Sheffield Local Involvement Network

Hospital-based health services.

A healthcare professional who is not a medical doctor and who works as part of a clinical team in a hospital, primary care or community care setting, such as a laboratory technician.

A legal entity formed to provide health and social care services. See Sheffield Health and Social Care Foundation Trust

CAMHS is part of Sheffield Children's NHS Trust. It provides a comprehensive assessment, treatment and consultation service for families in which there is a child with a severe or longstanding mental health problem.

The systematic and critical analysis of the quality of clinical care. This includes the procedures used for diagnosis and treatment, the associated use of resources, and the effect of care on the outcome and quality of life for the patient.

Psychiatrists, community psychiatric nurses and others who provide mental health services within a defined community.

Authorised Primary Care Trust staff in charge of commissioning contracts with service providers of healthcare services.

Care or support provided by social services departments and the NHS to assist people in their day-to-day living and provided to patients in and around their home.

This is a check of the records held by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), which contains information held by the police and government departments. Employers and voluntary organisations use them to check the background of their staff or volunteers who may come into contact with vulnerable groups.

The department that supports the government to improve the health and well being of the population. www.dh.gov.uk

Payments given to individuals so that they can organise and pay for the social care services they need, rather than using the services offered by their local authority.

This is an NHS programme designed to spread good self care and self-management skills to a wide range of people with long-term conditions. Using trained non-medical leaders as educators, it equips people with arthritis and other long-term conditions with the skills to manage their own conditions. Click here for local information.

These are not-for-profit, public benefit corporations. They are part of the NHS and provide over half of all NHS hospital and mental health services. They are a result of the Government's drive to devolve decision making from central to local organisations and communities. They differ from NHS trusts by not being directed by Government so have greater freedom to decide their own strategy and the way services are run. They can retain their surpluses and borrow to invest in new and improved services for patients and service users.

See also Trust

The regulator of the medical profession. Its purpose is to protect, promote and maintain the health and safety of the community by ensuring proper standards in the practice of medicine. www.gmc-uk.org

A doctor providing primary care services, usually providing the first point of contact for NHS patients.

The National Health Service was set up in 1948 to provide healthcare for all citizens, based on need, not the ability to pay. It is made up of a wide range of health professionals, support workers and organisations. www.nhs.uk

Where an individual suffers damage to their brain or nervous system often caused by traffic accidents or illnesses.

See also our Transitions Services for those with Neurodisabilities Action Group being run by our Children and Young People's Committee.

A nurse-led telephone advice and information service, also available on the internet. www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

A Special Health Authority for England and Wales on 1 April 1999. It is part of the NHS and its role is to provide patients, health professionals and the public with authoritative, robust and reliable guidance on current best practice. www.nice.org.uk

This is the Sheffield wide network for all of the voluntary, community and faith organisations in Sheffield (the VCF sector). It describes itself as the community empowerment forum for Sheffield. OFFER exists to support VCF organisations and networks to work in partnership and strategically influence the creation of successful, inclusive communities in Sheffield. OFFER stands for Open Forum for Economic Regeneration.

A service provided to help patients, carers and relatives raise concerns or make comments on any aspect of local health services.

There was one of these patient-led organisations for every trust (including NHS Foundation Trusts) and Primary Care Trusts) in England. They were made up of volunteers and their role was to play an active part in health-related decision making and seeking the views of patients and carers about those services. They were disbanded on March 31 2008 when the Local Involvement Networks (LINks) were formed.

See also our Governing Board members Alice Riddell and Mike Smith

PEAT is an annual assessment of inpatient healthcare sites in England with more than 10 beds. PEAT is self-assessed and inspects standards across a range of services including food, cleanliness, infection control and patient environment.

See also our Governing Board member Alice Riddell

PBC is about engaging GP practices and other primary care professionals in the commissioning of services. The PCT devolves some of their power so that they are more involved in commissioning decisions.

See also our Access to GPs & Testimonials pages.

Services provided at the first stage of treatment when you are ill by family doctors (GPs), dentists, pharmacists, optometrists and ophthalmic medical practitioners, together with district nurses and health visitors. See also secondary care and tertiary care.

The organisation responsible for the planning and securing of health services and improving the health of the local population. Primary Care is the care provided by people normally seen when a health problem first appears, including services provided by doctors, dentists, opticians and pharmacies. NHS Walk-in Centres. All of these services are managed in Sheffield by Sheffield Primary Care Trust. On 1^st October 2006, the four Sheffield Primary Care Trusts (West, South West, North and South East) combined into one Trust known as the Sheffield Primary Care Trust also known as NHS Sheffield.

See the Sheffield Children's Hospital section on our Local Health & Social Care page.

The second stage of treatment when you are ill and usually provided by a hospital. See also primary care and tertiary care.

See the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals section on our Local Health & Social Care page.

This term covers services that aim to help people overcome difficulties related to physical, mental, environmental or lifestyle problems at any stage in their lives. Social care roles include both professional and non-professional roles that support vulnerable people living in the community and in residential care.

Responsible for developing strategies for local health services and ensuring high-quality performance. They manage the NHS locally and are a key link between the Department of Health and the NHS. There are 10 SHAs, Sheffield falls under the Yorkshire and Humber SHA

The third and highly specialised stage of treatment, usually provided in a specialist hospital centre. See also primary care and secondary care

A generic term for a legal entity/organisation providing health and Social Care services within the NHS.

Centres designed to offer fast advice and treatment, without an appointment, for more minor conditions or injuries.