Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.
- Aseptic non-touch technique (ANTT)
- A way of working that keeps the parts of equipment which will touch the wound completely untouched, so germs are not carried in.
- Duty of candour
- The legal duty to tell a patient promptly when something has gone wrong, apologise, and explain what will be done.
- Histology
- Examination of removed tissue under a microscope to say what it is.
- Incomplete excision
- The microscope shows the lesion reaching the edge of what was removed, so some may still be in the skin.
- LAST (local anaesthetic systemic toxicity)
- Poisoning caused by too much anaesthetic reaching the bloodstream, which can cause fits or stop the heart.
- Leading indicator
- A measure that shows whether a control is working before harm occurs, such as training compliance.
- Lagging indicator
- A measure of harm that has already happened, such as an infection rate.
- Melanoma
- A serious skin cancer that can spread if not caught early.
- Neutral zone
- An agreed place on the trolley where sharps are put down and picked up, so they are never passed hand to hand.
- Residual risk
- The risk that is left once the existing controls are working.
- Safer sharps device
- An instrument designed with a built-in guard or retracting blade to reduce the chance of injury.
- Vasovagal episode
- A common faint brought on by pain, anxiety or the sight of a needle.