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DH glossary D - F
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Last modified date:5 February 2008
Health and social care terms starting with letters D to F.
D
DCSF
Department for Children, Schools and Families.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Condition where blood clots develop in the deep veins of the legs, often linked to long haul travel.
Defibrillation
The equipment used to assist to the emergency needs of people who have a heart attack in a public place.
Delayed discharge
Patients who are medically fit and have undergone all necessary assessments to ensure a safe discharge from hospital, but their discharge has been delayed due to lthe late delivery of services or equipment.
Deliberate release
An intentional spread of a biological or chemical substance, that might occur during a bio warfare or bio terrorist incident.
Deliberative events
When the public, patients, service users, and staff become actively involved in the shaping of DH policy through consultation events.
Delivery chain
The complex networks of organisations, including central and local government, the NHS, agencies and bodies from the private and third sectors, that need to work together to achieve or deliver an improved public sector outcome defined through a central government PSA target.
Delivery partner
An agency or body, from either the public, private or third sectors, who works with central government to deliver improved services and outcomes for the public.
DGH
See district general hospital.
Direct payments
Payments given to individuals to choose, organise and pay for the social care services they need, rather than using the services offered by their local authority.
DirectGov
Website that provides a information on national and local government services, including education and learning, travel and transport, and health and well being.
Directions
Instructions issued by the Secretary of State for Health to strategic health authorities, special health authorities and NHS trusts.
Distance from target (DfT)
The difference between a primary care trust's allocation and its target fair share of resources informed by the weighted capitation formula.
District General Hospital (DGH)
Hospital providing a full range of secondary and acute services to a local population.
Domiciliary care
Homecare that helps people cope with disability or illness, and allows them to maintain independence.
DVT
See deep vein thrombosis
E
E106
Form for people who wish to work in a European country and are considering early retirement or wanting to receive medical cover while abroad.
E111
Replaced by the European health insurance card (EHIC) on 1 January 2006.
EHIC
See European Health Insurance Card.
Elective care
Care provided at a planned or prearranged time rather than in response to an emergency.
Electronic prescription Service (EPS)
Service that electronically sends a patient's prescription from their GP to a pharmacy.
Emergency planning
The contingency plans and advice required to prepare for specific types of disasters and attacks.
End of life care
Specialist care for all adult patients nearing the end of their lives.
EPP
See Expert Patient Programme.
EPS
See Electronic prescription Service.
Equality and diversity
The Department and the NHS actively promote equality and diversity in their workforces.
ESBL
See Extended spectrum beta lactimase.
Essence of care
Government initiative designed to improve the quality of care.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Card that entitles Europeans to free or reduced cost medical treatment in a European economic area.
European working time directive
As part of the Working Time Regulations, the Directive states that by 2009, training doctors will by law not be expected to work more than 48 hours a week.
Every child matters
Department for Education and Skills (DfES) led strategy that promotes the well being of children and young people from birth to age 19.
Evidence based practice
Process that engages primary care professionals in the commissioning of services.
Executive Agency
A discrete unit set up to undertake an executive function of government. DH has two Executive Agencies, the MHRA and NHS PASA.
Expert patient
Patients who become experts at managing their condition on a day to day basis.
Expert Patient Programme (EPP)
Programme designed to teach good self care and self management skills to people with long term conditions.
Extended schools
Schools that provide a range of services and activities, often at times outside the normal school day, to help meet the needs of children and their families.
Extended spectrum beta lactimase (ESBL)
Enzymes that can be produced by bacteria, which are resistant to many of the antibiotics used in hospitals.
F
Fair access and charging
A fair charging policy for patients in home care and other non residential care.
Fair Access to Care
Guidance issued by DH to councils and care trusts about fair charging policies for home care and other non residential care, and advice about eligibility criteria for adult social care.
Family Health Services (FHS)
Services provided in the community through doctors in general practice, dentists, pharmacists and opticians, all of whom are independent contractors.
FCE
Completion of a patient's period of care under a consultant, following which they are either discharged or transferred to another consultant.
FHS
See Family Health Services.
Finished Consultant Episode (FCE)
See FCE.
Firecode
Fire practice notes which consider policy, technical guidance and specialist aspects of fire precautions.
Fitness for purpose
An organisational assessment and commissioning diagnostic tool for primary care trusts (PCTs).
FOI
See Freedom of Information Act.
Foundation trusts
NHS hospitals that are run as independent, public benefit corporations, which are both controlled and run locally.
Framework
Long term strategies for improving specific areas of care. They set measurable goals within set time frames.
Framework contract
A contract listing a range of suppliers who are able to supply specified goods or services. The contract enables organisations to call upon one or more of the suppliers to supply the goods or services as they are required.
Freedom of Information Act (FOI)
Government act which gives a general right of access to all types of recorded information held by public authorities.
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