The Jargon Buster Directory is your central resource for locating
an explanation to typical terms found for within all industries , professions
and governments.
Use our directory to locate and decipher jargon that you would like an
explanation for.
Keeping our directory up to date and to include all the spheres where jargon
is used is a never ending task for us. We have started with what we can locate
but but it is a vast subject and can be very niche specific.
Are you in a profession or industry that uses jargon that is NOT included
here? Then why not send us your own jargon buster text and we will include
it within our database. to say thank you we will provide you with a return
link back to your web site.
NHS Jargon is everywhere. Already, we have discovered 3
classifications of NHS Jargon. One for patients & another for
hospitals combined with this NHS jargon directory.
Is that what our tax payers money is spent on? - Simply forming ever more
realms of categories, sub categories and acronyms? It simply does feel like
it and the NHS jargon is forever expanding into new areas of
patient care for example.
I say simply get rid of 50% of the admin staff and let the doctors dictate
where the NHS funding is spent rather than on creative NHS
jargon.
NHS Jargon
Advisory boards
Being established to ensure the National Programme for IT engages with
stakeholders, such as patients, the public, and health and care professionals.
CRDB
Care Record Development Board
The Board will bring together patients and service users, the public, and
social and healthcare professionals. It will identify the values, principles
and processes of care and ensure that these are taken into account in the
implementation of systems in NPfIT.
Choose and Book
Will allow patients, in partnership with health and care professionals, to
book first outpatient appointments at the most appropriate date, time and
place for the patient.
Cluster
A group of strategic health authorities working together by region to implement
the new technology and information systems.
Cluster board
Endorses the reasons for and objectives of the local programme at senior
management level and promotes and supports any changes. It also ensures that
benefits and desired outcomes are achieved, and sorts out any disagreements
that may arise.
Contact
Contact is a secure national email and directory service. It was developed
specifically to meet NHS and BMA requirements for clinical email between
NHS organisations.
dm+d
Dictionary of Medicines and Devices
The source of terminology and a common health language for medicines and
devices used in healthcare.
ECDL
European Computer Driving Licence
A training course in basic IT skills available to all NHS staff to help them
prepare for new ways of working and increase confidence in their use of IT.
ECDL is an internationally recognised qualification that has been adopted
as the NHS standard.
ETP
Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions
Enables GPs/prescribers to send prescriptions electronically to pharmacies.
Enterprise-wide arrangements
Arrangements with key suppliers in the IT industry. Given its size, the National
Programme can procure quality IT services from suppliers to the NHS on a
greater scale and at a more competitive rate than any single NHS organisation.
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
There is a link to NPfIT FAQs on the main menu.
Front Line Support Academy
The Front Line Support Academy provides learning opportunities for staff
involved in the implementation of IT in the NHS and social care. The Academy
works with staff to change and improve patients' experience of their care.
GMS
General Medical Services
The rules used to manage payments to family doctors as part of the GPs' contract.
Industry Liaison
Industry Liaison provides information and guidance to IT suppliers who would
like to be involved in providing products and services to NPfIT. It also
supplies information to the National Programme on product innovations and
developments in IT.
ISB
Information Standards Board
Established in 2001 to provide an independent mechanism for the approval
of information standards in the NHS.
Legacy systems suppliers
These are the commercial companies that supply the current/existing IT systems
and software in use in the NHS. Also known as existing systems suppliers.
Local implementation
A NPfIT management group and individual project teams have responsibilities
for implementation in each SHA. They coordinate and manage the progress of
the programme by dealing with a variety of issues, including progress monitoring,
problem solving, risk management, planning, good practice and allocating
resources.
LSPs
Local Service Providers
Responsible for making sure the new systems and services delivered through
the NPfIT meet local requirements and are implemented efficiently.
Modernisation Agency
Created as part of the NHS Plan to help local clinicians and managers redesign
local services around the needs and convenience of patients.
N3
The National Network
The new fast, broadband communications network for the NHS. N3 is delivered
by BT and replaces the existing private NHS network, NHSnet.
NASPs
National Application Service Providers
Groups of commercial suppliers who are contracted to deliver national services
such as Choose and Book and the Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions.
National Programme Board
Has overall responsibility for all areas of work within the National Programme
for IT.
National Supplier Board
Focuses on development and technology, implementation, service and contract
management.
NHS CRS
NHS Care Records Service
Currently under development. This will be an electronic store of over 50
million health and care records which can be accessed by health professionals
where and when they are needed. It will also give patients secure Internet
access to their own health record.
NHS Plan
The NHS Plan recognises that the NHS has achieved much but needs to keep
pace with change to meet patient needs. Increased investment and modernisation
are the steps described in the document (published July 2000).
NPfIT
National Programme for IT
Responsible for procurement and delivery of the multi-billion pound investment
in new information and technology systems to improve the NHS.
NSFs
National Service Frameworks
NSFs set national standards and service models for a specific service or
care group. They set up programmes of implementation and performance management
against which progress in an agreed timescale can be measured.
OBS
Output-based specification
Each prospective supplier to the National Programme must meet rigorous technical
requirements. These are set out in an output-based specification.
PACS
Picture Archiving and Communication Systems
A system enabling images such as X-rays and scans to be stored and sent
electronically so that doctors and other health professionals can access
the information with the touch of a button.
PCT
Primary Care Trust
Responsible for commissioning all health care in their community.
Programme management group
Each regional cluster has a programme management group comprising chief
information officers and programme managers from each Strategic Health Authority
area, plus the Regional Implementation Director and key members of the cluster
programme support team. Local Service Provider programme managers and senior
representatives are also part of this team.
PPA
Prescription Pricing Authority
A national provider of managed services to the NHS. Its main functions are
to calculate and make payments for amounts due to pharmacists and GPs for
supplying drugs and appliances prescribed under the NHS. It also produces
information for NHS organisations and stakeholders about prescribing volumes,
trends and costs and manages a range of health benefits eg the NHS Low Income
Scheme
QMAS
Quality Management and Analysis Subsystem
To support the Quality and Outcomes Framework, NPfIT has commissioned British
Telecom to develop and implement a new IT system called the Quality Management
and Analysis Subsystem. It will provide reporting, forecasting and payment
information for improving services within the Quality and Outcomes Framework.
QOF
Quality and Outcomes Framework
As part of a new NHS contract, introduced in 2004, GP practices are rewarded
for achieving clinical and management quality targets and for improving services
for patients within a Quality and Outcomes Framework.
'Quality and outcomes framework'
Sets out a voluntary system of financial incentives for improving quality
within the General Medical Services contract for GP payments.
Regional governance
Regional management frameworks and controls to ensure new systems are introduced
and used efficiently at the local level
RIDs
Regional Implementation Directors
Responsible for managing implementation of the new national services across
a geographic area.
SAS
Supplier Attachment Scheme
The Supplier Attachment Scheme is a new opportunity for NHS professionals
to have a direct influence on the future of healthcare by working in one
of a range of roles with a Local Service Provider.
SHAs
Strategic Health Authorities
The headquarters of the local NHS. Their role is to ensure that the Primary
Care Trusts are both effective and efficient in managing the delivery of
services.
SHA CEs
Strategic Health Authority Chief Executives
The Chief Executives of the Strategic Health Authorities.
SHA CIOs
Strategic Health Authority Chief Information Officers
Responsible for the implementation of the new systems and the delivery of
benefits at an organisational level across their SHA area.
Spine
The Spine is the name given to the national database of key information about
a patient's health and care and forms the core of the NHS Care Records Service.
It will include patient information like NHS number, date of birth, name
and address, and clinical information such as allergies, adverse drug reactions
and major treatments.
Supplier Liaison
The function of Supplier Liaison is to assist IT suppliers to locate information
on the National Programme and to provide contact details for those organisations
that have been awarded contracts.
TUPE
Transfer of Undertakings - Protection of Employment
A safeguard of employees' rights where businesses change hands between employers.