Jargon Buster

We at The Marbrook Centre, with our fellow professionals at the National Health Service love an acronym (NHS!) So if we ever fall into the bad habit of using abbreviations in conversations, please tell us to stop. Meanwhile, here is a useful A to Z ‘health-speak’ guide.

ABI

Acquired Brain Injury Acquired brain injury (ABI) is brain damage caused by events after birth, rather than as part of a genetic or congenital disorder such as fetal alcohol syndrome, perinatal illness or perinatal hypoxia.[1] ABI can result in cognitive, physical, emotional, or behavioural impairments that lead to permanent or temporary changes in functioning.

AHP

Allied Health Professional

ALS

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis also known as Motor Neurone disease (MND)

CQC

Care Quality Commission – the independent regulator of health and social care in England, who monitor, inspect and rate hospitals, GPs and care homes, for their fundamental standards of care. These inspections are then rated as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate.

CQUIN

Commissioners for Quality and Innovation – are targets local NHS commissions can set, to drive and reward excellence for achieving specific care goals.

DoLS

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards – are amendments to the Mental Capacity Act 2005, allows restraint and restriction to be used, but ONLY if they are in the person’s best interest.

FTD

Frontotemporal Dementia, original known as Pick’s disease.

LD

Learning Disability – living with a learning disability means you find it harder to learn certain life skills.

MDT

Multi-Disciplinary Team – a group of clinical professionals working together to provide the best care programme.

MH

Mental Health

MMSE

Mini Mental State Examination – is a sensitive and reliable 30 point questionnaire that can help to establish the level of cognitive impairment.

MND

Motor Neurone Disease – is a rare condition that progressively damages parts of the nervous system, leading to muscle weakness and wasting.

MTC

Major Trauma Centre – 26 established in England of which 22 treat adults, each linked to a number of supporting Trauma Units (TUs)

OT PEG

feeding Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy – is a way of introducing food and fluids via a thin tube passing through the skin and into the stomach.

PRN

Pro Re Nata – is a Latin phrase describing medicines that are taken ‘as needed’.

RC

Responsible Clinician – is the person who has overall responsibility for the care and treatment of an individual being assessed and treated under the Mental Health Act.

RM

Rehabilitation Medicine

RMN

Registered Mental Health Nurse

RN

Registered Nurse

RP

Rehabilitation Prescription – a document detailing the rehabilitation needs of a severely injured individual.

RR&R

Recovery, Re-enablement and Rehabilitation

SaLT

Speech and Language Therapist – assess and treat speech, language and communication problems.

SOVA

Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults – is to protect any person aged 18 or over from abuse. Forms of abuse include; physical abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, financial abuse, neglect, professional abuse, sexual abuse, racism and sexism. The Cambridgeshire Adult Safeguarding Team can be contacted on 0345 045 5202 or Cambridgeshire.direct@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

SRP

Specialist Rehabilitation Prescription – a document detailing the rehabilitation required for those with more complex needs.

TARN

Trauma Audit Research Network Trauma

CAG (NHS)

Clinical Group for Major Trauma – which reports recommendations to the Department for Health (England) for a coordinated pathway of care.

TUs

Trauma Units

MTC

Major Trauma Centres.

UKROC

United Kingdom Rehabilitation Outcomes Collaborative – the national database for specialist rehabilitation.