Health and care words explained

Health and care can sometimes seem to have a language of their own. There are shortened names, initials and words that organisations use every day but don't always explain.

We've explained some you may come across when getting NHS healthcare, social care or support, or when reading information about appointments or treatment.

Can't find the term you're looking for? Tell us at hello@hwny.co.uk. We'll keep adding to this page.

Shortened names, initials and abbreviations

Health and care information often uses shortened names, initials and abbreviations. Some refer to organisations or parts of health and care, while others are commonly used when talking about people, health or care.

You might hear these shortened names in conversations or see them in letters, emails and information about your care.

Here are some of the ones you may come across.

Health and care words explained

A plain English guide to words, shortened names and initials you may come across in health and care.

Health and care can sometimes seem to have a language of their own. There are shortened names, initials and words that organisations use every day but don't always explain.

We've explained some you may come across when getting healthcare, care or support, or when reading information about health and care.

Can't find what you're looking for? Tell us at hello@hwny.co.uk. We'll keep adding to this page.

Shortened names, initials and abbreviations

Health and care information often uses shortened names, initials and abbreviations. Some refer to organisations or parts of health and care, while others are commonly used when talking about people, health or care.

Here are some you may come across.

A&E – Accident and Emergency

The hospital department for serious injuries and life-threatening emergencies. You may also hear it called the emergency department.

AIS – Accessible Information Standard

A standard that says NHS and adult social care organisations must identify, record, flag, share and meet the communication needs of disabled people and people with sensory loss.

ASC – Adult Social Care

Support for adults who need help with everyday life because of illness, disability, age or other needs. This can include help at home, equipment and adaptations, day activities or residential care.

CQC – Care Quality Commission

The independent organisation that regulates health and social care in England. It checks places such as hospitals, GP practices and care homes to make sure people receive safe, good-quality care.

DHSC – Department of Health and Social Care

The government department responsible for health and adult social care policy in England.

GP – General Practitioner

A doctor who usually works in a local GP practice and is often the first doctor you speak to about a physical or mental health problem.

GPs can diagnose and treat many health problems, prescribe medicines and refer you for other healthcare when needed.

HWE – Healthwatch England

The national organisation that supports local Healthwatch organisations and makes sure people's experiences of health and social care are heard nationally.

HWNY – Healthwatch North Yorkshire

That's us. We're your independent health and social care champion. We listen to people's experiences of health and care across North Yorkshire and use what we hear to help make things better.

ICB – Integrated Care Board

The NHS organisation responsible for planning and paying for much of the NHS care people receive in a local area.

In our area, this is NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.

ICS – Integrated Care System

NHS organisations, councils and other organisations working together to improve health and care in an area.

North Yorkshire is part of the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care System.

LGBTQ+ / LGBTQIA+

These initials are used to include people with a range of sexual orientations and gender identities.

LGBTQ+ usually stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer or questioning. The + recognises other sexual orientations and gender identities.

You may also see LGBTQIA+, which also includes intersex and asexual people.

MDT – Multidisciplinary team

A group of different professionals working together to support someone's care. This might include doctors, nurses, therapists and social care staff.

NHS – National Health Service

The publicly funded healthcare system.

NICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

An organisation that produces guidance and recommendations about health and social care in England.

OT – Occupational Therapist

A professional who helps people carry out everyday activities as independently and safely as possible.

They may suggest different ways of doing things, equipment or changes to someone's home.

PALS – Patient Advice and Liaison Service

A team found in many NHS hospitals that can provide information and help people with questions, concerns or problems about their hospital care.

PCN – Primary Care Network

A group of local GP practices that work together and with other health and care organisations.

PPG – Patient Participation Group

A group of patients who work with their GP practice to share people's views and help improve the care and support it provides.

SEND – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities

A term used when a child or young person has a learning difficulty or disability that means they need additional support.

VCFSE – Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise sector

Charities, community groups, voluntary organisations, faith groups and social enterprises. You may also see the shorter term VCSE.

Common health and care words and phrases

Accessibility / accessible

Making sure information, places, care and support can be used or understood by people with different needs.

For example, this could mean step-free access, providing an interpreter or giving someone information in Easy Read, large print or another format.

Acute / acute care

Healthcare for a sudden or serious illness or injury, often provided in hospital.

Adaptations

Changes made to someone's home to help them live safely and independently.

These could include grab rails, ramps, stairlifts or changes to a bathroom.

Advance care plan / advance care planning

Planning and recording your wishes about your future care, particularly if there may come a time when you cannot explain what you want.

Advance decision / advance decision to refuse treatment

A decision you can make in advance to refuse particular medical treatments in the future if you are unable to make or communicate the decision yourself.

You may also hear this called a living will.

Advocacy

Support to help you understand your rights, express your views and wishes, or speak up about decisions affecting you.

An advocate is someone who can provide this support.

Appointment

An arranged time to see or speak to a health or care professional. This could be face to face, by phone or online.

Assessment

A conversation or process used to understand someone's health, care or support needs and what help might be suitable.

Best interests

If someone cannot make a particular decision for themselves, decisions made on their behalf must consider what is best for them, including their wishes, feelings, beliefs and values.

Care and support plan

A plan setting out someone's social care needs, what's important to them, what they want to achieve and how their care and support will be arranged.

Care contribution

The amount someone is asked to pay towards the cost of their social care following a financial assessment.

Care navigator

Someone who helps people find the right healthcare, care, advice or community support for their needs.

Care needs assessment

An assessment carried out by your council to look at what help and support you might need with everyday life.

It looks at your needs, how they affect your wellbeing and what you want to be able to do.

Care package

An agreed set of care and support arranged to meet someone's needs, often following an assessment.

Care plan

A written plan setting out the care and support someone needs, what is important to them and how their needs will be met.

Carer

Someone who regularly looks after or supports a family member, friend or neighbour who could not manage without their help.

People don't always think of themselves as a carer, particularly when they are looking after someone close to them.

Carer's assessment

An assessment carried out by a council to look at how caring for someone affects a carer and what support they might need.

It is about the carer's own needs, rather than the needs of the person they care for.

Clinical / clinician

Clinical means relating to someone's healthcare, diagnosis or treatment.

A clinician is a health professional involved in someone's care, such as a doctor, nurse, physiotherapist or pharmacist.

Commissioning

Planning and paying for healthcare, care or support for a particular area or group of people.

Community health

Healthcare provided outside hospital, often in people's homes, health centres or other places in the community.

This can include district nursing, health visiting and some rehabilitation.

Complaint

Formally telling an organisation that you're unhappy about the care, treatment or support you received and asking it to respond.

Compliment

Positive feedback about the care, treatment or support you or someone else has received.

Consultant

A senior doctor who specialises in a particular area of medicine.

You may be referred to a consultant for specialist advice, tests or treatment.

Continuing Healthcare (CHC)

Care arranged and paid for entirely by the NHS for some adults who have significant ongoing healthcare needs.

Whether someone qualifies is based on an assessment of their needs rather than a particular diagnosis or condition.

Consent

Giving permission for something to happen, such as an examination or treatment.

For consent to be valid, it must be given voluntarily by someone who has enough information and is able to make the decision.

Co-production

When organisations and people with experience of health and care work together as equal partners to design or improve the care and support people receive.

Diagnosis

Identifying an illness, condition or other health problem, usually by looking at someone's symptoms and the results of examinations or tests.

Direct payment

Money paid to you by your council so you can arrange and pay for some or all of your agreed care and support yourself.

It can give you more choice and control over how your support is provided.

Digital exclusion

When someone cannot easily use online information or digital technology.

This could be because they don't have internet access or a suitable device, cannot afford to get online, or don't have the skills or support they need.

Discharge

When someone's care from a hospital or another healthcare team comes to an end.

For example, you may be discharged from hospital when you're well enough to leave, or discharged from a particular team when you no longer need their care.

Domiciliary care / home care

Care and support provided in your own home.

This could include help with washing and dressing, preparing meals, taking medicines or other everyday activities.

You may hear this called domiciliary care, home care or care at home.

Duty of Candour

A legal duty on health and care organisations to be open and honest when something goes wrong with someone's care. This includes explaining what happened and apologising.

Easy Read

Information that uses simple words, short sentences and pictures to make it easier to understand.

Elective / planned care

Healthcare that is planned in advance rather than provided as an emergency.

This can include operations, procedures and appointments. “Elective” does not necessarily mean the treatment is optional.

Eligibility / eligibility criteria

The rules used to decide whether someone qualifies for particular care, support or funding.

Eligible needs / eligible care and support needs

Care and support needs that meet the rules used by a council to decide whether it has a duty to help someone.

Having eligible needs does not necessarily mean the council will pay the full cost of someone's care. A financial assessment may be used to decide whether they need to contribute.

Emergency care

Immediate healthcare for serious or life-threatening illnesses or injuries.

Engagement

Talking and listening to people about their experiences and views. This could happen through conversations, events, focus groups or surveys.

Enter and View

A legal power that allows Healthwatch to visit certain places where health and social care is provided, such as care homes and hospitals.

We talk to people about their experiences and use what we see and hear to highlight what's working well and what could be improved.

Expert by experience / experts by experience

Someone who uses their own experience of a health condition, caring role or health and care to help improve things or support others.

You might hear organisations use this term when people use their own experiences to help design, review or improve care and support.

Feedback

Telling an organisation about your experience, including what went well or what you think could be better.

Financial assessment

An assessment of your finances carried out by your council to work out whether you need to pay towards your social care and, if so, how much.

It usually looks at things such as your income and savings. You may also hear this called a means test.

Health inequalities

Unfair and avoidable differences in people's health or their ability to get the care they need.

Things such as income, housing, employment and where someone lives can all affect their health.

Health professional / healthcare professional

Someone trained to provide healthcare, such as a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or physiotherapist.

Health record / medical record

Information kept about your health and care. It can include your medical history, test results, medicines, diagnoses and notes made by health professionals involved in your care.

Informed consent

Agreeing to treatment or care after being given enough clear information to make a decision, including the possible benefits and risks.

Inpatient

Someone who has been admitted to hospital to receive care or treatment and is given a hospital bed.

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

A legal arrangement that allows someone you choose to make certain decisions for you if needed.

There are different types of LPA, including one covering health and welfare.

Lived experience

Someone's own experience of something – for example, living with a health condition, caring for someone or receiving health or social care.

Long-term condition

An illness or health condition that lasts for a long time and usually needs ongoing care or management.

Examples include diabetes, asthma and arthritis.

Means testing / means-tested

Looking at someone's income, savings and other financial circumstances to decide whether they qualify for financial help or how much they need to pay.

Adult social care provided or arranged by a council is often means-tested.

Mental capacity

Being able to understand information and make a particular decision for yourself.

Someone's ability to make decisions can vary depending on the decision and circumstances.

Neighbourhood health

Different health, care and community organisations working together in a local area to provide more joined-up care and help people stay well.

Next of kin

Usually the person considered to be your closest relative or contact.

Being someone's next of kin does not automatically give them legal authority to make decisions for them.

Nursing care / nursing home

A nursing home is a care home where people can receive care and support as well as nursing care from qualified nurses.

This is different from a residential care home, which does not routinely provide nursing care.

Ombudsman

An independent organisation that investigates certain complaints that haven't been resolved by the organisation complained about.

Different ombudsmen deal with different types of complaints.

Outpatient

Someone who goes to hospital for an appointment, test or treatment without being admitted to stay in hospital.

Palliative care

Care and support for someone with a serious or life-limiting illness.

It aims to help with symptoms, comfort and quality of life and can also provide support for family and carers.

Pathway / care pathway

The steps someone goes through to get care or treatment.

For example, a pathway might include seeing your GP, being referred to a specialist, having tests and then receiving treatment.

Personal budget

The amount of money your council decides is needed to meet your eligible social care and support needs.

It forms part of your care and support plan. Depending on your circumstances, some or all of the money may come from the council, and you may need to contribute towards the cost yourself.

A personal budget is not the same as a Personal Health Budget.

Personal Health Budget

NHS money allocated to meet someone's agreed health and wellbeing needs, giving them more choice over how some of their care and support is arranged.

Personalised care / person-centred care

Care and support that takes account of what's important to you, your individual needs and the choices you want to make.

You may also hear phrases such as “person-centred approach” or “person-centred support”.

Prevention

Helping to stop health problems developing, or finding them early before they become more serious.

Primary care

Usually the first place you go for healthcare. It includes GP practices, community pharmacies, dentists and opticians.

Provider

An organisation or person that provides healthcare, care or support.

For example, a hospital trust, GP practice or care home might be called a “provider”.

Reasonable adjustments

Changes that make it easier for disabled people to get the care they need.

This could include providing information in a different format, allowing more time for an appointment or changing how someone is seen or communicated with.

Reablement

Short-term support to help someone regain skills and independence after an illness, injury or stay in hospital.

Recommendations

Suggestions Healthwatch makes about how health and care could be improved, based on what people have told us or what we've found through our work.

Referral

When a health or care professional asks another professional or team to see you or provide care, advice or support.

For example, your GP might refer you to a hospital specialist or physiotherapist.

Rehabilitation

Care and support to help someone recover, regain skills or adapt following an illness, injury or treatment.

Residential care / residential care home

A place where someone lives and receives care and support when they can no longer manage safely or independently at home.

This can include help with things such as washing, dressing, eating and taking medicines.

Residential care homes do not routinely provide the nursing care available in a nursing home.

Respite / respite care

Short-term care or support that can give an unpaid carer a break while making sure the person they care for continues to receive support.

Safeguarding

Protecting someone's right to live safely and free from abuse, neglect or harm.

Screening

Tests or checks offered to certain groups of people to look for early signs of a health condition before they have symptoms.

Secondary care

Specialist healthcare that you're usually referred to by another health professional.

Much of it is provided in hospitals, although some specialist care is provided elsewhere.

Self-funder

Someone who pays the full cost of their own social care.

This may be because their finances mean they don't qualify for council funding or because they have chosen to arrange their care themselves.

Self-referral

When you contact a particular healthcare team directly without needing another health professional, such as your GP, to refer you first.

Not all types of healthcare allow self-referral.

Seldom heard

People or communities whose views and experiences are less likely to be heard when decisions about health and care are made.

You may also hear terms such as “seldom heard groups” or “seldom asked”.

Services

The care, treatment, support or advice provided by an organisation or group of people.

For example, a GP practice, hospital clinic, mental health team, home care provider or advice organisation might all be described as a “service”.

You may also hear phrases such as “health services”, “care services” or “support services”.

Shared decision-making

When you and a health professional make decisions about your care or treatment together.

They explain the options, benefits and risks, you explain what's important to you, and you decide together what is right for you.

Social care

Help and support with everyday life for people who need it because of age, illness, disability or other needs.

This can include help at home, equipment and adaptations, support to take part in activities, or care in a residential or nursing home.

Unlike most NHS healthcare, adult social care is not automatically free. Your council may assess both your care and support needs and your finances to decide what support you are eligible for and whether you need to pay towards it.

Social prescribing

Connecting people with non-medical activities, advice and support that could help their health and wellbeing.

This might include community groups, physical activities, financial or housing advice, volunteering or support with loneliness.

Stakeholder

A person, group or organisation with an interest in or affected by something.

Where possible, it's usually clearer to say exactly who we mean rather than call people “stakeholders”.

Statutory

Something required or set out by law.

Symptoms

Changes in your body or how you feel that could be caused by an illness or health condition, such as pain, tiredness or feeling sick.

Treatment

Care given to improve, manage or relieve an illness, condition or symptoms.

Treatment could include medicines, surgery, therapy or other types of care.

Triage

Working out how urgently someone needs help and who is best placed to help them.

For example, a GP practice may ask about your symptoms or what you need help with before deciding who you should see and how quickly.

Urgent care

Healthcare for an illness or injury that needs attention quickly but is not necessarily life-threatening.

Waiting list

A list of people waiting for an appointment, test, treatment or operation.

How long you wait can depend on what care you need, how urgent it is and where you're being treated.