Last update 15th. May 2004
AAC Advisory Appointments Committee
A&C Administrative and Clerical (staff)
A&E Accident and Emergency
ABC Activity Based Costing
ABHI Association of British Health-Care Industries
ABM Activity Based Management
ABPI Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry
Acute Services Medical and surgical treatment and care mainly provided in hospitals.
AC Audit Commission
ACAS Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
ACDA Advisory Committee on Distinction Awards (consultants)
ACDP Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens
ACGT Advisory Committee on Genetic Testing
ACHCEW Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales
ACTR Additional Cost of Teaching and Research
ADC Automatic Data Capture
ADH Additional Duty Hours (junior doctors)
ADL Activities of Daily Living
ADP Automatic Data Processing
ADR Adverse Drug Reaction
ADROIT Adverse Drug Reactions On-line Information Tracking
ADSS Association of Directors of Social Services
AF Atrial Fibrillation
AGMETS Advisory Group on Medical Education, Training and Staffing
AHCPA Association of Health Centre and Practice
AHHRM Association of Healthcare Human Resource Management
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AIM
Activity Information Mapping
Advanced Informatics in Medicine
AIP Approval in Principle
ALA Association of Local Authorities
ALARM Association of Litigation and Risk Managers
ALOS Average Length of Stay
ALTS Advanced Trauma Life Support (procedures/courses)
AMA Association of Metropolitan Authorities
AMP Annual Maintenance Plan
AOP Association of Optometrists
APC Admitted Patient Care
APH Association for Public Health
AQH Association for Quality Healthcare
ARC Arthritis and Rheumatism Council
ASA Ambulance Service Association
ASC Action for Sick Children
ASH Action on Smoking and Health
ASSIST Association for Information Management & Technology Staff in the NHS
ASTRO-PU Age Sex Temporary Resident Other - Prescribing Unit
ASW Approved Social Worker
AVG Ambulatory Visit Group
AVMA Action for the Victims of Medical Accidents
BA Booked Admissions (also known as Waiting List - see WL)
BAEM British Association for Accident and Emergency Medicine
BAMM British Association of Medical Managers
BAMS Benefits Agency Medical Service
BAOT British Association of Occupational Therapists
BASW British Association of Social Workers
BDA
British Dental Association
British Diabetic Association
British Dietetic Association
British Deaf Association
BEAM Biomedical Equipment Assessment and Management
BMCIS Building Maintenance Cost Information System
BMA British Medical Association
BMJ British Medical Journal
BNF British National Formulary
BOPCAS British Official Publications Current Awareness Service
BP British Pharmacopoeia
BPAS British Pregnancy Advisory Service
BPMF British Postgraduate Medical Federation
BRCS British Red Cross Society
BSI British Standards Institution
BTS
British Thoracic Society
Blood Transfusion Service
BUPA British United Provident Association
Calman-Hine Cancer Report
The report A Policy Framework for
Commissioning Cancer Services was commissioned in response to concerns
about variations in treatment across the country. It recommended that
cancer services should be organised at three levels. Cancer units in local
hospitals with multi-disciplinary teams able to treat the commoner
cancers. Cancer centres situated in larger hospitals to treat the less
common cancers and Support cancer units with services such as
radiotherapy, not available in smaller hospitals. EL (94) 52
Capital Capital expenditure is spending on the acquisition of land and premises and on the provision, adaptation, renewal, replacement or demolition of buildings, items or groups of equipment and vehicles etc where the expenditure exceeds £5,000.
Cash Limit The amount of money the Government proposes to spend or authorise on certain services or blocks of services during one financial year.
CABG Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
CIC Common Information Core
Clinical Governance: A new initiative in this White Paper to assure and improve clinical standards at local level throughout the NHS. This includes action to ensure that risks are avoided, adverse events are rapidly detected, openly investigated and lessons learned, good practice is rapidly disseminated and systems are in place to ensure continuous improvements in clinical care.
Clinician: A health professional that is directly involved in the care and treatment of patients, for example nurses, doctors, therapists, and midwives.
CAB Citizens Advice Bureau
CAD Computer Aided Design
CAIMHT Camden and Islington Mental Health Trust
CAP Controls Assurance Project
CAS Controls Assurance Statement
CASP Critical Appraisal Skills Programme
CAT Computerised Axial Tomography
CBA Cost Benefit Analysis
CBS Common Basic Specification
CBT Computer Based Training
CCDC Consultant in Communicable Disease Control
CCE Completed Consultant Episode (also FCE)
CCSC Central Consultants and Specialists Committee
CCST Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (doctors)
CCU
Coronary Care Unit
Critical Care Unit
CD Clinical Director/Directorate
CDC Centre for Disease Control (USA)
CDM Chronic Disease Management
CDO Chief Dental Officer
CD-ROM Compact Disc Read Only Memory
CDS
Community Dental Service
Commissioned Data Set
CDSC Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre
CDSM Committee on Dental and Surgical Materials
CE Chief Executive
CEA Cost Effectiveness Analysis
CEDP Chief Executive Development Programme
CEN Comite Europeen de Normalisation (European Standards Organisation)
CEPOD (See NCEPOD) CESDI Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy
CHC Community Health Council
CHD Coronary Heart Disease
CHDGP Collection of Health Data from General Practice Project
CHI
Commission for Health Improvement
Community Health Index
ChiQ Centre for Health Information Quality (patient information)
CHMU Central Health Monitoring Unit (DoH)
CHOU Central Health Outcomes Unit
CHS Child Health Surveillance
CIM Capital Investment Manual
CIP Cost Improvement Programme
CIPFA Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy
CIS Clinical Information System
CISP Community Information Systems Project
CM Community Midwife
CMDS Contract Core Minimum Data Set
CME Continuing Medical Education
CMHN Community Mental Handicap Nurse
CMHT Community Mental Health Team
CMIS Contract Monitoring Information System
CMMS Case Mix Management System
CMO Chief Medical Officer
CMS
Community Midwifery Service
Contract Management System
CN Charge Nurse
CNM Clinical Nurse Manager
CNO Chief Nursing Officer
CNS
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Community Nursing Service
CNST Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts
COIN Circulars on the Internet
COMA Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy
COP Cancelled Outpatient (Appointment) COSHH Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (1994 Regulations)
COSI Central Open System Interconnection
CPA
Care Programme Approach
Clinical Pathology Accreditation
Critical Path Analysis
CPHL Central Public Health Laboratory
CPHM Consultant in Public Health Medicine
CPN Community Psychiatric Nurse
CPPIH Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health
CPR Child Protection Register
CPSM Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine
CQI Continuous Quality Improvement
CRC Clinical Research Centre
CRD (NHS) Centre for Reviews and Dissemination
CRDC Central Research and Development Committee
CRE Commission for Racial Equality
CRIR Committee for Regulating Information Requirements
CSA Child Support Agency
CSAG Clinical Standards Advisory Group
CSASHS Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service
CSM Committee on Safety of Medicines
CSP Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
CSSD Central Sterile Services/supplies Department
CT Computerised Tomography
CU Casualties Union
CVS Council for Voluntary Services
DC Daycase
D&D Deaths & Discharges
DDO District Dental Officer
DEB Dental Estimates Board
DF Director of Finance
DfEE Department of Education and Employment
DGH District General Hospital
DH Department of Health (also DOH)
DHA (Former) District Health Authority
DHQ District Head Quarters (of the Health Authority)
DHT District Handicap Team
DISP Development of Information Systems for Purchasers
DMO District Medical Officer
DMU Directly Managed Unit
DN District Nurse
DNA Did Not Attend
DNS Director of Nursing Services
DOA Dead On Arrival
DOB Date of Birth
DoF Director of Finance
DOH Department of Health
DPB Dental Practice Board
DPH Director of Public Health
DPR Data Protection Register
DQI Data Quality Initiative
DRG Diagnostic Related Group
DRS Dental Reference Service
DSC Disablement Service Centre
DSCN Dataset Change Notice
DSS
Department of Social Security
Decision Support Systems
DSU Day Surgery Unit
DTI Department of Trade and Industry
D&V Diorreah & Vomiting
DV
Domiciliary Visit (by consultant)
District
Valuer
EAN European Article Number
EBM Evidence-Based Medicine
EBS Emergency Bed Service (London)
ECR Extra Contractual Referral (replaced by OATS)
EDI Electronic Data Interchange
EDIFACT Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport
Effects E.g. the reluctance of patients to express dissatisfaction with the NHS or with health professionals. One of the reasons that in published patient satisfaction surveys, the proportion of positively satisfied respondents is often overstated.
EFL External Financing Limit
EHMA European Healthcare Management Association
EHO Environmental Health Officer
EHR Electronic Health Record
EIS Executive Information System
EL Executive Letter (NHS Executive)
EMAS Employment Medical Advisory Service
EMEA European Medicines Evaluation Agency
EMI Elderly Mentally Infirm
ENB English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting
ENP Emergency Nurse Practitioner
ENT Ear, Nose and Throat
EOC Equal Opportunities Commission
EPO Emergency Planning Officer
EPHR (also EPR) Electronic Patient Health Record
ESAT Emergency Services Action Team
ESMI Elderly Severely Mentally Infirm
ETA Enabling Technology Application
FBC Full Business Case
FCE Finished Consultant Episode (also CCE)
FCS Financial Control System
FDL Finance Directorate Letter
FHS Family Health Services
FHSA Family Health Services Authority (former)
FHSCU Family Health Services Computer Unit (now the NHS Information Authority)
FIS Financial Information System
FM Facilities Management
FMIS Financial Management Information Systems
FMP Financial Management Programme
FMR Functions and Manpower Review
Focus Group A small group of individuals with similar backgrounds or experiences brought together to discuss a specific topic. Rather than direct questioning, individuals are encouraged to interact by exchanging and commenting on one another’s experiences.
FOP Future Outpatient (Appointment) FPA Family Planning Association
FP(10) / FP(HP)10 A Prescription Form
FPHM Faculty of Public Health Medicine
FPS Family Planning Services
FSO PPI Forum Support Organisation
GCC General Chiropractic CouncilGDC General Dental Council
GDP
General Dental Practitioner
Gross Domestic Product
GDS General Dental Services
GHS General Household Survey
GLACHC Greater London Association of Community Health Councils
GM General Manager
GMC General Medical Council
GMP General Medical Practitioner
GMS General Medical Services
GMSC General Medical Services Committee
GOC General Optical Council
GosC General Osteopathic Council
GOS General Ophthalmic Service
GP Commissioning Groups Pilot projects preparing to go live from April 1998. Based around groups of fundholding and non-fundholding GPs. Will manage a prescribing budget. Will work closely with their local Health Authority to develop health strategies and advise on service developments for local populations.
GPFC General Practice Finance Corporation
GPFH General Practice Fundholder
GTAC Gene Therapy Advisory Committee
GUM Genito-urinary Medicine
HA Health Authority
HAG Health Advisory Group
HAI Hospital Acquired Infection
HAS 2000 Health Advisory Service
HAWNHS Health at Work in the NHS
HAZ Health Action Zone
HB Health Board
HBG Health Benefit Group
HC
Health Circular (Department of
Health)
Health Commission
HCA Hospital Caterers Association
HCHS Hospital and Community Health Services
HEA Health Education Authority
HEFCE Higher Education Funding Council for England
HEFMA Health Estates & Facilities Management Association
HEO Health Education Officer
HES
Hospital Episode Statistics
Hospital Eye Service
HFEA Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
HFMA Healthcare Financial Management Association
HHT Hand Held Terminal
HIBCC Health Index Bar Code Council
HFA Health for All (World Health Organisation)
HiMP Health Improvement Programme
HIS Health Informatics Service
HISS Hospital Information and Support System
HIV Human Immuno Deficiency Virus
HLC Healthy Living Centre
HMR Hospital Medical Record
HMO Health Maintenance Organisation (USA)
HMSO Her Majesty’s Stationery Office (Former)
HN Health Notice (Department of Health)
HO House Officer
HPR Health Process Re-design
HR Human Resources
HRGs Healthcare Resource Groups
HSAC Health Service Advisory Committee (of HSE)
HSC
Health Service Circular (Department
of Health)
Health & Safety Commission
Health Service Commissioner
HSDU Hospital Sterile and Disinfection Unit
HSE Health and Safety Executive
HSG Health Service Guidelines (Department of Health)
HSI Health Service Indicator
HISS Hospital Information & Support Systems
HSJ Health Service Journal
HSPI Health Service Prices Index
HSSB Health and Social Services Board (Northern Ireland)
HSW Health and Safety at Work
HSWA Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
HTA Health Technology Assessment
HTM High Technology Medicine
HV Health Visitor
HVA Health Visitors Association
ICD (10) International Classification of Diseases
ICAS Independent Complaints and Advocacy Services
ICN Infection Control Nurse
ICN Infection Control Nurse
ICP Integrated Care Pathway
ICT Infection Control Team
ICU Intensive Care Unit
ICWS Integrated Clinical Work Station
IHA Independent Healthcare Association
IHCD Institute of Health & Care Development
IHE
Institute of Hospital Engineering
International Health Exchange
IHF International Hospital Federation
IHRIM Institute of Health Record Information Management
IHSM Institute of Health Services Management
IIP Investors in People Initiative
IMC Information Management Centre
IMG Information Management Group of NHS Executive
IMLS Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences
IM&T Information Management and Technology
IP (also APC) Inpatient
IPM Institute of Personnel Management
IPR Individual Performance Review
IRG Independent Reference Group (mental health)
ISSM Institute of Sterile Services Management
IT Information Technology
ITU Intensive Therapy/treatment Unit
IV Intro Venous
JCC Joint Consultative Committee Joint Consultants Committee
JDC Junior Doctors Committee
JF Joint Finance
JFC Joint Formulary Committee
JIT Just In Time (supplies delivery)
JIP Joint Investment Plan
JPAC Joint Planning Advisory Committee
JCPT Joint Care Planning Team
KF King’s Fund
KFAO King’s Fund Organisational Audit
KI Key Indicator (Social Services)
LAS London Ambulance Service
LCG Local Care Group
LDC Local Dental Committee
LHG Local Health Group
LMC Local Medical Committee
LOC Local Optical Committee
LOS Length of Stay
LPC Local Pharmaceutical Committee
LPI Labour Productivity Index
LTA Long Term Agreement
LTSA Long-Term Service Agreements between Health Authorities or Primary Care Groups and NHS Trusts on the service to be provided for a local population. These replace the annual contracts of the internal market and cover a minimum of three years to offer a great stability.
LYS Life Year Saved
MAAG
Medical Audit Advisory Group
Multidisciplinary Audit Advisory Group
MAC Medical Advisory Committee
MADEL Medical and Dental Education Levy
MAF Management Accountancy Framework
MAS Minimal Access Surgery
MASC
Medical Academic Staff Committee
Medical Advisors Support Centre
MBA Master of Business Administration
MC Medicines Commission
MCA Medicines Control Agency
MCO Managed Care Organisation
MDD Medical Devices Directorate
MDS Minimum Data Set
MDU Medical Defence Union
MEC Medical Executive Committee
MEL Management Executive Letter (Scotland)
MESOL Management Education Scheme by Open Learning
MFS Mayflower Financial Services
MHAC Mental Health Act Commission
MHE Mental Health Enquiry
MHS Message Handling System
MIDIRS Midwife Information and Resource Service
MIMS Monthly Index and Medical Specialities
MISG Mental Illness Specific Grant
MIT Minimally Invasive Therapy
MIU Minor Injuries Unit
MLA Medical Laboratory Assistant
MLSO Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer
MMR Mumps, Measles & Rubella (Vaccine)
MPC Medical Practices Committee
MPS Medical Protection Society
MRC Medical Research Council
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRO Medical Records Officer
MSAC Maternity Services Advisory Committee
MSLC Maternity Services Liaison Committee
MSF Manufacturing Science and Finance Technical staff trade union
MWCS Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland
MWSAC Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee
NACGP National Association of Commissioning GPs
NAFHP National Association of Fundholding Practices
NAHAT National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts (Former)
NAHCSM National Association of Health Care Supplies Managers
NAHSSO National Association of Health Service Security Officers
NALHF National Association of Leagues of Hospital Friends
NAO National Audit Office
NATN National Association of Theatre Nurses
NBA National Blood Authority (for England)
NBTS National Blood Transfusion Service
NCCA National Centre for Clinical Audit
NCCHTA National Co-ordinating Centre for Health Technology Assessment
NCEPOD National Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Deaths (formerly CEPOD)
NCMO National Case Mix Office
NCVO National Council for Voluntary Organisations
NCVQ National Council for Vocational Qualifications
NDT National Development Team for People with Learning Disabilities
NED Non-Executive Director
NeLH National Electronic Library for Health NET New and Emerging Technologies
NF Nuffield Foundation
NFA No Fixed Address/Abode
NHD Notional Half Day (consultants)
NHSAR National Health Service Administrative Register
NSCAG National Specialist Commissioning Advisory Group
NHSCCC National Health Service Centre for Coding and Classification
NHSCR National Health Service Central Register
NHS National Health Service
NHS CTA National Health Service Clinical Trials Adviser
NHSE NHS Estates
NHS EHU National Health Service Ethnic Health Unit
NHSLA National Health Service Litigation Authority
NHSnet NHS Network
NHSweb NHS Web - the NHS Intranet
NHSS National Health Service Supplies
NHST National Health Service Trust
NHSTU National Health Service Training Unit
NICE National Institute for Clinical Excellence
NIH Nuffield Institute for Health (Leeds)
NNH Number Needed to Harm
NNT Number Needed to Treat
NPA National Pharmaceutical Association
NPC National Prescribing Centre
NPHT Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust
NPIS National Poisons Information Service
NPT Near Patient Testing
NRE Non-Recurring Expenditure
NRPB National Radiological Protection Board
NSFs National Service Frameworks will bring together the best evidence of clinical and cost-effectiveness with the views of service users to determine the best ways of providing particular services.
NSRC National Schedule of Reference Costs
NSV National Supplies Vocabulary
NTO National Training Organisation
NTTRL National Tissue Typing Reference Laboratory
NWCS NHS Wide Clearing Service
NWN NHS Wide Networking
OATS Out of Area Treatments (replaced ECRs)
OCR Optical Character Recognition
ODA Operating Department Assistant
OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OH Occupational Health
OHE Office of Health Economics (London)
OHS Occupational Health Service
OJEC Official Journal of the European Community
OMP Ophthalmic Medical Practitioner
ONS Office for National Statistics
OP Outpatient
OPA Outpatient Attendances (Appointments)
OPCS Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (defunct now ONS)
(also Classification of Surgical operations & Procedures - 4th revision)
OPD Outpatient Department
OPM Office of Public Management
OT Occupational Therapist/therapy
OU Open University
P&T Professional and Technical
Primary Care Family health services provided by family doctors, dentists, pharmacists, optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners.
PA Patients Association
PAC Public Accounts Committee
PAC Public Accounts Committee
PACS Picture Archiving and Communications System
PACT Prescription Analysis and Cost Tabulation
PAD Patient Administration Database
PALS Patient Advice and Liason Service.
PAMs Profession Allied to Medicine
PAS Patient Administration System
PCAT Primary Care Audit Team
PCG Primary Care Group
PCST Plymouth Community Services NHS Trust
PCT Primary Care Trust
PDP Personal Development Plan
PEM Prescription Event Monitoring
PES Public Expenditure Survey
PEWP Public Expenditure White Paper
PF Performance Framework: The Government will shortly be publishing a consultation document on the new national performance framework set out in this new White Paper. The framework is designed to give a rounded picture of NHS performance and will cover six areas: health improvement; fair access to services; effective delivery of appropriate healthcare; efficiency; patient/carer experience; and the health outcomes of NHS care.
PFC Patient Focused Care
PFI Private Finance Initiative
PFMA Practice Fund Management Allowance
PGEA Postgraduate Education Allowance
PGMDE Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
PHA Public Health Alliance
PHC Primary Health Care
PHCT Primary Health Care Team
PHLS Public Health Laboratory Service
PHSS Personal Health Summary System
PHT (or PHNT) Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Piloting The process of conducting a "trial survey" with relatively small numbers of respondents. The aim is to try to pick up any mistakes or ambiguities in the questionnaire before the survey is commenced.
PI Performance Indicator
PICKUP Professional, Industrial and Commercial Updating
PIF Patient Information Forum
PMCPA Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority
PMD Performance Management Directorate
PMI Private Medical Insurance
PMR Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
PMS
Peninsula Medical School
Personal Medical Service
Post Marketing Surveillance (medicines)
PMSPCAPs The NHS (Primary Care) Act 1997 allows members of the NHS ‘family’, for example, an NHS Trust, an NHS employee, a qualifying body or suitably experience medical practitioners to submit proposals to provide services under a pilot scheme and contract with the Health Authority to do so.
POISE Procurement of Information Systems Effectively
POM Prescription Only Medicine
POMR Problem Oriented Medical Records
POPUMET Protection of Persons Undergoing Medical Examination (regulations)
PPA Prescription Pricing Authority
PPC Promoting Patient Choice
PPIF Patient and Public Involvement Forum
PPM Planned Preventative Maintenance
PPP Private Patients Plan
PPRS Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme
PPSA Patient & Practitioner Services Agency
PQ Parliamentary Question
PRB Pay Review Body
PREPP Post Registration Education and Preparation for Practice (nurses)
PRINCE Projects in Controlled Environments
Probing An exploratory technique used by skilled interviewers to gain further information after an initial response has been given.
PRP Performance Related Pay
PSBR Public sector borrowing requirement
PSI Policy Studies Institute (London)
PSMs Professions Supplementary to Medicine
PSNC Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee
PSS Personal Social Services
PTCA Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty
PTS Patient Transport Services
PVC Prime Vendor Contract
QA Quality Assurance
QALY Quality Adjusted Life Year
QUANGO Quasi-Autonomous Non-governmental Organisation
Qualitative Qualitative research is a largely exploratory process based on the assumption that attitudes and beliefs cannot be accurately measured and need to be interpreted. It relies on methods such as semi-structured and in-depth interviews, focus groups, and makes use of "open-ended" questioning.
Quantitative Quantitative research involves measurement and the structured collection of data, which can then be manipulated statistically. Quantitative research is based on respondents choosing from a fixed set of options – most typically, patients ticking yes/no boxes in a fully structured questionnaire.
Questioning Questioning allows respondents to formulate their own reply to a question. The response may be long or short and may incorporate a range of comments.
Revenue Expenditure other than capital. For example, staff salaries, drug budgets, etc
R&D Research and Development
RAG Research Allocation Group (NHS Executive)
RCA Royal College of Anaesthetists
RCCS Revenue Consequences of Capital Schemes
Reid Clinical Classification System
RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
RCM Royal College of Midwives
RCN Royal College of Nursing
RCOG Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
RCP Royal College of Physicians
RCPCH Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
RCPath Royal College of Pathologists
RCPsych Royal College of Psychiatrists
RCS Royal College of Surgeons
RCT Randomised Controlled Trial
RD&E Royal Devon & Exeter Trust
RDRD Regional Director of Research and Development
RDU Regional Dialysis Unit
REDG Regional Education and Development Group
REI Royal Eye Infirmary
RFA Requirements for Accreditation (GP computers)
RGN Registered General Nurse
RHA Regional Health Authority
RIPA Royal Institute of Public Administration
RMO
Resident Medical Officer
Responsible Medical Officer
RMN Registered Mental Nurse
RN Registered Nurse
RNHA Registered Nursing Home Association
RNMH Registered Nurse for the Mentally Handicapped
Response rate In relation to a postal questionnaire, this is the number of completed and returned questionnaires as a percentage of the total number originally sent out.
RO Regional Office (A Regional Outpost of the NHS Executive)
ROCE Return on Capital Employed
ROE Regional Office for Europe (WHO)
RPSGB Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
RSCG Regional Specialised Commissioning Group
RSCN Registered Sick Children’s Nurse
RSH Royal Society of Health
RSI Repetitive Strain Injury
RSM Royal Society of Medicine
RSU Regional Secure Unit
RTA Road Traffic Accident
S&WDHA South & West Devon Health Authority SAHC Scottish Association of Health Councils
SAS
Standard Accounting System
Scottish Ambulance Service
SAGNIS Strategic Advisory Group for Nursing Information Systems
SAMM Safety Assessment of Marketed Medicines (guidelines)
SCBU Special Care Baby Unit
SCM Specialist in Community Medicine
SCODA Standing Conference on Drug Abuse
SCOPME Standing Committee on Postgraduate Medical Education
SCOTH Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health
SDO Service Delivery and Organisation
SDHCT South Devon Healthcare NHS Trust
Secondary Care Specialist care typically provided in a hospital setting or following a referral from a primary or community health professional.
SFA Statement of Fees and Allowances
SFI Standing Financial Instructions
SGHT Standing Group on Health Technology
Sample A representative "slice" through the population which can be examined and allow us to generalise about that population. A sample is said to be representative if it accurately reflects its population, and biased if it does not.
Sampling error The possibility that, through the normal process of random sampling, the particular sample chosen will yield a result, which is different from the result which, would have been gained, had the total population been asked the same questions.
SHA Special Health Authority
SHARE Scottish Health Authorities Revenue Equalisation
SHO Senior House Officer
SI Statutory Instrument
SID Sudden Infant Death
SIFT Service Increment for Teaching and Research
SIS Supplies Information System
SLA Service Level Agreement
SMAC Standing Medical Advisory Committee
SMAS Substance Misuse Advisory Service
SMP Senior Managers Pay
SMR Standardised Mortality Ratio
SNMAC Standing Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Committee
SOs Standing Orders
SPA Scottish Prescribing Analysis
SPG (NHS) Security Policy Group
SPS Standard Payroll System
SPV Special Purpose Vehicle (project company)
SR
Society of Radiographers
Senior Registrar
SRD State Registered Dietician
SSA Standard Spending Assessment
SSD Social Services Department
SSI Social Services Inspectorate
STEP Standards Enforced in Procurement
SWAG Specialist Workforce Advisory Group (specialist registrars)
SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (analysis)
T&O Trauma and Orthopaedics
TEC Training and Enterprise Council
TEL Trust Executive Letter
TOD Took Own Discharge
TPP Total Purchasing Project
TSO The Stationery Office (formerly HMSO)
TSSU Theatre Sterile Supplies Unit
TUPE Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981
UBHT United Bristol Healthcare Trust
UKCC United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Health Visiting and Midwifery
UKCHHO United Kingdom Clearing House on Health Outcomes (Leeds)
UKTSSA United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority
ULC Unit Labour Cost
ULTRA Unrelated Live Transplant Regulatory Authority
UNISON Public Sector Union
VSC Voluntary Service Co-ordinator
WAIS Wide Area Information Server
WAN Wide Area Networking
WHO World Health Organisation
WIMS Works Information Management System
WLS Waiting List (also known as Booked Admissions - see BA)
WO Welsh Office
WONCA World Organisation of National Colleges. Academics and Academic Associations of General Practitioners
WTE Whole Time Equivalent
YCS Young Chronic Sick
YDU Young Disabled Unit
ZBB Zero Based Budgeting