Choose content
Stable
A term used in describing a patient's medical status. It indicates that the patient's disease process has not changed precipitously or significantly.
Chemical restraint
Is the intentional use of medication to control or modify a person’s behaviour or to ensure they are compliant or not capable of resistance, when no medically identified condition is being treated; where the treatment is not necessary for the condition; or the intended effect of the drug is to sedate the person for convenience or for disciplinary purposes.
Concern
Information provided by a person which describes circumstances where a person may be at risk.
Day services
Services provided with no overnight provision. Encompass a range of public, private, and voluntary provision, covering a wide spectrum of service user groups (older people, people with mental health issues, people with learning disabilities, people with physical disabilities, people who are terminally ill, pre-school children).
Alternative termsDay careSocial care
The provision of care, protection, psychosocial support and advocacy in partnership with individuals and groups who experience marginalisation, disadvantage or special needs.
Bedrail
A rail or board along the side of a bed, for example one that connects the headboard with the footboard.
Splint
A flexible or rigid supportive device used to maintain or support a joint of body part's position(s) to promote pain reduction or healing.
Ensuite
Used to describe a bathroom that is directly connected to a bedroom, usually for the sole use of the occupants of the bedroom.
Special care unit
A facility for children with very high support needs aged between 11 and 17 years of age which is intended to be a short-term, stabilising, safe and secure therapeutic environment. It is a premises, or a part of premises, comprising secure residential accommodation in which a child, in respect of whom a special care order or an interim special care order has been made, is detained for the purpose of the provision to that child of special care and includes accommodation and facilities required for the provision of special care.
Audit
An official examination of records and practices.
Community healthcare organisation
The regionalised organisational structures of the Health Service Executive (HSE) that providies community and primary healthcare services in Ireland.
Complaint
Allegations about a service being unsatisfactory or a service user being mistreated.