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You are in: Home > Have Your Say > Glossary > General Medical Terms

General Medical Terms

Explanations of general healthcare terms relevant to chest, heart and stroke illness. Words with capital letters are listed individually to allow further understanding. You can search this page using Ctrl + F.

A - B - C - D - E - G - H - I -J- M - N - O - P - R - S - V

A&E—Accident and Emergency

Receiving department of a hospital where people needing urgent medical attention are brought.

ADL—Activities Of Daily Living

The daily tasks we do in normal life

AED—Automatic External Defibrillator

Machine used to deliver an electric shock to the Heart to correct abnormal Heart Rhythm. Designed to be safely used by the public.

AFC—Agenda For Change

The 2004 process of restructuring the pay of all healthcare professionals (except doctors)

ALS—Advanced Life Support

Treatment given in hospital during a life threatening emergency

Artery

Blood Vessel which carries Blood away from the Heart around the body

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ARU—Acute Receiving Unit

Ward into which patients are admitted for assessment

BLS—Basic Life Support

Emergency treatment to sustain breathing and Blood Flow

Benign

A condition which has no serious effects

Blood

Liquid substance which travels in Vessels and supplies Oxygen and nutrients to all areas of the body

BMI—Body Mass Index

A number which judges whether you are the correct weight for your height

BNF—British National Formulary

A reference book for all health professionals which contains information about medicines

BP—Blood Pressure

A measurement of the pressure at which Blood is being pumped around the body by the Heart
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Capillary

Tiny Vessels which branch off from Veins and Arteries to deliver Blood to all areas of the body

Consent Form

Documented permission from a patient for a treatment

CPD—Continuing Professional Development

Study which healthcare professionals are required to undertake throughout their career

CT/ CAT—Computerised Actualisation Tomography

A test which looks at a part of the body using X-rays to create a picture of any problems

DGH—District General Hospital

Hospital not based in a city dealing with local healthcare needs

Diagnosis

Medical term describing presence of an illness

DNA—Did Not Attend

Used to describe a patient who did not turn up to a booked appointment

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DNR—Do Not Resuscitate

Decision not to actively treat a life threatening illness

DVT—Deep Vein Thrombosis

A Blood clot in a leg Vessel

EBM—Evidence Based Medicine

Medical practice based on research results

Generic

The accepted general name for a medication

GMS—General Medical Services

Primary Care healthcare professionals

HDL—Health Department Letter

An official statement from the Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD)

Hypertension

High Blood Pressure

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Hypotension

Low Blood Pressure

ICP—Integrated Care Pathway

A hospital document used by all health professionals to record your stay in hospital.

IM&T—Information Management & Technology

A term for work concerned with data and computers.

ITU/ ICU—Intensive Therapy Unit/ Intensive Care Unit

Area of the hospital where seriously ill people are looked after.

IV—Intravenous

Within/ into the Veins

(J) HIP—Joint Health Improvement Plan

Local authority commitment to improving health.

MEL—Management Executive Letter

An official statement from the NHS Management Executive (part of the Scottish Executive (SE)).

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MRI—Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A test which uses a magnet to create a picture of potential problems inside the body

NFR—Not For Resuscitation

Decision not to actively treat a life threatening illness.

NOK—Next Of Kin

The family member/ friend who is the first point of contact for a patient.

OPD—Out Patient Department

The area of a hospital where people come from home to be seen in clinics.

PDP—Personal Development Plan

The personal aims and objectives of a healthcare professional agreed with their manager.

PE—Pulmonary Embolus

Blood clot restricting blood flow to the lungs.

POM—Prescription Only Medicine

Medicine you cannot buy over the counter

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PREP—Post Registration Experience Portfolio

Outdated term for Continual Professional Development (CPD).

Primary Care

Healthcare provided in the community.

Prognosis

Expected outcome for a patient.

RCT—Randomised Controlled Trial

A method used in medical research, regarded as the most reliable gold standard.

REC—Research Ethics Committee

Group of people who examine research proposals.

SAS—Scottish Ambulance Service

The emergency service used to transport people to hospital.

SCI—Scottish Care Information

A national initiative which aims to provide standard national information on Coronary Heart Disease split into three levels Bronze, Silver & Gold.

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Secondary Care

Healthcare which is provided in a hospital.

Syndrome

A collection of signs and symptoms known to occur at once.

Vein

Blood vessel which carries blood back to the heart from the body.

Ventilation

To do with breathing

Vessel

Term for Veins, Arteries and Capillaries.

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