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