AA – Attendance Allowance: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DG_10012425
ADASS – Association of Directors of Adult Social Services: http://new.lga.gov.uk/lga/aio/19069
AMHW – Approved Mental Health Worker
APC – Adult Protection Coordinator
ASW – Approved Social Worker

BMA – British Medical Association: http://www.bma.org.uk/
BMJ – British Medical Journal: http://www.bmj.com/
BNF – British National Formulary: http://bnf.org/bnf/

CAB – Citizens Advice Bureau: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
CC – Continuing Care, which is mostly used now as an ‘umbrella’ term for Fully-funded NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC), and also NHS funded Nursing Care/Registered Nursing Care Contribution (RNCC), but the two are not to be confused.
CH – Care Home (care home with nursing; care home without nursing)
CHC – Continuing Healthcare – fully-funded by the NHS (see ‘Links to Useful Information’ - http://freenursingcare.findtalk.biz/general-chat-f1/links-to-useful-information-t680.htm )
CLA – Community Legal Advice: http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/
CMHT – Community Mental Health Team
COP – Court of Protection: http://www.publicguardian.gov.uk/about/court-of-protection.htm
CPA – Care Programme Approach: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/DH_083650
CPN – Community Psychiatric Nurse
CQC – Care Quality Commission (formerly CSCI): http://www.cqc.org.uk/
CRAG – Charging for Residential Care Accommodation Guidelines: http://www.dh.gov.uk/dr_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_097579.pd
CSCI – Commission for Social Care Inspection (now CQC)
CSM – Committee on Safety of Medicines: http://www.mhra.gov.uk/Committees/Medicinesadvisorybodies/CommitteeonSafetyofMedicines/index.htm
CSSIW – Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales: http://wales.gov.uk/cssiwsubsite/newcssiw/;jsessionid=JYHFLmSJh4jJLs3dXBTZLxnRTmNRSGYrR1qQyFCxYf9Xpm1ZF02G!-764344044?lang=en

DLA – Disability Living Allowance: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/DG_10011925
DN – District Nurse
DNR – Do not resuscitate
DoH – Department of Health: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm
DoLS – Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Deliveringadultsocialcare/MentalCapacity/MentalCapacityActDeprivationofLibertySafeguards/index.htm
DPA – Data Protection Act: http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/data_protection.aspx
DST – Decision Support Tool – 2009: http://www.dh.gov.uk/dr_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_103329.pdf
DWP – Department for Work and Pensions: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/

EHR – Electronic Health Record
EMI – Elderly Mentally Infirm (less used these days; ‘dementia section or dementia unit’ are the terms normally used)
EPA – Enduring Power of Attorney (existing EPAs can still be registered, but no new EPAs can be created; they have been replaced by LPA – Lasting Power of Attorney)
EPR/EPHR – Electronic Patient Record/Electronic Patient Health Record
ESCR – Electronic social care record: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Informationpolicy/Informationforsocialcare/DH_4073714

FACE – Functional Analysis of the Care Environment: http://www.face.eu.com/default.html
FACS – Fair access to care services: http://www.dh.gov.uk/dr_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4019641.pdf
FFCHC – Fully-funded Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC) (see ‘Links to Useful Information’ - http://freenursingcare.findtalk.biz/general-chat-f1/links-to-useful-information-t680.htm )
FOI Act – Freedom of Information Act: http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/freedom_of_information.aspx

GMC – General Medical Council: http://www.gmc-uk.org/
GP – General Practitioner
GSCC – General Social Care Council: http://www.gscc.org.uk/Home/

HIW – Healthcare Inspectorate Wales: http://www.hiw.org.uk/
HMR – Hospital Medical Record
HRA – Human Rights Act: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980042_en_1
HSO – Health Service Ombudsman (see PHSO): http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/

ICAS – Independent Complaints Advocacy Service: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Legalandcontractual/Complaintspolicy/NHSComplaintsProcedure/DH_4087428
ICO – Information Commissioner's Office: http://www.ico.gov.uk/
ICO Decisions: http://www.ico.gov.uk/tools_and_resources/decision_notices.aspx
IMCA – Independent Mental Capacity Advocate
IRP – Independent Review Panel
ISTC – Independent Sector Treatment Centre

JR – Judicial Review: http://www.judiciary.gov.uk/judgment_guidance/judicial_review/index.htm

LA – Local authority
LGO – Local Government Ombudsman: http://www.lgo.org.uk/
LHB – Local Health Board (Wales)
LPA – Lasting Power of Attorney: http://www.publicguardian.gov.uk/arrangements/lpa.htm
LTC – Long-term condition

MCA – Mental Capacity Act 2005: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Deliveringadultsocialcare/MentalCapacity/MentalCapacityAct2005/index.htm
MDT – Multi Disciplinary Team
MHRA – Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency: http://www.mhra.gov.uk/index.htm
MMSE – Mini Mental State Examination: http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Mini-Mental-State-Examination-%28MMSE%29.htm
MRO – Medical Records Officer

NF – National Framework (see ‘Links to Useful Information’ - http://freenursingcare.findtalk.biz/general-chat-f1/links-to-useful-information-t680.htm )
NH – Nursing Home (Care Home with nursing)
NHS – National Health Service
NHS CHC – NHS Continuing Healthcare (see ‘Links to Useful Information’ - http://freenursingcare.findtalk.biz/general-chat-f1/links-to-useful-information-t680.htm )
NICE – National Institute for Health & Clinical Excellence: http://www.nice.org.uk/
NMC – Nursing & Midwifery Council: http://www.nmc-uk.org/
NOK – Next of Kin
NPA – Needs Portrayal Assessor
NR – Nearest Relative (not always the same as Next of Kin)

OPG – Office of the Public Guardian: http://www.publicguardian.gov.uk/index.htm
OT – Occupational Therapist/Therapy

PA – Patients Association: http://www.patients-association.com/
PALS – Patient Advice and Liaison Service: http://www.pals.nhs.uk/
PCG – Primary Care Group
PCT – Primary Care Trust/local health authority: http://www.nhs.uk/SERVICEDIRECTORIES/Pages/PrimaryCareTrustListing.aspx
PFI – Private Finance Initiative
PHN – Primary Health Need
PHSO – Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman: http://www.ombudsman.org.uk/
PICU – Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit
POA – Power of Attorney (see LPA)
POVA – Protection of Vulnerable Adults: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4085855

QUANGO – Quasi-Autonomous Non-governmental Organisation

RCGP – Royal College of General Practitioners: http://www.rcgp.org.uk/
RCN – Royal College of Nursing: http://www.rcn.org.uk
RNCC – Registered Nursing Care Contribution (not the same as Fully-funded NHS CHC)
RCPsych – Royal College of Psychiatrists: http://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/
RGN – Registered General Nurse
RMN – Registered Mental Nurse

SALT – Speech and Language Therapist
SAP – Single Assessment Process: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Chargingandassessment/SingleAssessmentProcess/index.htm
SAR – Subject Access Request (via the Data Protection Act): http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/data_protection/your_rights/how_to_access_information.aspx
SCIE – Social Care Institute for Excellence: http://www.scie.org.uk/
SCR – Summary Care Record
SHA – Strategic Health Authority: http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/pages/strategichealthauthoritylisting.aspx
SS – Social Services
SSD – Social Services Department
SW – Social Worker

WHO – World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/en/

and finally:
ZEN – Zen & an assortment of Relaxation Techniques – something that every member of this Forum will have needed at some point in their endless struggles -http://www.positive-relaxation.com/zen.html

A couple of weeks ago now, a new member asked for a "Jargon Buster" list of Abbreviations/Acronyms, and I volunteered to put something together.

It's taken me a while to get there, with help from ShrinkingViolet, because we thought that links might also be useful. And I've been busy 'elsewhere'!!

Before Steve turns it into a 'sticky', if anyone wants to add any that I've missed, and/or to correct anything that I've got wrong in the list, then post below, and I'll amend the list before Steve sticks it!

VM

Thanks VM for taking the time to put the list here. Although I recognise some of them, there are still quite a few I didn't know so the list is sooo helpful . As usual you are a gem and I really appreciate all the time you spend keeping us so informed. Bless you me dear !

Wow VM that is fantastic, thank you so much, it will make reading so much easier. many thanks Lyn

Victoria,
Thank you so much for this mega list! Only other things I can think of that might be useful would be some of the abbreviated stuff you find reading assessments and hospital notes?
POC which baffled me for a while - was Package of Care. And I expect most of us are familiar with the dreaded UTI, but MSU turned out to be Midstream Sample of Urine. Up and down arrows with BP (blood pressure) are fairly obvious but they are also put with other things to show high and low like Mobility and Cognition (as Mob or Cog!). I dont know whether these abbreviations are standard but Pt.was Patient, Ax was Assessment or Assessing, Hx was History, H circled was Home, W/R was Ward Round. BO/BNO Bowels Open (& Not)!
You do get the hang of it after a while but it might be useful for someone who hasn't previously been involved in a care situation. But perhaps on a separate list for jargon and abbreviations?
Its just so annoying when your mind goes blank at one of these glitches and you lose track of everything you've just read!
Thanks again for compiling this
Tricia

Ditto
V/M I cannott say any more than Fantastic, you have taken the time to help others, hopefully Steve Esquires will make it a sticky, Thank you V/M For taking the time, it is very appresiated
Mick

We expect links. . . . lots! Downloads. . . . our need exists WELL DONE!

EXCELLENT im new to all this and that help a lot thanks

Thanks, Guys, for your thanks!

Tricia: good idea - I hadn't thought of that. So, if anyone's got a bundle of Notes and/or Assessments to hand that they're currently working through, please post any abbreviations that may be of use, and I'll have a go.

Steve will post it as a 'sticky' once we've all arrived at a final list, so keep 'em coming!! And if there are any 'mysteries' anywhere, just post them on the end here, and we can do some detective work, if necessary.

Any opinions on what I put alongside "CC" ? It strikes me that the "powers that be" keep muddying the water by changing the terminology, and they seem now to use CC for 'all types of Continuing Care', but often meaning only the Registered Nursing Care Contribution. And a lot of people have been hoodwinked by the SS telling them they've now got "Continuing Care" and then doing a financial assessment on them, and presenting a bill. Whereas in fact they may have achieved only the RNCC, but not fully-funded CHC.

And meanwhile, a proper assessment for Fully-funded NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) has not been done at all. So I'm just wondering whether that may be the 'latest dirty trick' being played.

VM

Victoria that is brilliant. Many thanks.Would you mind if I took a copy?

Wendy, of course you can do with it whatever you wish.

And the same goes for the "Links to Useful Information" that I put together and that Steve has already turned into a 'sticky'.

It's in the public domain - yet another domain! So the more people it helps, the better. And I hope all the non-members who may be reading the forum will put it to good use too.

More to come, but not before the weekend - Tricia has suggested a list of the confusing abbreviations we come across when reading the notes/assessment docs. So I'll get my head round that one at the weekend - maybe!

VM

Thanks so much. It will be helpful for many carers.

Wish I had thought to Google 'Medical Abbreviations' a few weeks ago! This is one of the clearest and from a good source:-

http://www.rcgp.org.uk/default.aspx?page=4134


And this is of the more comprehensive for the SS - you need to scroll down and use the index on the left (I especially liked POETS - many's a true thing etc...):-

http://www.sochealth.co.uk/glossary/glossaryp.htm

I'm sure we'll find a lot more abbreviations that aren't on either, but hopefully its a start.
Tricia

Tricia wrote:Wish I had thought to Google 'Medical Abbreviations' a few weeks ago!

Me too, Tricia!

There are a few good abbreviations in the link you posted! Not all of them are 'decent' and many are 'indecent'. But ... the world of care is indecent!!

Right, ok Guys, I have done as I said I would do - and have put together a boringly long list of abbreviations found in medic/care notes.

But, so far, it's all based on my own medic/care/assessment notes. So, you all have 48 hours to post below any that have puzzled you, and that may help others.

Otherwise, because I have 'other things to deal with', I will post the list for Steve to stick it wherever Steve wishes to stick it, or not as the case may be.

Send them now, on the end of this thread, or forever hold your .... and don't complain!

VM

Hi Girls, couldn't for the life of me see any abreviations on those links for BFL = Bare faced liars or LTYT = Lieing Through Your Teeth. Will have another look as they must be there somewhere!!....

Pussycat wrote:Hi Girls, couldn't for the life of me see any abreviations on those links for BFL = Bare faced liars or LTYT = Lieing Through Your Teeth. Will have another look as they must be there somewhere!!....

Whilst you are looking Pussycat , I dont see W.H.B.C = We Have Been Conned, W.R.O.P = We Rob Old People,
W.T.O.P.W.T.P = We Threaten Old People With The Police, I Found SS Ok = Sadistic Slimeballs

Mick

patrick11 wrote:

Pussycat wrote:Hi Girls, couldn't for the life of me see any abreviations on those links for BFL = Bare faced liars or LTYT = Lieing Through Your Teeth. Will have another look as they must be there somewhere!!....

Whilst you are looking Pussycat , I dont see W.H.B.C = We Have Been Conned, W.R.O.P = We Rob Old People,
W.T.O.P.W.T.P = We Threaten Old People With The Police, I Found SS Ok = Sadistic Slimeballs

Mick

They're not there yet, Pussycat and Mick, so stop looking - but they may already be in the next list that's not ready, because I ain't got round to it yet!! So don't rush me, or else.

Meanwhile, try harder! See below:

I'm looking for suggestions for SS (apart from the above and the one that Steve's already suggested to me!!! ), also for NHS, IRP, SHA, plus LACE, CCCA, TWNS, YCBS (but that's fairly easy!), and finally SOB.

Other suggestions will be most welcome. And try to keep them clean-ish - oooh, go on then, keep them honest and to-the-point.

No rush - take it gently.

VM

Ooooh VM I love this game.

NHS=No Honesty Stakes
SS=Sh*t Shovellers
IRP=It Reaps Pounds
SHA=Shouldn't Have Allowed
LACE=Lets All Con Everyone
CCCA=Couldn't Care Can't Allow
TWNS=Tell Whingers No Spondolicks
YCBS =Your Cash Being Screwed
SOB =Stop Others Bleating. .

Has to be Schutzstaffel

Eddie wrote:Has to be Schutzstaffel

Correct!!!

But having heard the news today, about the latest case of 'neglect' by the SS, over a period of 30 years, I might be tempted to add another, which sums up my experience of the abilities of the S - or rather, the lack of abilities often:

Senseless Stupidity.

Ooooh, I could go on, but I'll leave that to .... . And a few others.

OK, right - or left - no more suggestions have come to the A to Z of .... as above!, so Steve will 'sticky' it. Whenever he finds a moment to do so.

The A-Z of assessment/medic/notes and so on will have a 'separate existence', because it's boringly long! So I'll post it tomorrow - or probably the day after.

Then you can all add to it, or subtract from it. I won't take it personally!! So speak freely, and with conviction!

Meanwhile, take care!

VM

Steve,

Are you likely to stick this list into the Sticky department? Otherwise it will fall off the end!

And I'll go off in a huff!

VM

Dont do that! I almost had a relapse.

Thanks for all this information once again.

Regards Dee

You ain't seen what I'm about to post in a separate thread!!!

You might need a darkened room after that one - I do!!

VM

Thanks for the warning. I might go and have a lie down before I dare read it as I am still feeling wobbly and weak.

Regards Dee

Just come across SOADs which is Second Opinion Appointed Doctors and MHRT which is Mental Health Review Tribunal, would they be useful to have?
Think I might be in need of both !!
Tricia

I'm off to the darkened room!

VM

VM, thank you for providing this list, I have found it to be very useful.

Steve,

Please 'sticky' this list - or it will vanish off the end, and so may I! (Don't all cheer at once - just one by one!)

VM

Steve,
Would it be possible for this thread to be made a sticky?

Many, including myself are thrown in the deep end with all of this stuff and it is furthur complicated trying to understand posts when acronyms and abbreviations are used.

Regards,
S/V

Just moving this thread to the top lest it gets lost.

I will certainly 'sticky' it once suggested additions are concluded - well done VM! A possible variant is 'NHS = National Health SHAMBLES! Steve.

Thanks Steve
and of course big thanks to VM