Jargon Buster - Health and health care Category

A group of health professionals who work with NHS England to speed up new treatments becoming available to patients on the NHS. They identify specific health conditions and types of treatment as priorities, and make sure that these treatments are developed and agreed for use as quickly as possible.

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• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• Accelerated access pathway

A fast-track route for new medicines and treatments to reach patients on the NHS. Medicines with the greatest potential to be effective could be available on the NHS up to four years earlier than under the usual process.

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• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• Accelerated access collaborative

Health care that people receive in hospital following an injury, operation or illness. It is different to any treatment people may receive for an ongoing health condition from their GP, community nurse or other health care workers in their local community.

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• Health and health care

A decision a person makes about what medical treatment they would or would not want in the future, if they lack capacity to make the decision when it needs to be made. Unlike an advance statement, it is legally binding in England and Wales.

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• Decision-making
• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• Advance statement

Unexpected harm caused to a person by taking a particular medicine, either from a single dose or from ongoing use.

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• Health and health care

People who provide different types of health care who are not doctors, nurses or pharmacists. The description includes a wide range of roles, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, and podiatrists.

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• Health and health care
• Workforce

Health care such as tests or treatment that people receive in hospital as an outpatient, without having to stay in overnight.

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• Health and health care

An NHS initiative for everyone over the age of 14, who is on their doctor’s learning disability register, to have a health check once a year.

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• Disability
• Health and health care

A scheme in some areas where people may be able to choose who provides a health service they need, and the NHS will pay for it. People make their choice from a list of organisations, including charities and private organisations, that the NHS has decided provide a good quality service. Different types of services are included – for example, hearing tests or pain management services.

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• Health and health care

A plan for the care of someone who has a particular health condition and will move between services. It sets out in a single document what is expected to happen when, and who is responsible. It is based on evidence about what works best to treat and manage a particular condition.

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• Health and health care

A persistent or long-lasting illness or health condition that a person lives with, that cannot be cured but can usually be managed with medicines, treatments, care and support.

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• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• Long-term condition

A group of lung conditions that cause breathing difficulties, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

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• Health and health care

A way of finding out if the health care provided by a particular organisation is good enough, and what needs to be done better. It involves looking at how things should be done, comparing what is actually being done by an organisation, making changes where necessary, and then looking again to check for improvements.

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• Assurance and regulation
• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• Audit
• Quality standards

An old term for a group of GP practices in a particular area that worked together to plan and design health services in that area. CCGs were established as part of the Health and Social Care Act in 2012, and replaced primary care trusts on 1 April 2013. On 1 July 2022 Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) were legally established through the Health and Care Act 2022, and CCGs were closed down.

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• Commissioning
• Health and health care

Describes the overall quality of health care that patients receive. Effectiveness is based on research and the best available evidence.

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• Health and health care
• Standards and best practice

A way for health care organisations to continuously improve the quality and safety of care they provide, and to explain how they are doing this.

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• Assurance and regulation
• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• Accountability

The effect of a particular type of treatment on individual people who receive it, and on groups of people with a particular condition.

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• Health and health care

When a doctor or other health professional causes a person harm because of something they did, or something they should have done. Examples include failing to diagnose a condition, making a mistake during treatment, giving the wrong drug, not warning a person about the risks of treatment, or not getting their agreement to treatment.

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• Health and health care

Specific changes in a person’s health or quality of life, as a result of the medical treatment or care they receive.

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• Health and health care

A scientific study that looks at a specific type of treatment to work out whether it is safe, whether it works and whether it is better than other treatments.

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• Assurance and regulation
• Health and health care

When a person is living with more than one health condition at the same time.

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• Health and health care

Health services that are provided outside hospitals, such as district nursing.

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• Health and health care

A specialist health service for people with a learning disability and the people who support them. The team is made up of different workers including therapists, nurses and psychologists. It provides physical and mental health advice and support to people and families.

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• Disability
• Health and health care

A team of workers who support people with their mental health in their own home, rather than in hospital. The team may include psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, social workers and occupational therapists. Their role is to organise and coordinate the person’s treatment, care and support.

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• Health and health care
• Mental health

A condition that a person is born with rather than something they develop during their life.

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• Disability
• Health and health care

Ongoing care outside hospital for someone who is ill or disabled, arranged and funded by the NHS. This type of care can be provided anywhere, and can include the full cost of a place in a nursing home. It is provided when a person’s need for day to day support is mostly due to their need for health care, rather than social care.

The government provides guidance to the NHS on how people should be assessed for continuing health care, and who is entitled to receive it.

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• Health and health care

An illness that gets worse over time.

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• Health and health care

A general term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with people’s daily life.

There are different types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Lewy body and Frontotemporal.

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• Health and health care

When a person is disabled or has a particular health condition, and doctors think this is the reason for any health problems or symptoms they have. It often affects people with a learning disability or people who require support with their mental health, and can mean that illnesses are missed or not treated properly.

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• Disability
• Health and health care

The tests and assessments that are carried out by people working in health care to help them decide if someone has a specific condition or illness.

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• Health and health care

A test to help people working in health care to identify a condition or disease. It may be a medical test, or may be a set of questions about what someone is experiencing.

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• Health and health care

An additional service provided by a doctor (GP), beyond what they would normally provide, to meet a particular need – such as working out who may be at risk of an unplanned hospital stay, and finding ways to avoid this happening. GP practices are paid extra for these services, and can choose whether to provide them.

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• Health and health care

People living with a long-term health condition who are able to take more control over their health by understanding and managing their conditions, leading to an improved quality of life.

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• Health and health care
• People

A six-week programme of weekly classes to help people to manage their own health, and to live as well as possible with a long-term health condition.

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• Health and health care

If a person is near the end of their life or their condition is getting worse quickly, they can receive a faster than usual assessment for continuing health care. This can help NHS funding for their care and support to be put in place as quickly as possible, usually within 48 hours.

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• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• Continuing health care (CHC)

A five-year plan for the future of the NHS that was published in 2014. It set out how the NHS needed to do things differently to improve people’s health and manage within the funds that were available. The aim was to find new ways of providing care and making better use of money.

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• Health and health care

A condition that may develop as people get older and their body becomes less able to recover from illness or injury. Refers to older people who are at higher risk of illness or injury – for example through falling over, and who are more likely to spend time in hospital or to require longer term care and support.

Older people with frailty usually have weak muscles and will walk slowly, get tired easily and find it hard to climb stairs or get out of a chair or bed.

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• Health and health care

A personal plan for young people and adults with a learning disability about how to stay healthy and what help and support they may need to look after their health.

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• Abuse and neglect
• Health and health care

All local councils in England have a Health and Wellbeing Board. The Boards bring together people who work in the NHS, public health and social care to improve the health and wellbeing of their local population.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 introduced Health and Wellbeing Boards from 1 April 2013 in all local councils with social care and public health responsibilities.

The Health and Care Act 2022 does not change the statutory duties of Health and Wellbeing Boards set out by the 2012 Act.

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• Health and health care

Unfair and avoidable differences in health across the population, and between different groups within society.

Health inequalities can include differences in things like life expectancy, access to care and support, and experience of care.

Health inequalities are due to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, which impact on their health and wellbeing.

These conditions are sometimes referred to as wider determinants of health.

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• Equality, diversity and inclusion
• Health and health care

An organisation that aims to find out what matters to people in relation to their health and wellbeing, and make sure people’s views and experiences are shared with NHS leaders and other decision makers.

There are over 150 local Healthwatch organisations across England. As well as listening to people’s experiences and feeding them back to local health and social care organisations, they also offer information and advice.

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• Assurance and regulation
• Health and health care

Health treatment that a person receives in their own home that they would otherwise receive in hospital. It is usually provided by experienced nurses, for a limited period, and can help people avoid going into hospital or mean they can come home from hospital sooner.

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• Health and health care
• Hospital

A panel that people can ask for something to be looked at again. For example, if someone has been told that the NHS will not fund their continuing health care, and they think the wrong decision has been made, they can appeal to an independent review panel.

The panel will be made up of people who have not had any previous involvement with the person or their situation, and who can investigate why the decision was made and whether it is right or wrong.

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• Assurance and regulation
• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• Continuing health care (CHC)

An illness or health condition that people live with, that cannot be cured but can usually be managed with medicines or other treatments. Asthma, diabetes, arthritis, and epilepsy are examples of long-term conditions.

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• Health and health care

A state of poor health, due to a specific illness.

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• Health and health care

When a person has two or more long-term health conditions at the same time, that may require ongoing support and treatment. The way this affects a person’s health will depend on the conditions they have.

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• Health and health care

An online account for people to find information about their health and healthcare.

People aged 13 or over who are registered with an NHS doctors surgery in England can have an account.

People can access their account via the NHS App or the NHS website and can use it to view their medical record, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, check symptoms and view messages from their surgery.

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• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• NHS App

An app that people can use to access their NHS account. People can use the app to view their medical record, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, check symptoms and view messages from their surgery.

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• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• NHS account

Ongoing care outside hospital for someone who is ill or disabled, arranged and funded by the NHS. This type of care can be provided anywhere, and can include the full cost of a place in a nursing home. It is provided when a person’s need for day to day support is mostly due to their need for health care, rather than social care. The government provides guidance to the NHS on how people should be assessed for continuing health care, and who is entitled to receive it.

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• Health and health care

The organisation that leads the National Health Service (NHS) in England.

NHS England supports local Integrated Care Systems (ICS) to improve the health of the population, improve the quality of care, tackle inequalities and deliver care more efficiently.

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• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• Integrated care system

A national organisation that is responsible for working with local health organisations to help them improve the work they do and provide better, safer care to people.

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• Health and health care

A detailed 10-year plan for the future of the NHS from 2019 to 2029, setting out what the main priorities are and how the budget will be spent. The aim is to improve the quality of health care people receive. Priorities include improving care for children and young people, cancer, heart disease and mental health.

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• Health and health care

A document published every year that says what the main priorities are for NHS organisations in England and what it needs to achieve. It also says how much money is available to the NHS to spend.

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• Health and health care

A 10-digit number, like 485 777 3456 that is unique to a person.

It helps NHS staff and service providers identify people correctly and match their details to their health records.

People can find their NHS number on letters sent to them from their doctor, hospital or another NHS service, or by using the ‘Find your NHS number’ service.

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• Health and health care

Money paid by the NHS to care homes or nursing homes to cover the cost of nursing care provided to people living in the homes. It is paid to cover the nursing element of care both for people paying for their own care and support and for people who have council funded care and support.

It is different from continuing health care funding, and may be paid if people don’t need full continuing health care but still need some nursing care.

If people are paying their own care home fees, the amount that the NHS pays for their nursing care should be deducted from their bill. People should be assessed for NHS continuing health care before a decision is made about whether they are eligible for NHS-funded nursing care, and they won’t need to make a separate claim.

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• Health and health care
• Money

Related Jargon

• Continuing health care (CHC)

Medical care provided by a qualified nurse in a care home or nursing home to people after they leave hospital or if they have a long-term health condition.

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• Health and health care

A care home where there is a qualified nurse on site to provide medical care 24 hours a day.

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• Health and health care
• Housing with care and support

A way that people can communicate with a doctor online rather than having to book an appointment or telephone or visit the surgery.

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• Health and health care

A service based in NHS hospitals that provides a point of contact for patients, carers and families. The service offers confidential advice, support and information on health-related matters, and can support people to resolve problems or concerns, and to make a complaint.

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• Health and health care

Something that is not supposed to happen that caused, or could have caused, harm to someone receiving health care. These incidents should be reported, to prevent them happening again.

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• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• Near miss

An amount of NHS money allocated to a person to support their health and wellbeing.

Personal health budgets mean that people can manage their healthcare and support such as treatments, equipment and personal care in a way that suits them.

Personal health budgets work in a similar way to personal budgets for care and support.

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• Health and health care
• Self-directed support and personal budgets

Related Jargon

• Personal budget

A group of people in a particular area who have a personal health budget who work with people working in the NHS to help personal health budgets develop further in their area. There is also a national personal health budget peer network, where people who have a personal health budget can contribute their views and experiences.

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• Health and health care
• Self-directed support and personal budgets

Treatment that is designed for individual people, based on their own genetic make-up and how their body is likely to respond, rather than the same treatment given to everyone with the same illness or condition.

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• Health and health care

When a person takes a number of different types of medicine at the same time. This is becoming more common as people live longer, and as they live with several different health conditions. Taking a number of different medicines can be beneficial for a person’s health, and can improve their quality of life – or it may be risky, as different drugs do not always work well together.

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• Health and health care

Related Jargon

• Multimorbidity

A way of improving the health of people in local communities by looking at which groups in the local population are most likely to become unwell, and working out how to prevent and treat ill-health.

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• Health and health care

An appointment before a person goes into hospital or a care home to discuss the person’s needs and the care they will receive. If they are going into hospital, it may also include some tests.

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• Health and health care

Gathering and sharing information before a planned operation or procedure. A pre-assessment could include a conversation with a health care worker, tests or a questionnaire.

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• Assessment
• Health and health care

The first point of contact in the health service, usually a person’s GP, practice nurse, local pharmacist, dentist or NHS walk-in centre. Primary care doctors deal with a wide range of health problems. They treat common illnesses, help people manage long-term conditions and refer people to a specialist doctor when necessary.

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• Health and health care

Groups of GP practices in an area that work together, and with hospitals, social care, pharmacies and other services, to care for people with long-term conditions and prevent people becoming ill.

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• Health and health care

An opinion about how something such as an illness is likely to develop, and what is likely to happen.

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• Health and health care

Public health is about protecting and improving people’s health and wellbeing, and reducing health inequalities.

Public health services include support to help people stop smoking, and around people’s sexual health or drug or alcohol use.

Local councils are responsible for protecting and improving the health of the local population. This includes providing public health services, and wider health protection work like protection from outbreaks of infectious disease.

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• Health and health care

A former government organisation replaced in 2021 by the United Kingdom Health Security Agency and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

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• Health and health care

A summary of what GP practices should do for people and what information they should collect. GP practices get extra money for providing specific services that the QOF says they should, such as keeping records of people’s blood pressure and making sure that people in at-risk groups receive things such as flu jabs.

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• Health and health care

Care and treatment that a person receives in hospital, either as an inpatient or an outpatient. This may be planned or emergency care. It is more specialist than primary care.

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• Health and health care

A programme to expand NHS services to make all types of care, not just emergency care, available every day of the week. If a person is admitted to hospital in an emergency, they should be able to see a consultant and receive the tests they need within 24 hours.

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• Health and health care

Can be used to refer to a person’s physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing in relation to sexuality, but often used in relation to a contraception and pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like chlamydia and gonorrhoea.

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• Health and health care

Care and support for people with a life-threatening illness, that helps them and their family cope with this and with any treatment they are having. It should help people to live as well as possible with the effects of the illness, and may include information, psychological support, rehabilitation and complementary therapies.

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• Care and support services
• Health and health care

An illness or disease that cannot be cured and is likely to lead to a person’s death.

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• Health and health care

Highly specialist health care requiring particular expertise and equipment, that is available only in specialist hospitals. Examples include cancer treatment and heart surgery.

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• Health and health care

Somewhere people can go without an appointment instead of accident and emergency departments in hospital (A&E), if they have a minor injury or illness that cannot wait for a GP appointment.

Urgent care centres are usually staffed by nurses and GPs.

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• Health and health care
• Hospital

Specific parts of England that have been chosen to develop new ways of providing NHS care. The aim is to bring hospital and community care services together and to keep people well.

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• Health and health care

An NHS centre that people can go to without an appointment if they have an illness or injury that is not serious enough for them to go to an accident and emergency department (for example, minor injuries, infections, stomach aches, vomiting and diarrhoea). Many walk-in centres are open every day of the year.

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• Health and health care