Acronym Buster

Our handy acronym buster has over a thousand commonly used healthcare abbreviations for you to access when you need them.
Teal, yellow and red ovals over a navy blue background.

A

AAP

associate ambulance practitioner

AAU

acute assessment unit

ABPI

ankle-brachial pressure index

ACP

advanced care practitioner

ACU

ambulatory care unit

ADON

associate director of nursing

AEC

ambulatory emergency care

AECU

ambulatory emergency care unit

AHSC

Academic Health Science Centre

AHSN

Academic Health Science Network

AIR

annual innovation report (strategic health authority)

AIS

Accessible Information Standards; abbreviated injury scale

ALOS

average length of stay

AMHP

approved mental health professional

ANTT

aseptic non-touch technique

AO1

assistance of 1

APB

autism partnership board

AQN

activity query notice (issued by CCG)

ARRS

Additional Role Reimbursement Scheme

ASD

autistic spectrum disorder

ASG

allocations steering group

ASQ

age and stage questionnaire

ASQ

age and stage questionnaire

AST

administration support team

ATMIST

(handover from paramedics) age, time of incident, mechanism, injuries sustained, treatment and trends

ATO

assistant technical officer

AVR

accredited voluntary register

Discover more

Learn about the NHS Confederation and our support for health and care systems, organisations and leaders.

Find out what we do Arrow pointing right