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DH glossary G - I
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Last modified date:5 February 2008
Health and social care terms starting with the letters G to I.
G
Gateway
System introduced to help control the amount of guidance, targets and planning requirements issued to the NHS from the Department of Health.
General Medical Council (GMC)
The statutory body responsible for licensing doctors to practise medicine in the UK.
General Medical Services contract (GMS)
Contract that is the mechanism for providing funding to individual GP practices. It has two elements of funding - a basic payment for every practice, and further payments for specified quality measures and outcomes.
General Social Care Council (GSCC)
Council that promotes high standards of conduct, practice and training for social workers.
Generic medicines
Medicines marketed without a brand name.
Genito urinary medicine (GUM)
Medicine for urinary system infections such as cystitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and infections of the genitals such as thrush.
Gershon Review
An independent review of public sector efficiency. The Department established the Care Services Efficiency Delivery programme to meet the targets set out in the report.
GMC
See General Medical Council.
GMS contract
Contract that creates greater flexibility for GPs and represents a significant level of investment in primary care.
Governance
See Clinical governance.
GP (General practioner)
A doctor who is qualified to treat a broad range of patients with varying medical problems.
GP fees and allowances
Remuneration and the legal framework and remuneration for general practitioners’ pay.
GP flexible allowance scheme
See GMS contract.
GPwSI (General Practitioners with Special Interests)
GPs that supplement their generalist role by delivering a clinical service beyond the normal scope of general practice. See also Practitioners with Special Interests (PwSI).
Green book
Publicly available document on immunisation against infectious disease, which charts the history of immunisation.
Green Paper
A preliminary discussion or consultation document often issued by the Government in advance of the formulation of policy.
GSCC
See General Social Care Council.
GUM
See Genito urinary medicine.
H
HAI
See Healthcare acquired infection (HCAI).
HC11
Booklet that sets out NHS charges and help with health costs.
HC12
See HC11.
HCAI
See Healthcare acquired infection
Health advice for travellers
Information for UK nationals living abroad or for people who are visiting countries out of the UK on holiday or business.
Health and Social Care Awards
Annual award scheme for NHS and social care staff.
Health community
See Health economy.
Health economy
All health organisations and staff within an identified area. It includes PCTs, primary care practitioners, NHS trusts and relevant voluntary sector organisations. May also be referred to as a health community.
Health inequalities
Work that contributes to the narrowing of the health gap between disadvantaged groups, communities and the rest of the country.
Health Professions Council
The Council maintains registers of staff groups who were not previously subject to statutory regulation, and officially records new and hybrid roles.
Health reform
A programme of reforms to the NHS set out in the 10 year NHS plan published in July 2000.
Health technical memorandum (HTM)
A series of publications that set specific standards for building components such as windows, sanitary ware, and the design and operation of engineering and fire safety requirements.
Health trainers
NHS accredited staff who help local people to make health and lifestyle changes.
Health visitor
A health professional working in the community, often responsible for prevention, health advice and promotion and community health development.
Healthcare acquired infection (HCAI) or Healthcare associated infection (HAI)
Infections such as MRSA and Clostridium Difficile that patients or healthcare workers acquire from a healthcare environment such as a hospital or care home.
Healthcare environment
Improving the patient environment and the basic care services delivered within that environment.
Healthcare Resource Groups (HRGs)
Groups that provide a way of categorising the treatment of patients in order to monitor and evaluate the use of resources.
HealthSpace
A secure place on the internet where people can store personal health information.
Healthy living
Initiatives to help people quit smoking, eat better and exercise more.
Healthy Schools programme
A programme that encourages schools to contribute to the improvement of children’s health and well being.
HFEA
See Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
Homecare
See Domiciliary care.
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES)
Information about the patient treatment delivered by NHS hospitals.
HRGs
See Healthcare Resource Groups.
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)
Authority that licenses and monitors NHS and private fertility clinics and is charged with ensuring research involving embryos is carried out responsibly.
I
ICAS (Independent Complaints Advocacy Services)
Service that supports patients filing a complaint about their NHS treatment or care.
Immunisation
National vaccination programmes used to protect individuals and the community from serious communicable diseases such as measles and TB.
Improving working lives
A blueprint by which NHS employers and staff can measure the management of human resources.
Independence, wellbeing and choice
Green Paper that set out the Government’s proposals for the future direction of adult social care.
Independent Complaints Advocacy Services
See ICAS.
Independent Living Fund
A national resource dedicated to the financial support of disabled people.
Independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts
The regulator that is responsible for authorising, monitoring and regulating NHS foundation trusts.
Independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts
The regulator that is responsible for authorising, monitoring and regulating NHS foundation trusts.
Independent sector
An umbrella term for all non NHS bodies delivering health care, which includes a range of private companies and voluntary organisations.
Independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs)
Private sector treatment centres that offer pre booked day and short stay surgery, and diagnostic procedures.
Individual budgets
A sum given to an individual, to allow them control over the way the money is spent on their care needs.
Infection control
The practices used to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
Informal carer
People that provide unpaid care for family members, friends, neighbours or others who are either sick, disabled or elderly.
Integrated care
NHS and local authority health responsibilities are managed together so that care trusts can offer a more efficient and better integrated service.
Integrated governance
System that results in the better governing of NHS trusts.
Integrated Service Improvement Programme
See ISIP.
Intermediate care
Integrated services for older people that promote faster recovery from illness, prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and maximise independent living.
ISIP (Integrated Service Improvement Programme)
Programme that helps senior NHS staff plan and deliver improved services.
ISTC
See Independent sector treatment centres.
ISTC (Independent Sector Treatment Centre) Programme
Part of a major initiative to create additional capacity within the NHS to reduce waiting times and introduce choice for patients.
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