Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.
- Anaphylaxis
- A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction needing immediate emergency treatment.
- Asynchronous contact
- Communication where the patient and clinician do not need to be present at the same time, such as secure messaging.
- Best interests
- A decision made for someone who cannot decide for themselves, choosing the option that is best for them.
- Business continuity
- Planning that keeps a service running, or quickly restores it, when something disrupts normal operation.
- Caldicott Guardian
- The senior person responsible for protecting the confidentiality of people's health and care information.
- Care Quality Commission (CQC)
- The independent regulator of health and social care services in England.
- Cardiac arrest
- A sudden loss of heart function where the heart stops pumping blood, requiring immediate resuscitation.
- Controlled drug
- A medicine whose supply, storage and records are tightly restricted by law because of its potential for misuse.
- CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
- Emergency chest compressions and rescue breaths used to keep blood and oxygen moving when the heart has stopped.
- Data Protection Act 2018
- The UK law that sits alongside the UK GDPR and governs how personal information must be handled.
- Duty of candour
- The legal duty to be open and honest with a person and their family when something goes wrong with their care.
- Ectopic pregnancy
- A pregnancy growing outside the womb, which can be a life-threatening emergency if it ruptures.
- Electronic prescribing
- Issuing and sending prescriptions through a secure computer system rather than on paper.
- Emergency department
- The hospital department, sometimes called accident and emergency, that treats serious and life-threatening conditions.
- Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (EPRR)
- The framework health organisations use to plan for, train for and manage major disruptive incidents.
- Equality Act 2010
- The law protecting people from discrimination based on characteristics such as age, disability, sex or race.
- FAST
- A quick check for the signs of stroke - Face, Arms, Speech, Time to call for help.
- General Medical Council (GMC)
- The body that registers doctors in the UK and sets the standards they must follow.
- Haemorrhage
- Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding.
- Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014
- The regulations setting out the fundamental standards that registered care providers must meet.
- Hypotension
- Abnormally low blood pressure, which in an emergency can signal serious deterioration.
- Information governance
- The framework for handling people's personal and health information legally, securely and appropriately.
- Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
- The UK regulator responsible for upholding data-protection and information rights.
- Mental Capacity Act 2005
- The law that protects and supports people who may be unable to make particular decisions for themselves.
- Mental capacity
- Whether a person can understand and make a particular decision for themselves at the time it needs to be made.
- Mental Health Act 1983
- The law covering the assessment, treatment and rights of people with a mental health condition, including detention where needed.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
- The body that produces evidence-based guidance on treatments and care for health and social care in England.
- Near miss
- An event that could have caused harm but did not, by chance or because it was caught in time.
- NG51
- The NICE guideline on recognising and managing sepsis early.
- Nominated Individual
- The senior person responsible to the regulator for supervising how a service is provided.
- Non-blanching rash
- A rash that does not fade when pressed, which can be a warning sign of serious infection such as meningitis or sepsis.
- Notifiable event
- An incident a provider is legally required to report to the regulator, such as a death or serious injury.
- Recovery position
- A safe position on the side used for an unconscious but breathing person to keep their airway clear.
- Registered Manager
- The person registered with the regulator as responsible for the day-to-day running of a service.
- Regulated activity
- A type of care or treatment the law requires a provider to register with the regulator to deliver.
- Remote contact
- A patient interaction carried out by telephone, video or secure message rather than face to face.
- Resuscitation Council UK
- The body that sets UK standards and guidance for resuscitating people whose heart or breathing has stopped.
- Safeguarding
- Protecting people's health, wellbeing and rights and keeping them safe from abuse, harm or neglect.
- Safety-netting
- Clear advice telling a patient what to watch for, what to do and exactly when and how to seek urgent help.
- SBAR
- A structured way to hand over information - Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.
- Sepsis
- A life-threatening reaction to infection in which the body damages its own organs, needing urgent treatment.
- Single assessment framework
- The structure the regulator uses to judge a service, built around quality statements and five key questions (safe, effective, caring, responsive, well-led).
- Stridor
- A harsh, high-pitched breathing sound that can indicate a dangerously narrowed or blocked airway.
- Triage
- Sorting patients by how urgent their need is so the most serious are seen or routed first.
- UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)
- The UK's main data-protection law governing how personal information is collected and used.
- Vital interests
- A lawful basis for sharing personal information without consent when it is needed to protect someone's life.
- Warm handover
- A direct handover where the receiving service accepts responsibility for the patient before the first clinician steps back.
- Whistleblowing (speaking up)
- Raising a concern about wrongdoing, risk or malpractice at work, protected by law.