Glossary of terms and abbreviations
A
AAV – anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis
ABN – Association of British Neurologists
ABO – the blood group system
ACE inhibitors – angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (a drug used primarily for the treatment of high blood pressure)
ACP – advance care planning
ACS – acute coronary syndrome
ACTH – adrenocorticotropic hormone
ADR – adverse drug reaction
AEC – ambulatory emergency care
AFB – acid-fast Bacillus testing
AKI – acute kidney injury
AMD – age-related macular degeneration
AMU – acute medical unit
anti-VEGF – anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (used in the treatment of wet AMD)
AOS - acute oncology services
APD – audio processing disorder
APM – Association for Palliative Medicine
ART – antiretroviral therapy
ARTP – Association for Respiratory Technology and Physiology
AVP – audiovestibular physicians
AWMSG – All Wales Medicines Strategy Group
B
BAA – British Academy of Audiology
BAAP – The British Association of Audiovestibular Physicians
BACPR – British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation
BAD – British Association of Dermatologists
BASHH – British Association for Sexual Health and HIV
BBV – blood-borne virus
BCIS – British Cardiovascular Intervention Society
BCSH – British Committee for Standards in Haematology
BGS – British Geriatrics Society
BHIVA – British HIV Association
BKPA – British Kidney Patient Association
BNCS – British Nuclear Cardiology Society
BNMS – British Nuclear Medicine Society
BOA – British Orthopaedic Association
BPPV – benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
BPS – British Pharmacological Society
bradyarrhythmia – disorders of heart rhythm causing a slow heart rate defined as under 60 beats per minute
BRING-MD – British and Irish Neurologists – Movement Disorders Group
BSA – British Society of Audiology
BSACI – British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology
BSCCT – British Society of Cardiac Computed Tomography
BSCI – British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging
BSCMR – British Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
BSE – British Society of Echocardiography
BSG – British Society of Gastroenterology
BSH – British Society for Haematology
BSHF – British Society for Heart Failure
BTS – British Thoracic Society
BSR – British Society for Rheumatology
C
CAPD – continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
CAPS – cryopyrin associated periodic syndrome
CCG – clinical commissioning group
CESR – Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration
CfWI – Centre for Workforce Intelligence
CGA – comprehensive geriatric assessment
CKD – chronic kidney disease
CME – continuing medical education
CNS – clinical nurse specialist
CPC – Child Protection Committee
CPD – continuing professional development
CRG – Clinical Reference Group
COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPAP – continuous positive airways pressure
CPT – clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
CQC – Care Quality Commission
CTCA – computed tomography coronary angiography
CRT – cardiac resynchronisation therapy
CVD – cardiovascular disease
CXR – chest X-ray
D
DGH – district general hospital
DMARDs – disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs
DOACs – direct oral anticoagulants
dysacusis – a hearing impairment in which the loss is not measurable in decibels
E
EANM – European Association of Nuclear Medicine
EBUS-TBNA – endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration
ECG – electrocardiogram
eGFR – estimated glomerular filtration rate
eighth cranial nerve – the vestibulocochlear nerve
EMA – European Medicines Agency
ENT – ear, nose and throat
EOLC – end-of-life care
EPaCCS – Electronic Palliative Care Coordination Systems
ERCP – endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
erythropoiesis – the process of producing red blood cells
EUS – endoscopic ultrasound
F
FEV1 and FVC – forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC): a calculated ratio representing the proportion of a person's vital capacity that they are able to expire in the first second of forced expiration
FFFAP – Falls and Fragility Fracture Audit Programme
FPM – Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine
FTE – full-time equivalent
G
GCP – good clinical practice
GI – gastrointestinal
GLP – good laboratory practice
GMP – good manufacturing practice
GORDS – Group of Occupational Respiratory Disease Specialists
GPwSIs – GPs with a special interest
GVP – good pharmacovigilance practice
H
HbA1c – glycated haemoglobin
HCC – hepatocellular carcinoma
HEE – Health Education England
HES – hospital episode statistics
HLA – human leukocyte antigen
HMDS – haematological malignancy diagnostic services
HPCST – hospital palliative care support team
HQIP – Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership
HTC – hospital transfusion committee
HTT – hospital transfusion team
hyperacusis – heightened sensitivity to sound
I
IBD – inflammatory bowel disease
ICD – implanted coronary device
iCEPSS – Improving Clinical Engineering and Physical Science Services
ICU – intensive care unit
ICTRP – International Clinical Trials Registry Platform
IE – infective endocarditis
IgE – immunoglobulin E (an antibody associated mainly with allergic reactions)
ILD – interstitial lung disease
123I-ioflupane (trade name DaTSCAN) – used for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease
IPF – idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
IQIPS – Improving Quality in Physiological Services
ISAS – Imaging Services Accreditation Scheme
J
JAG – Joint Advisory Group
JCCO – Joint Collegiate Council for Oncology
JIA – juvenile idiopathic arthritis
JSNA – joint strategic needs assessment
L
LARC – long acting reversible contraception
LDKSS – Living Donor Kidney Sharing Scheme
LIMS – Laboratory Information Management System
LSCB – Local Safeguarding Children Board
LTNC – long-term neurological condition
LTOT – long-term oxygen therapy
M
Mantoux test – a test for immunity to tuberculosis using an injection of tuberculin
MDS – minimum dataset
MDT – multidisciplinary team
MEDFASH – Medical Foundation for HIV and Sexual Health
MHRA – Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency
MINAP – Myocardial Ischaemia National Audit Project
misophonia – selective sound sensitivity syndrome
Mohs surgery – a precise surgical technique used to treat skin cancer
MPS – myocardial perfusion scintigraphy (a non-invasive imaging test that shows how well blood flows through the heart muscle)
MRC – Medical Research Council
MRSA – methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MSM – men who have sex with men
N
NAIC – National Audit of Intermediate Care
NCAPOP – National Clinical Audit and Patient Outcomes Programme
NCCG – non-consultant career grade
NCPC – National Council for Palliative Care
NCRN – National Cancer Research Network
NEoLCIN – National End of Life Care Intelligence Framework
neutropenia – the presence of abnormally few neutrophils (a type of white blood cell) in the blood, leading to increased susceptibility to infection
NEWS – National Early Warning Score
NHFD – National Hip Fracture Database
NHSBT – NHS Blood and Transplant
NHSE – National Health Service Executive
NHSP – newborn hearing screening programme
NICE – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence
NIHR – National Institute for Health Research
NIV – non-invasive ventilation
NKF – National Kidney Federation
NO – nitric oxide
NPIS – National Poisons Information Service
NSAIDs – non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
NSTEMI (or non-STEMI) – a non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (type of heart attack)
O
OLD – occupational lung disease
OPAT – outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy
OSA – obstructive sleep apnoea
P
PCI – percutaneous coronary intervention (non-surgical widening of the coronary artery)
PCOM – person-centred outcome measure
PCRS – Palliative Care Research Society
PCR – polymerase chain reaction
PH – pulmonary hypertension
PIL – patient information leaflet
POPS – proactive of older people undergoing surgery
PPE – patient and public engagement
PREM – patient-reported experience measures
presbyacusis – age-related hearing loss
PROM – patient-reported outcome measure
PSA – Prescribing Safety Assessment
PUO – pyrexia of unknown origin
Q
QMS – quality management system
QOF – quality and outcomes framework
QUeST – liver quality enhancement service tool
R
RA – rheumatoid arthritis
RCF – Research Capability Funding
RCOphth – Royal College of Ophthalmology
rhTSH – recominant human thyrotropin
RNC – regional neuroscience centre
RRT – renal replacement therapy
RT – radiation therapy
RTU – renal transplant unit
S
SABRE – serious adverse blood reactions and events
SAC – Specialist Advisory Committee
SACT – systemic anti-cancer therapy
SAM – Society for Acute Medicine
SAMBA – Society for Acute Medicine Benchmark Audit
SCR – summary care record
SDM – shared decision making
SIC – specific inhalation challenge
SHOT – serious hazards of transfusion
SIHMDS – specialist integrated haematological malignancy diagnostic services
SLE – systemic lupus erythematosus
SMC – Scottish Medicines Consortium
SNMMI – Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
SOCC – Standards of Care Committee
sPEF – serial measures of peak expiratory flow
SSM – support for self-management
SSNAP – Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme
STEMI – segment elevation myocardial infarction (type of heart attack)
STI – sexually transmitted infection
T
tachyarrhythmia – disorders of heart rhythm causing a fast heart rate usually exceeding 100 beats per minute
TAVI – transcatheter aortic valve implantation
theranostics – a process of therapy guided by diagnostics
TIA – transient cerebral ischaemic attack
TOE – transoesophageal echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart taken through the gullet)
TSH – thyroid stimulating hormone
U
UKHCDO – UK Haemophilia Centres Doctors’ Organisation
V
VTE – venous thromboembolism
W
WCE – wireless capsule endoscopy
WTE – whole-time equivalent