NHS Jargon buster – M
- MDAAG – Multi-Disciplinary Audit Advisory Group
- MAC – Medical Advisory Committee
- MAF – Management Accountancy Framework
- MAFF – Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
- MDS – Minimum Data Set
- MEP – Member of European Parliament
- MHE – Mental Health Enquiry
- MHRT – Mental Health Review Tribunal
- MIS – Management Information System
- MP – Member of Parliament
- MPC – Medical Practices Committee
- ME – Manpower Equivalent
- MPH – Master of Public Health
- MRC – Medical Research Council
- MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- MSC – Medical Services Committee
- MTS – Management Training Scheme
- a charity focusing on homelessness. Merged with Nottingham Help the Homeless Association in 2001 to form Framework Housing Association.
- Myloma – an aggressive form of skin cancer, but can also found in the eye and mucous membranes.
- MPET – the short term allocation of resources by NHS Executive (Trent) in recognition of Nottingham’s funding issues. Usually used in the context of litigation, it relates to the action or lack of action during a medical procedure which can result in long term health problems or premature death
- Mental Health – to do with the well-being of the mind as opposed to physical well-being – the assessment of likely levels of mental illness in a population and therefore the levels of service required to meet such needs
- Midwife – trained professionals who provide assistance and medical care to women throughout their pregnancy, labour and childbirth a national initiative to encourage young people to get involved in their communities through voluntary activities. Nottingham is part of a pilot project £1.3 billion committed by the Government to improving facilities and services right across the NHS and social services. It will be targeted at specific areas, for example, children’s services and mental healththe national priorities for health and social care over the next three years Government White Paper, detailing a programme in which the NHS, local councils, voluntary bodies and commercial providers will work together to promote independence, improve protection of vulnerable people and raise standards across the country
- Morbidity – the rate of death in a population during a given period
- Multidisciplinary – Medical, nursing and other related professionals and non-medical staff such as Social Services and the Voluntary Sector, working together as a team
NHS Jargon buster – N
- NAHFM – National Association of Health and Facilities Managers
- NAHSPO – National Association of Health Service Personnel Officers
- NAHSPRO – National Association of Health Service Public Relations Officers (now known as Association of Healthcare Communicators)
- NAO – National Audit Office
- NAWCH – National Association for the Welfare of Children in Hospital
- NCRN – National Cancer Research Network
- NDT – National Development Team
- NHA – Nottingham Health Authority
- NHAG – Nottingham Health Action Group
- NHS – National Health Service
- NHSCR – National Health Service Central Registrar
- NHSE – National Health Service Executive/National Health Service Estates
- NHSPA – National Health Services Pensions Agency
- NHSSS – National Health Service Superannuation Scheme
- NICE – National Institute for Clinical Excellence
- NOTTCAPT – Nottingham Capacity Planning Team
- NOTTCOM – Nottingham Health Community’s Commissioning Forum
- NPHS – National Public Health Service
- NPSA – National Patient Safety Agency
- NRT – Nicotine Replacement Therapy
- NSFs – National Service Frameworks
- NVQ – National Vocational Qualification
- National Curriculum – pupils aged 5-16 must be taught, English, mathematics, science, technology, information technology, history, geography, music, art, physical education and a modern foreign language, in four “key stages” based on pupils’ ages
- National Curriculum 2000 Personal Social, Health Education – additions to the national curriculum, due to be incorporated in the planned review in 2000
- National Electronic Library for Health – one of the initiatives included in Information for Health will provide instant access 24 hours a day for doctors, nurses and other health professionals, so they can be kept up to date with the latest advancements in treatments and care
- National Grid for Learning – a Government project to connect every school in the country to the internet, linking schools with one another and other learning institutions – for example libraries, universities, museums. The grid will enable teachers to access advice and pupils to get help with revision and research
- National Institute for Clinical Excellence – organisation that promotes clinical and cost effectiveness and produces and disseminates clinical guidelines
- National Literacy Strategy – came into effect in September 1998, it is designed to raise the level of children’s attainment in literacy against national and local targets. The national target is for 80% of 11-year-olds to attain fluency in reading. Local targets vary between LEAs. Locally literacy is a major priority and literacy initiatives include the setting up of a literacy resource centre as part of a fully co-ordinated action plan. Virtually all primary schools now include a “Literacy Hour” in the school day
- National Priorities Guidance – the NHS Priorities and Planning Guidance sets out the key areas for development in health care. From 1999/2000 the priorities are joint with Social Services and are set out in Modernising Health and Social Services
- National Service Frameworks – the national definition of provision of service, standards and performance for specific areas of health and related care. The first two NSFs related to Coronary Heart Disease and Mental Health and were published in 1999. The NSF for Older People was published in 2001. The blue print for services covers the relevant ill health prevention, treatment, care and allied services with the aim of defining minimum standards across the whole country and setting a model for excellence
- Netherfield Acorn Project – funded by Nottinghamshire County Council to target socially excluded young people in Netherfield and to encourage their integration into the community
- Netherfield Local Area Forum – usually known as Netherfield Community Forum, it is made up of people who live and work in the Netherfield area and plays an active role in community development
- New Deal – a Government initiative to find work experience opportunities for 18-24 year-olds who have been claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance for at least six months
- New Deal for Communities – Government initiative to tackle the causes and effects of deprivation in a co-ordinated way with local communities making decisions about spending priorities
- New Deal for Lone parents – a Government initiative to provide employment support and opportunities to anyone looking after at least one school age child on their own, and claiming income support.
- New Leaf – Nottingham’s new NHS service dedicated to helping smokers who want to stop which provides specially trained advisors who offer support and information, group and one to one counselling and advice and information on NRT.
- New Leaf is delivered as part of HAZ
- “New NHS: Modern: Dependable” – the Government White Paper, published in December 1997, which sets out a 10-year programme designed to create a system of health care which is more integrated, modern and of high quality. It ushered in an evolutionary change in the structure and focus of the NHS, establishing Primary Care Groups, the Health Improvement Programme and the framework for clinical governance
- New Opportunities Fund – the ‘sixth good cause’ to benefit from the National Lottery. The Fund is specifically focused on health, education and environmental initiatives
- NHS Direct – a 24-hour telephone advice line staffed by nurses. It provides ‘on the spot’ information, advice and help. Three pilot helplines began in March 1998. NHS Direct went “live” in Nottingham on February 8 1999 as part of the second wave of pilot sites. The service was rolled out nationally during 2000
- NHS Executive – the management arm of the Department of Health, organised across eight regions, with its headquarters in Leeds. Nottingham comes within the Trent region, which covers the East Midlands (though not Northamptonshire), South Yorkshire and Humberside
- NHS Information Highway – known as the NHSnet, this is an Intranet for all NHS organisations. Only NHS personnel can gain access. The Internet can be reached via NHSnet but NHSnet cannot be accessed via the Internet
- NHS Trust – a statutory, self governing NHS organisation providing health care services to the NHS. They provide services for the local population and may also develop specialist services for a wider, regional population. Their income is derived from service agreements with Health Authorities, Primary Care Groups or Primary Care Trusts. They have freedom to decide staff numbers and rates of pay and some powers to invest and borrow money.
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy – available in the form of patches and creams, together with counselling and support they can provide a gradual withdrawal from nicotine to enable the individual to successfully quit smoking
- Nottingham Advocacy Group – an umbrella organisation supporting a wide range of activities/projects including advocacy for current or former users of mental health services in Nottingham
- Nottingham Emergency Medical Services – a Nottinghamshire GP Co-operative founded in 1998 as a partnership between the former Nottingham Community Health NHS Trust, the former Nottinghamshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (now EMAS) and 270 Nottingham GPs drawn from 89 GP Practices. It provides out of hours GP Services in Nottingham
- Nottingham Health Action Group – a multi-agency group, it is a sub group of the Joint Consultative Committee, focusing on ill health prevention and the social determinants of health
- Non Cash Limited – funding made available from a central budget on an “as required” basis to reimburse payments made to primary care contractors. There are no ceilings set on these payments
- Nottingham Human Resources Partnership Forum – a local NHS group established to agree personnel policies and procedures across NHS organisations in Nottingham. The group includes personnel professionals, trades union representatives and senior management
- Nottingham Capacity Planning Team – representatives of all health and social care departments in the Health Authority Area who are affected by emergency pressures. The group is chaired by Nottingham City PCT and shares up to date information about the demand for hospital services and plans to meet extra need. The group meets more frequently during times of pressure, especially during winter.
- Non Melanoma Skin Cancers – the most common type and rarely fatal, although they can be disfiguring
- Nursing Homes – distinct from residential homes, nursing homes provide 24 hour care by registered nurses and are registered and inspected by Health Authorities
