Emergency and Urgent Care Acronyms

There are many commonly used Emergency and Urgent Care Acronyms/Phrases. We have listed and explained some of these below. If there are you would like to see added, please contact us 

Acronym

A&E 

Name

Accident & Emergency Department

Description

Department with full A&E Services capable of dealing with life or limb threatening injuries and illnesses

Comment

Usually a 24/7 service capable of dealing with most major and minor traumas

BRI

Bristol Royal Infirmary

Regional Trauma Centre

BRI specialises in major trauma and cardiac arrest

CCG

Clinical Commissioning Group

Local GP-led organisation commissioning NHS services

CGH

Cheltenham General Hospital

Acute General Hospital in Cheltenham

Currently has a full A&E Department between 8am and 8pm A&E Department is downgraded overnight to the status of a Minor Injuries Unit

CQC

Care Quality Committee

Regulator of Care Quality

DoH/DH

Department of Health

Government Department responsible for NHS

ECC

Emergency Care Centre

Equivalent to a Minor Injuries Unit or Urgent Care Centre

Redundant term for Minor Injuries Unit

ED

Emergency Department

Americanised name for Casualty or A&E Department

Usually a 24/7 service capable of dealing with most major and minor traumas

ENP

Emergency Nurse Practitioner

Specialist Nurse trained in emergency medicine

GCS

Gloucestershire Care Services

Provides non-acute NHS healthcare and Community Hospitals

GHNHSFT

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Gloucestershire’s acute Hospital Trust

GLCCG

Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group

Gloucestershire GP-led organisation commissioning NHS services

GP OOH

GP Out-of-Hours Service

GP service out of normal hours

A locum service, currently commissioned from a private contractor

GRH

Gloucestershire Royal Hospital

Acute General Hospital in Gloucester

Currently has a full A&E Department 24/7

HOSC

Health (and Care) Overview Scrutiny Committee

Local Authority Committee overseeing local health services

MECC

Major Emergency Care Centre

Equivalent to a full A&E Department

Redundant term for full A&E Dept

MIU

Minor Injuries Unit

For injuries or illnesses not posing threat to life or limb. Led by GP or Emergency Nurse Practitioner, rather than Specialist Emergency Doctors

Limited hours service available at some Community Hospitals
May be led by GP or Emergency Nurse Practioner, rather than Specialist Emergency Doctor(s)

NCB

National Commissioning Board

Commissioners of specialist and some other NHS services

Used to commission GP services to avoid conflict of interest in GP-led CCGs

NEPTS

Non-Emergency Passenger Transport Service

Non-emergency ambulance service

Contracted out to non-NHS provider, Arriva

NHSE

NHS England

National NHS organisation in England

Health care is a devolved power

NHSI

NHS Improvement

Regulator for financial and management of NHS Trusts

Amalgamation of Monitor, NHS Trust
Development Authority, Patient Safety (from NHS England), National Reporting and Learning System, Advancing Change Team and Intensive Support Teams

OOH

Out- Of-Hours Service

GP service out of normal hours

A locum service, currently commissioned from a private contractor
Also operates limited hours service adjacent to A&E Department in two acute hospitals

PC

Primary Care

Front line health care (including GPs surgeries)

RTC

Regional Trauma Centre

Enhanced A&E Department with additional emergency specialist expertise

Deals with major traumas

SWASFT

South West Ambulance Service Foundation Trust

NHS Emergency Ambulancec Service

SH

Southmead Hospital

Regional Trauma Centre in Bristol Major specialist trauma unit

Enhanced A&E Department serving Region including Gloucestershire

SoS

Secretary of State

For NHS this is Health Secretaray

UCC

Urgent Care Centre

Similar to Minor Injuries Unit. For injuries or illnesses not posing threat to life or limb

May be led by GP or Emergency Nurse Practioner, rather than Specialist Emergency Doctor(s)

UTC

Urgent Treatment Centre

Similar to Minor Injuries Unit. For injuries or illnesses not posing threat to life or limb

May be led by GP or Emergency Nurse Practioner, rather than Specialist Emergency Doctor(s)

“To have a fully functioning, fully staffed A&E Department operating 24/7 re-instated at Cheltenham General Hospital, which serves a population of at least 200,000 in Cheltenham, Tewkesbury Borough, and the North Cotswolds, at the earliest possible opportunity.”

01242 544599

jo@REACHnow.org.uk

REACH, c/o Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce,
2 Trafalgar Street,
Cheltenham,
GL50 1UH