Glossary
Acute Trust
The body that manages the Hospital(s) and makes sure that they provide high quality health care, and spend their money efficiently. The Trust also decides on a strategy for how the hospital will develop
apt
Arranged Passenger Transport
Board
The group of people who decide how any NHS organisation undetakes its legal duties and functions. The Board will consist of a Chair, non-executive directors and executive members
Care Trust
A new type of NHS body which combines NHS healthcare services and certain delegated functions from local authorities, including personal social services
Chief Executive
The lead accountable officer within NHS organisation
Clinical network
A network of health professionals for treating patients by sharing information and resources
Commission for health improvement (CHI)
An independent national body charged with identifying best practice in the NHS and encouraging others to adopt it and for highlighting where urgent improvement is required
Community safety partnerships
These exist to create safer places for people to live, work and visit. Many different agencies are involved in these partnerships such as reducing accidents and injuries and anti-social behaviour. The will normally develop community plans
Community services
Services normally provided in the community, i.e. outside of a hospital setting
DfT
Department for Transport
Diagnostic and treatment centres
A one-stop all inclusive outpatient facility dealing with routine rather than surgical or emergency treatment
DNA
Did not attend' refers to patients not attending a gp or medical appointment.
DoH Department of Health
The department that supports the government to improve the health and well being of the population
DRT Demand Responsive Transport
Generic term for all public transport services booked in advance, which deviates route and timings according to the bookings made
Future hospitals projects
Modernisation and redesign of hospital services for the 21st Century by looking beyond the traditional solutions
GMAS
Greater Manchester Ambulance Service
GONW
Government Office Northwest
GPSIs
General Practicioners with specialist interests
Health Impact Assessments
An assessment of the benefits to people's health that will result from a change in the delivery of a service of the establishment of a new service
Information for health
A strategy for improving access to information by healthcare professionals to provide the best possible care and for influencing the shape of health service
ISB Invest to Save Budget
A joint Treasury/Cabinet Office initiative with the aim to create sustainable improvements in the capacity to deliver public services in a more joined up manner
ISNT
Integrated Social Needs Transport
LIFT
Local Improvement Finance Trust
LSP Local Strategic Partnership
A single non-statutory, multi-agency body, which matches local authority boundaries, and aims to bring together at a local level the different parts of the public, private, community and voluntary sectors
Mental Health Trusts
Mental Health Trusts provide health and social care services for people with mental health problems
National priorities guidance
Guidance issued annually by the Department of Health to determine national priorities in the development of local services
Needs assessment
The process by which PCTs and SHAs use information to judge the health of their population and determine what services are necessary to meet that need
NHS Plan
This is a plan for investment and reform in the NHS over the next 10 years published by the Secretary of State for Health in July 2000. It contains the basis of the targets to be used to measure the modernisation of the NHS
NHS Trust
A statutory body which provides NHS services – including care trust, acute services, mental health services, secondary services, tertiary services
NSFs National Service Framework
NSFs set national standards and define service models for defined medical services or care groups
NWAS
North West Ambulance Service
NWDA
North West Development Agency
Hospital Trust
see Acute Trust
ODPM
Office of Deputy Prime Minister
Open Exeter
Gives Health Authorities the power to grant access to NHS information to authorised organisations
PALS
Patient Advice and Liaison Service
PCT
Primary Care Trust
PfH Partnerships for Health
An organisation established jointly by the Department of Health and PUK to lead development of LIFT schemes across England
PFI
Private Finance Initiative
PPI
Patient & Public Involvement Forums
PPS
Public/Private Partnership
Primary care services
Professionals work to provide a first point of contact for patients, e.g., at GP Surgeries, health centres and Walk-in centres
SEU
Social Exclusion Unit
Strategic Health Authority
Responsible for: Developing plans for improving health services in their local area, making sure local health services are of a high quality and are performing well, increasing the capacity of local health services and making sure national priorities are integrated into local health service plans.
Walk-in Centres
An initiative to modernise access to NHS services by providing quick and convenient access to basic primary car services without the need for an appointment