glossary
Assistive technology
Assistive Technology ( AT) is any product or service designed to enable independence for people with disabilities and older people. (King's Fund Consultation, Foundation for Assistive Technology.)
Augmentative and alternative communication
An area of clinical practice that attempts to compensate, either temporarily or permanently, for the impairment and disability patterns of individuals with severe and expressive communication disorders. (International Society for Alternative and Augmentative Communication.)
Augmentative and alternative communication system
An integrated group of components, including the symbols, aids, strategies and techniques used by individuals to enhance communication. (International Society for Alternative and Augmentative Communication.)
Bariatric
Any patient whose size, weight, or body dynamics exceed the safe working loads or capacity of the existing equipment or care capabilities, and whose size or body dynamics may also require exceptional staffing, equipment and environmental conditions. (Norwich Primary Care Trust.)
Bioengineer
A health professional qualified in bioengineering (engineering that is combined with the study of the human body).
Carer
Except where the context makes it clear that an alternative definition applies, the term carer should be taken to mean the following which is the definition used by Carers UK and Carers Scotland: Carers look after family, partners or friends in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability. The care they provide is unpaid.
Centre
Manages fully comprehensive regional services. Complex needs would be addressed at these comprehensively equipped facilities. Less complex requirements would be accessed through outreach services delivered to users and carers in local settings.
Cinderella service
Low priority service area and under-resourced.
Clinics
'Events' held at a variety of locations.
District nurse
A nurse that is specially trained to treat people in their own homes.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
An inherited disorder characterised by rapidly progressive muscle weakness which starts in the legs and pelvis and later affects the whole body.
DWP
Department for Work and Pensions
Eligibility criteria
The rules that determine which type of wheelchair a person's mobility difficulties justify.
Gait analysis
Scientific investigation of walking, in order to diagnose specific orthopaedic or other conditions affecting mobility.
Holistic assessment
Assessment for wheelchair users, which takes into account not only medical requirements but the overall needs of the individual to lead a full life.
IHRQoL
The Index of Health Related Quality of Life (see also QALY)
Local facility
A location for outreach services, which may be in an NHS or local authority facility such as a school or clinic, or a community centre or hall. In very rare circumstances it may be a stand-alone building.
Manual propulsion chair
Standard manual wheelchair, propelled by either the user or their attendant.
MAVIS
Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service
Motor neurone disease
Degeneration of the nerves in the spinal cord and brain that are responsible for muscle movement, causing weakness and muscle deterioration.
Multi-agency approach
Where the needs of users and carers require co-ordination of expertise and/or resources that are the responsibility of a number of government agencies ( e.g. health, education, social services).
Multiple sclerosis
A chronic progressive disease of the central nervous system in which gradual destruction of the coating on the outside of the nerves occurs. This occurs in patches throughout the brain or spinal cord (or both), interfering with the nerve pathways and causing muscular weakness, loss of co-ordination and speech and visual disturbances. It occurs chiefly in adults and is thought to be a defect in the immune system that may be of genetic or viral origin.
Neonatal mortality rate
This is the number of neonatal deaths per 1,000 live births.
Occupational Therapist ( OT)
A health professional trained to help people, who are ill or have disabilities, learn to manage their daily activities.
Orthotics
An area of clinical practice that provides assessment, fabrication and fitting of equipment to support or modify the function of a body part.
Outreach services
Services provided away from the wheelchair centre, by centre staff or community-based staff, in collaboration with the centres.
Physiotherapist ( PT)
A healthcare professional concerned with human function, movement and maximising potential.
Planned preventive maintenance ( PPM)
A formal system of pre-planned maintenance and procedures for wheelchairs to ensure that regular inspections and routine servicing are carried out on a planned and controlled basis.
Prosthetics
An area of clinical practice that provides assessment, fabrication and fitting of equipment to replace a missing body part.
Powered chair
Wheelchair where propulsion is motorised.
Quality-adjusted life-year ( QALY)
A common measure of health improvement used in cost-utility analysis, it measures life expectancy adjusted for quality of life.
Rehabilitation consultant
A consultant doctor who specialises in the rehabilitation of patients after illness or accident.
Rehabilitation Technology Information Service ( ReTIS)
ReTIS is jointly funded by all Scottish NHS Boards to provide a national information service in the field of rehabilitation technology. The service provides information and support in the areas of wheelchairs and seating, prosthetics, orthotics and electronic assistive technology.
Ring-fenced funding
Funding which is only to be spent on a specified service.
SCAMP
Specialist Centre for Advanced Wheeled Mobility and Positioning
SEHD
Scottish Executive Health Department
Technologies for living independently
All equipment intended to alleviate difficulties in undertaking activities of daily living.
Trauma medicine
Treatment of patients who have suffered major accidents and/or trauma.
Wheelchair service centres
There are five wheelchair service centres in Scotland (Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness). These centres provide fully comprehensive services to wheelchair users (assessment, prescription, repair and maintenance).