Glossary of terms

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

A

Acute: used to describe a disorder or symptom that comes on suddenly and needs urgent treatment.
 
AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome - the result of a virus transmitted in sexual fluids and blood.
 
Ambulatory: referring to patients who are able to walk to appointments etc.
 
Angiography: special type of x-ray used to look at blood flow.
 
ARF: acute renal failure, occurs in previously normal kidneys following events such as crush injuries, heart failure or infection, and is usually reversible.
 

B

 
BMA: British Medical Association - the professional association of doctors.
 

C

 
Cancer: the general term used to describe a tumour which could be in many different parts of the body.
 
CAPD: Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis, where a fluid exchange lasting 30 - 40 minutes is carried out via the peritoneal cavity (abdomen) three or four times a day.
 
Cardiac: to do with the heart.
 
Cardiac arrest: heart failure.
 
Carotid: relating to the two main arteries carrying blood to the head and neck.
 
CHD: Coronary Heart Disease: a general term to describe diseases of the heart.
 
Chemotherapy: the use of chemicals to destroy cancer cells or slow down cancer growth.
 
Community care: health or social care and treatment outside of hospital. It can take place in clinics, non-acute hospitals or in people's homes.
 
Consultant: a senior doctor who takes full responsibility for the clinical care of patients. Most head a team of junior doctors.
 

D

 
Dermatology: medical treatments concerned with the skin and skin conditions.
 
Dialysis: purification or filtering of the blood to remove harmful elements when kidneys, which normally perform this function, have failed.
 

E

 
Elective: used to describe operations, procedures or treatments that are planned rather than carried out in an emergency.
 
Embolisation: the formation of a blood clot, an air bubble, a fatty deposit or other object obstructing a blood vessel.
 
Endoscopy: the insertion of a tube-shaped instrument called an endoscope into a body cavity, to investigate or treat various medical problems.
 
ENT: stands for ear, nose and throat, and relates to their treatment.
 

F

 
Fistula: the joining of an artery and a vein, usually in the arm, as a suitable, permanent access point for haemodialysis (haemodialysis is the removal of waste products or poisons from the blood using dialysis).
  

G

 
GUM: Genito Urinary Medicine: usually used as the name of a clinic treating sexually transmitted diseases.
 
GMC: General Medical Council: the organisation that licenses doctors to practice medicine in the UK.
 
GP: General Practioner: a doctor providing primary care services, usually providing the first point of contact for NHS patients.
 
Gynaecology: healthcare that focuses on women's reproductive systems.
 

H

 
HC: Healthcare Commission: the government organisation set up to improve the quality of patient care.
 
Hotel: used in a hospital context to mean non-clinical services such as bed linen and food.
 

I

 
Interventional radiology services: services that use x-ray and other imaging technology when doctors insert small pieces of equipment that allow blood to keep circulation through arteries or veins which are narrowed, swollen or leaking.
 
IVF: In Vitro Fertilisation: the procees by which an egg is fertilised in a test tube before inplantation in the mother's womb.
 

L

 
Low-risk: often applied to maternity services and means that a normal birth with no complications for mother or baby are expected.
 

M

 
MIU: Minor Injuries Unit: a somewhat misleading name because a minor injuries unit can treat the results of most accidents and emergencies.
 
MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging: scanners used primarily to detect cancer.
 
Neonatal: to do with newborn babies, up to the age of four weeks.
 

N

 
Neoplasm: any abnormal new growth of tissue or tumour.
 
Nephrology: the early detection and diagnosis of renal (kidney) disease and the long-term management of its complications.
 
Neurology: study and treatment of nerve systems.
 
NHS Direct: A 24-hour telephone helpline for people with health concerns - 0845 46 47
 
NHS trusts: set up to deliver NHS healthcare - the term can relate to organisations providing primary, secondary or community care.
 
NICE: National Institute of Clinical Excellence: set up by the government to advise of effectiveness of healthcare and treatments.
 
NSF: National Service Frameworks - guidance on how services should be provided across the country.
 

P

 
Pharmacists: people who are qualified to dispense medicines on prescription and advise people about over-the-counter medical products.
 
Primary Care: the first stage of treatment when you are ill and usually provided by your GP or at a community clinic - see also secondary care and tertiary care.
 
Pulmonary: to do with the lungs.
 

R

 
Radiology: the use of Xrays and radioactive substances for diagnosis and treatment of disease.
 
Radiotherapy: the use of high-energy radio-waves to destroy or shrink cancer tumours. Also known as teletherapy.
 
Renal: to do with the kidneys.
 
Rotas: working schedules for groups of clinicians, making sure expertise is available 24 hours and 7 days a week.
 
Royal College of Nursing: the professional association of nurses.
 

S

 
Secondary care: the second stage of treatment when you are ill and usually provided by a hospital. See also primary care and tertiary care.
 
Stroke: the interruption of blood flow to an area of the brain caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel or artery or a blood vessel breaking.
 

T

 
Telemedicine: the use of communication systems, such as television screens, to help provide diagnosis and medical advice when the patient doctor are not in the same place.
 
Teletherapy: see radiotherapy
 
Tertiary care: the third and highly specialised stage of treatment, usually provided in a hospital centre which may not be local. See also primary care and secondary care.
 
Thrombolysis: the dissolving of a blood clot.
 
Trauma: the effect on the body of a wound or violent impact.
 
Triage: a system which sorts medical cases in order of urgency to determine how quickly patients receive treatment, for instance in accident and emergency departments.
 

U

 
Urology: Medical treatment that concerns the urinary system.
 
 

V

 
Vascular: to do with the ateries and veins carrying blood around the body.
 
 

X

 
X-ray: part of a group of technologies collectively known as radiology. Used to produce images from inside the human body.