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NHS Scotland and Related Organisational Terms
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These are explanations of the main terms used to describe healthcare organisations relevant in Scotland
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Asthma UK
A national charity for people living with asthma
BACR—British Association for Cardiac Rehabilitation
National association for cardiac rehabilitation, created to represent all professions involved in cardiac rehabilitation.
BCS—British Cardiac Society
The Society is involved in education, the setting of clinical standards and research into heart and circulatory diseases.
BHF—British Heart Foundation
National charity concerned with people suffering from heart disease
BMA—British Medical Association
Medical union which looks after the interests of doctors
BLF—British Lung Foundation
National charity concerned with people living with Lung Disease
CCI—Centre for Change and Innovation
Scottish Executive Department which aims to share good practice and support change in priority areas
CHP (‘chip’)—Community Health Partnership
Network of professionals aiming to improve the standards and quality of life in a community
CHSS—Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
Medical charity working to improve the quality of life for people suffering with chest heart and stroke illnesses in Scotland
CRIGS—Cardiac Rehabilitation Interest Group
A group dedicated to all professionals with an interest in Cardiac Rehabilitation.
DGH—District General Hospital
Hospital not based in a city dealing with local healthcare needs
Different Strokes
National charity set up by young stroke survivors for young stroke survivors
E-lib—Electronic Library
On line NHS information resource for all health information
GMC—General Medical Council
Main governing body which supplies guidelines for doctors
HB—Health Board
Organisation which deals with all local NHS services
HDL—Health Department Letter
An official statement from the Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD)
HEBS—Health Education Board for Scotland
Agency which provided leadership for health education in Scotland. It is now known as NHS Health Scotland.
HSE—Health and Safety Executive
Agency which aims to protect people's health and safety by ensuring risks in the changing workplace are properly controlled.
IM&T—Information Management & Technology
A term for work concerned with data and computers
ISD—Information and Statistics Division
Department of the NHS in Scotland which deals with the collation of information and statistics on a national basis
(J)HIP—Joint Health Improvement Plan
Local authority commitment to improving health
LAC—Local Advisory Council
Local offices of the Scottish Health Council (SHC)
LHCC—Local Health Care Cooperative
Now replaced by Community Health Partnerships (CHP)
MEL—Management Executive Letter
An official statement from the NHS Management Executive; part of the Scottish Executive (SE).
MCN—Managed Clinical Network
A group of professionals working to improve patient care in one specific disease area.
MD—Modernisation Directorate
department in health boards
MDA—Medical Devices Agency
Body which regulates medical equipment
MKN—Managed Knowledge Network
Resource on the NHS Electronic Library (E-Lib) for healthcare professionals
NAC—National Advisory Committee
Established in 2002 to enforce the recommendations of the CHD & Stroke Strategy
NARA—National Association for the Relief of Apnoea
A national charity providing advice, information, medical equipment and 24 hour support
NES—NHS Education Board for Scotland
Organisation responsible for national education initiatives
NHS 24—National Health Service 24
Confidential 24 hour telephone health service, which coordinates out of hours care and provides advice, support and information
NHS—National Health Service
The national organisation which provides free healthcare in the UK
NHS Health Scotland
Organisation to improve health and reduce inequalities; incorporates HEBS and PHIS
NHS QIS (quiz)—National Health Service Quality Improvement Scotland
Lead organisation in improving the quality of healthcare delivered by NHS Scotland
NICE—National Institute of Clinical Excellence
Organisation which provides guidelines for best practice in England, increasingly acknowledged in Scotland.
NMC—Nursing and Midwifery Council
Governing body for registered nurses and midwives
OEDA—Occupation Environment Disease Association
Deals with compensation and claims for Occupational Lung Disease
PCC—Primary Care Collaborative
Centre of Change & Innovation (CCI) initiative which sets targets and supports improvement in the quality of Primary Care services.
PHIS—Public Health Institute of Scotland
An organisation which worked with the Scottish Executive to improve health and reduce inequalities in Scotland.
RCGP—Royal College of General Practitioners
Sets standards, writes guidelines, monitors education and advises government to ensure high quality patient care
RCN—Royal College of Nursing
Sets standards and writes guidelines and is the main nursing union.
RCP—Royal College of Physicians
Sets medical standards, writes guidelines, monitors education and advises government to ensure high quality patient care
RCS—Royal College of Surgeons
Sets surgical standards, writes guidelines, monitors education and advises government to ensure high quality patient care.
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
SE—Scottish Executive now the Scottish Government,
Responsible for all devolved government work in Scotland
SEHD—Scottish Executive Health Department
Responsible for all devolved government health issues in Scotland
SHC—Scottish Health Council
National organisation with local offices to oversee public involvement in healthcare
SIGN—Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network
Organisation which produces health guidelines for best practice in healthcare in Scotland
Speakability
National charity that supports people living with aphasia and their carers
SSNF—Scottish Stroke Nurses Forum
A forum for registered nurses in Scotland with an interest in Stroke.
WHO—World Health Organisation
United Nations specialised international agency for health
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