for standards in conducting corporate business, including meeting statutory financial duties.
CVVH	Continuous Veno Venous Haemofiltration

D

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
DATU	Day Assessment and Treatment Unit
DC	Day Case
DIC	Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
DIPJ	Distal interphalangeal joint
DKA	Diabetic Ketoacidosis (a complication of diabetes)
DLA	Disability Living Allowance
DN	District Nurse
DNA	Did not attend - patient failed to attend for an arranged Hospital appointment
DOA	Dead on arrival
DOB	Date of Birth
DP	Dental Practitioner
DPM (at RDCH)	Discharge Planning Meeting
Dr	Doctor (must include name)
Day case admission	Patients are admitted for care or treatment which can be completed in a few hours and does not require an overnight bed site
Demographic Trends	Changes in age, sex and size of the population over time.
DHSS - Department of Health and Social Security	The Government department responsible for delivering health and social care service and providing social security in the Isle of Man.
Diagnostic Test	Tests which help determine the nature of a disorder or illness, for example x-rays, laboratory tests etc.
DWA	Disability Working Allowance

E

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
EDA	Expected Date of Arrival
ECG	Electrocardiograph
ECT	Electro Convulsive Therapy
EEG	Electroencephalogram
EHR	Electronic Health Record
ENG	Exceptional Needs Grants
ENT	Ear, Nose, Throat
ESRF	End Stage Renal Failure
ET	Endotracheal Tube
ETA	Expected Time of Arrival
Elective admission	A patient admitted from the waiting list
Electronic Booking	A new system under development that will allow patients to make appointments directly and be able to obtain information on waiting times.
Emergency admission	A patient admitted to hospital at short notice because of clinical need or because alternative care is not available.
Essence of Care	This is an initiative aimed at improving patient experience by identifying best practice in areas such as nutrition and privacy and dignity.
European Computer Driving Licence – ECDL	The ECDL is a European standard of competence certifying that the holder has the basic knowledge and skills needed to use the most common computer applications efficiently and productively.

F

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
FAST	Fast Alcohol Screening Test
FESS	Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
FFP	Fresh Frozen Plasma
FIS	Family Income Supplement
FP	Funeral Payment
FWB	Full weight bearing
Family Health Service	Services provided in the community through GP, pharmacists, dentists, and opticians
Freedom of Information (FOI)	Under the Freedom of Information Act, the PCT has a legal duty to create and maintain a publication scheme. The purpose of this Act is to promote greater openness by public authorities.
F/U	Follow up hospital appointment

G

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
GA	General Anaesthetic
GA	Guardian’s Allowance
GDP	General Dental Practitioner
GCS	Glasgow Coma Scale
GMC	General Medical Council
GTN	Glyceryl Trinitrate
General Practitioners (GPs)	Doctors who provide family health services to the local community. They are usually the first port of call for most patients with a concern about their health.

H

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
HAP	Healthcare Accreditation Programme (has only been carried out at RDCH)
HAZ	Health Action Zone
HCA	Health Care Assistant
HD	Haemodialysis
HDU	High Dependency Unit
HELLP	Haemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelets
HII	Head injury instructions
HMT - Hospital Management Team	The HMT at RDCH comprises five senior managers, employed at the hospital, who meet regularly to make decisions about budgetary expenditure, day-to-day running of the hospital, and new developments and initiatives.
HNS	Head and Neck Surgery
HRP	Home Responsibilities Protection
HSD	Health Services Division
HSE	Health and Safety Executive
H&S	Health and Safety
HV	Health Visitor
Healthcare Commission	An independent Government body that carries out reviews of NHS organisations and publishes reports about the quality of health services throughout England and Wales
Health Promotion	Actions and information which helps individuals or communities to improve their health
Holistic approach	Describing an approach to patient care in which the physical, mental and social factors in the patient's condition are taken into account, rather than just the diagnosed disease. The term is applied to a range of orthodox and alternative methods of treatment.
Hospital at Home	Provides care in the patients home which otherwise would have been provided in hospital

I

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
ICU	Intensive Care Unit.
IB	Incapacity Benefit. A social security benefit available to those who are unfit for work
ID	Short for “identity” and often refers to evidence of a person’s identity, such as their passport or driving licence IIDB - Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
IIP Investors in People	A national quality standard which sets a level of good practice for improving an organisation's performance through its people. IIP was established in 1993 to provide national ownership of the Investors in People National Standard and is responsible for its promotion, quality assurance and development.
ILS	Immediate life support
IM	Intramuscular
IP	|In patient (as opposed to an out patient)
IPPV	Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation
IS - Income Support.	An income-related social security benefit for those who are unemployed or are working less than 16 hours a week
ITU	Intensive Treatment/Care Unit
IV	Intravenous
IVI	Intravenous Infusion
IVU	Intravenous Urogram, an X ray of the kidneys and bladder
In-patient	A person who is admitted to hospital as a day case or for a longer period of time
Integrated care pathway	The patient’s route for treatment through different health and social care system that combine resources and co-ordinated working methods.
Intermediate care	Typically community based alternatives to traditional hospital care

J

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
JSA - Jobseeker’s Allowance	A social security benefit available to the unemployed

K

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
KO’d	Knocked out

L

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
L	Left ( L foot, L arm, L leg etc)
LA	Local Anaesthetic
LEL	Lower Earnings Limit
LMA	Laryngeal Mask
LOC	Loss Of Consciousness
LVF	Left Ventricular Failure
Length of stay	The time from admission to discharge, based on the number of nights in hospital.
Looked after children (children looked after)	This term refers to children who are either in care (subject to a care order) or accommodated by a local authority.

M

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
MA	Maternity Allowance
Mane	Morning
MAP	Mean Arterial Pressure
MAU	Medical Assessment Unit
MCPJ	Metacarpophalangeal joint
MIU	Minor Injury Unit MIU (at RDCH) - Minor Illness and Injuries Unit
MOPS	Minor operations ( a theatre department at RDCH)
MOS	Minor Oral Surgery
MRI	Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRSA	Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
MSU	Midstream Specimen of Urine
MUST	Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool
Mammography	A special X-Ray examination of breast tissue used in the early detection of breast cancer.
Medical Advice	Improvements which allow the medical profession to treat an increasing range of conditions or treat existing conditions in a better way.
Med cert	Short for medical certificate. Issued by a GP or hospital doctor as evidence of a person’s incapacity for social security purposes
MRI Scanner - Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scanner	A scanner that produces images of parts of the body by the use of strong magnetic field and electromagnetic waves.
Multi-agency	Services or activities which involve staff from a range of organisations
Multi Disciplinary Team	MDT This is a team of professionals drawn from various disciplines within the Trust that combine their expertise to the benefit of patients.

N

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
NAD	Nothing abnormal detected
NAI	Non-accidental injury
NBI	No bony injury
NBM	Nil by mouth
NFA	No further appointment
NG	Naso Gastric
NI	National Insurance
NICs	National Insurance Contributions
NINO	National Insurance Number
NIV	Non Invasive Ventilation
NKA	No known allergies
NMC - Nursing and Midwifery Council.	The NMC is an organisation set up by Parliament to protect the public by ensuring that nurses and midwives provide high standards of care to their patients and clients.
NOCTE	Night Neurological observations
NOK	Next of Kin
NP	Nurse Practitioner
NP - Nurse Practitioner	Nurse Practitioners at RDCH work in the MIU and WMC, and are skilled in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients attending their departments. They are guided and supported by protocols which are regularly updated.
NP	Nurse Practitioner
Nurse Bank	The Nurse Bank at RDCH refers to a number of Registered Nurses and Health Care Assistants available to work at the hospital on an ad hoc basis, covering the absence of contracted staff.
NWB	Non weight bearing
National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE)	A special health authority that promotes best possible service and effective use of resources in the NHS. Sets standards to improve quality and consistency of NHS services.
National Service Framework (NSF)	A set of national standards and defined service model for different services or care groups.
NBTS	National Blood Transfusion Service

O

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
O/E	On examination
O2	Oxygen
Obs.	Observations
ODP	Operating Department Practitioner
OHD	Occupational Health Department
OP	Outpatient (as opposed to in patient)
OPAS	Older Persons Assessment Service
OPD	Out Patients Department
OT	Occupational Therapy/Therapist
Ordinary admission	The patient is expected to remain in hospital for at least one night

P

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
PA	Paternity Allowance
PAC	Pre operative Assessment Clinic. A clinic where patients are assessed prior to admission for surgery
PCAS	Patient Controlled Analgesia System
PD	Peritoneal Dialysis
PE	Pulmonary Embolism
PEA	Pulseless electrical activity
PEEP	Positive End Expiratory Pressure
PERL	Pupils equal and reacting to light
PGD	Patient Group Direction
PHYSIO	Physiotherapy
PIPJ	Proximal interphalangeal joint
POM	Prescription only medicine.
POP	Plaster of Paris cast
PPH	Primary Pulmonary Hypertension (in Thoracic Medicine)
PPH	Post Partum Haemorrhage (in Midwifery)
PR	Per Rectum
PRN	When necessary (pro re nata)
PSA	Prostate Specific Antigen, a blood test to check the health of the prostate gland
PTS	Patient Transport Services transport patients with non-urgent conditions to and from hospitals and day care centres, and carries out non-urgent inter-hospital transfers.
PV	Per vagina
PWB	Partial weight bearing
Px - Prescription Paediatrics	Area of medicine concerned with children's illness and their treatments.
Personal Social Services (PSS)	Personal care services for vulnerable people who may be in need of care and protection.
Palliative care	The care of patients whose disease is no longer curable, eg cancer, HIV/Aids, and motor-neurone disease. It takes into account the physical, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of care of patients, with the aim of providing the best quality of life for them.
Primary Healthcare	General healthcare services provided by GP's, Ambulance their staff and social care services.
Primary Care Trusts (PCTs)	Bring together GP practices and other professional interests in a geographical area. They have a key role in commissioning services.
Primary Health Care Team	Professional staff working in or attached to general practices to provide a range of health care needs. Includes GPs and community nursing staff.

Q

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
QD	Once a Day (quaue die)
QDS	Four Times Daily (quater in die)
Quality Assurance	All actions taken to ensure that standards and procedures are adhered to, and that delivered products or services meet performance requirements.

R

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
R	Right (R eye, R ear etc)
R/V - Review Respite Care	Is used for patients who are normally cared for at home but require planned short term admission, to give temporary relief to their families
RDCH	Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital
RICE	Rest, ice, compression, elevation
Risk Assessment	A careful examination of what could cause harm to people, so that you can weigh up whether you have taken enough precautions or should do more to prevent harm, thereby aiming to make sure no one gets hurt or becomes ill.
Risk-management	A systematic approach to reducing loss of life, financial loss, loss of staff availability, safety, or loss or reputation.
RM	Registered Midwife
RMN	Registered Mental Health Nurse
RN	Registered Nurse
ROM	Range of movement
ROS	Removal of sutures
Royal College of Nursing (RCN)	The RCN represents nurses and nursing, promotes excellence in practice, and shapes health policies.
RP	Retirement Pension
RPP	Retirement Pension Premium
RRT	Renal Replacement Therapy
RSCN	Registered Sick Children Nurse
RTA	Road Traffic Accident
Registrar	A qualified and experienced doctor who is training to become a specialist or consultant.

S

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
SAH	Sub-arachnoid Haemorrhage
S/B	Seen by
S/C	Subcutaneous
SALT	Speech and Language Therapist
SaO2	Oxygen saturation
SDA	Severe Disablement Allowance
SHCA	Senior Health Care Assistant
SHO	Senior House Officer - A qualified doctor who is in the earlier stages of their career
SIT	Specific Immunotherapy
SMO	Senior Medical Officer
SLR	Straight leg raise
SPT	Skin Prick Test
STAT	Immediately
STI	Soft tissue injury
SVT	Supra ventricular tachycardia
Secondary care	Typically proved in local hospitals usually on referral from primary care
Service level agreements	Agreement between organisations and/or agencies setting out how services must be provided, what their standards will be and how monitoring will take place.
Service-user	An individual who uses, requests, applies for, or benefits from health or local authority services. They may also be referred to as a client, patient or consumer.
Sick Note	See “med cert” above
Signing on	Registering as unemployed at a DHSS office
Stakeholder	Person or organisation that has an interest in a service or practice
Statutory organisation	Organisations with powers to fund/provide services
Sub-acute Care	Another term for intermediate care

T

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
TCI	To come in
TDS	Three Times Daily (ter in die)
THR	Total Hip Replacement
TKR	Total Knee Replacement
TM	Tympanic Membrane
TMJ	Temporo mandibular joint
TPN	Total Parenteral Nutrition
TPR	Temperature, Pulse, Respiration
TSSU	Theatre Sterile Supplies Unit.
TTO	To Take Out (drugs)
TUR	Trans Urethral Resection, an endoscopic operation to remove part of the bladder or prostate gland
TWB	Touch weight bearing
Tx Treatment Tertiary care	Care of a highly specialist nature typically provide in regional centres.

U

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
UP3	Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
USS	Ultrasound Scanning
UTI	Urinary tract infection

V

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
VA	Visual Acuity
VF	Ventricular Fibrillation
VT	Ventricular Tachycardia
Volunteers	Volunteers at RDCH support the nursing and domestic staff in the hospital wards by serving hot and cold drinks to the patients. They also provide a non-professional social role to the patients.

W

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
WD	Ward
WDP	War Disablement Pension
WPA	Widowed Parent’s Allowance
WWP	War Widow’s Pension
WMC (at RDCH)	Wound Management Clinic

X

Y

Abbreviation/Term	Explanation
YCS	Young Chronic Sick
YDU	Young Disabled Unit

Z

Symbols

1d (or 1/7) - one day 2d (or 2/7) - two days etc

1w (or 1/52) - one week, 2w (or 2/52 – two weeks etc

1m (or 1/12) - one month, 2m (or 2/12) – two months etc

1y ( 12/12 ) – one year, 2y (24/12) - 2 years etc