R7: GLOSSARY OF TERMS AND ALCOHOL PROMPTCARD
This glossary provides further definitions for:
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Health Problems
Housing status
Migration status
Term
Description
Access to services
Reasons for
Please select the reason which best responds to the reason the client required this
hospital/A&E/
service. Please enter in the ‘other’ section any other reason – we have provided
ambulance
only some of the more common reasons for admission.
A homeless health This is a specialist nurse or GP led team which specifically works with homeless
care or NFA
people for NFA patients – eg some migrant groups or asylum seekers.
service
Admitted into
Please select this only if the client was admitted into hospital (this could be a
hospital
planned admission or a result of using A&E.
Health related terms (‘Physical Health’ section of survey)
breathing problems Do you have a painful cough?
or chest pain
Is it painful to breathe or are you short of breath?
Also include asthma or diagnosed chest infections/conditions
problems with
Do you have aches and pains in limbs?
bones, joints and
Is it difficult to walk?
muscles
So you have joint swelling or stiffness?
Do you have difficulty walking or going up stairs?
eye problems
This can include:
 Difficulty seeing well
 blurred vision
 Any eye pain
skin/wound
This can include:
infection or
 Skin infections
problems
 Rashes
 wounds or cuts
 sores or itchy skin
poor foot health
Do you have wounds or cuts on feet?
Any sores/callouses which make walking painful?
Numbness?
Fainting/blackouts
Do you have a diagnosis of epilepsy?
Do you experience fitting or blackouts, including withdrawal fits?
urinary
Do you experience:
problems/infections
 Pain passing urine
 Incontinence
 Do you pass blood when urinating?
 Any known kidney infections or problems?
problems with
This can include:
circulation/blood
 Known DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
clots
 Numbness or tingling in limbs
liver problems
This can include
 Known diagnosis of liver cirrhosis
 Other liver problems like liver infections
Stomach problems
 Stomach pain or discomfort
 Stomach ulcers or chronic pain
dental/teeth
Do you have dental pain?
problems
Do you have bleeding gums or abscess?
diabetes
The client is likely to have a formal diagnosis if they select yes for this. It can
include type 1 (controlled through insulin injections and diet) or Type 2 diabetes
(generally controlled by diet and tablets and more common in older people)
Mental Health
Specialist mental
health service
‘Talking’ therapies
Services to help with
my dual diagnosis
Access to any specialist mental health service – eg Community Mental Health
Team
This can include any form of psychological therapies or counselling.
This refers specifically to services which clients with an existing drug or alcohol
problem can access for help with their mental health. Some services do not allow
clients who are still using these substances to access mental health support at the
same time.
Health screening and testing (‘Vaccination and testing’ section of survey)
Sexual health
Screening generally covers sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as syphilis,
screening
gonorrhoea, and chlamydia. Treatments vary.
Hep A
Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is an acute
infection, rather than chronic (long term).
Hep B
Hep C
Flu
HIV
TB
Migration status
UK resident
A2 national
Indefinite leave to
remain/refugee
status
It's generally spread because of poor personal hygiene. There's an effective
vaccination to protect people from hepatitis A infection, available from GPs.
Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver.
The virus is usually transmitted through contact with infected blood or body fluids
eg unprotected sex or sharing contaminated needles. There's an effective
vaccination to protect people from hepatitis B infection.
Hepatitis C is a virus that can cause infection of the liver. Although no vaccine to
protect against infection, there is effective treatment available. Many people do
not develop symptoms so it can be difficult to diagnose. There are some
treatments but these are not suitable for all people or effective in all cases.
We are not including swine flu in this definition.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infects and gradually destroys an infected
person's immune system, reducing their protection against infection and cancers.
HIV testing is via a blood test.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection which most commonly affects the lungs. If left
untreated TB can sometimes be fatal. However, TB treatment is very effective and
few now die of the disease. Homeless people are at risk due to lower immune
systems. TB can also spread more easily in overcrowded or poorly ventilated
living conditions. It can be screened by X-ray screening or skin tests.
Full UK resident rights. This means the client has full entitlement to live and work
in the UK.
Clients from Bulgaria and Romania (known as ‘A2’ accession countries )
Indefinite leave to remain means an individual is free from immigration control.
Asylum seeker
Those who have not yet received an answer to their claim or who are appealing a
negative decision
Accommodation status
Hostel
Short stay emergency services aimed at those in need of emergency
accommodation. Please include both short term hostels or longer term hostels.
Supported/2nd stage
accommodation
Nightshelter
Supported accommodation is often used by those moving on from ‘first stage’
direct access hostels. These projects vary in length of stay and levels of support
provided.
Nightshelter accommodation is usually provided on a direct access basis (though
some carry restrictions). Sleeping accommodation is provided during the nighttime
only, with some providers offering other support services during the day.
Anything missing from this glossary? As we update the guidance for the health audit, please let us
know if you would like clarity on any other terms used in the survey policy@homelesslink.org.uk
FLASHCARD (TO BE USED WITH Q18)
To work out which option fits your alcohol consumption best, please say how many units you
have on average each time you drink:
a. 1-2
b. 3-4
c. 5-6
d. 7-9
e. 10 or more
To help you work out how many units you have:
This is one unit…
Half pint of
regular beer,
lager or
cider
1 very small
glass of
wine
1 single
measure of
spirits
This is more than 1 unit…
Alcopop or a
275ml bottle
of regular
lager
440ml can of
“regular”
lager or
cider
440ml can of
“super
strength”
lager or
cider
250ml glass
of wine
Bottle of
wine