Accident & Emergency

Initial management of all types of trauma and serious acute illnesses.

Results of trauma – fractures, head injuries etc.

Acute serious illnesses – myocardial infarction etc.

Alcohol & Substance Misuse

Treatment of drug/alcohol dependency. Usually part of the psychiatric department

Mental health aspects of drug/alcohol dependency.

Audiology

Usually part of the ENT department

Assessment of hearing disorders

Provides services such as hearing tests (e.g. audiograms), hearing aid fitting and general rehabilitation of people with hearing difficulties.

Cardiology

Medical assessment and treatment of heart disorders and Cardiac Rehabilitation.

All diseases & disorders of the heart incl. Arrhythmias, Cardiomyopathy, Heart failure, Ischaemic Heart disease, Myocardial Infarction etc.

Cardio-thoracic Surgery

Surgical treatment of heart and chest diseases. Usually separate departments for cardiac surgery and thoracic (lung) surgery.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), Valve replacement and repair, Lung cancer, Lung metastases Mesothelioma and pneumothorax (lung collapse).

Care of the Elderly (Geriatric)

Medical management of medical conditions in the elderly.

Acute and chronic medical conditions – strokes, heart failure.

Rehabilitation with management of falls, bladder and bowel problems.

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Mental Illness in children and younger people.

Mental health conditions - Learning difficulties, Autism, ADHD etc.

Dermatology

Management of skin disorders.

Eczema, Acne, Psoriasis, dermatitis.

Diagnosis of skin tumours (malignant melanoma, basal cell carcinoma) but usually refers to surgeons/radiotherapist for treatment.

Diabetes

May be part of Endocrinology department

Diabetes.

Management of Diabetes and its complications.

Endocrinology

Management of conditions connected with the hormone producing glands

Diabetes Mellitus, Thyroid gland disorders (Hypothyroidism, Myxoedema, Thyrotoxicosis, and pituitary disorders etc.

Ear, nose & throat (ENT)

Surgical and medical management of Ear, nose & throat and larynx disorders

Hearing disorders – hearing loss, glue ear, otosclerosis, cochlear implants.

Throat disorders – tonsillectomy. Nose/sinus disorders - ‘straightening nose, draining sinuses.

Salivary gland disorders – tumours, duct stones.

Disorders of the larynx – carcinoma.

Gastro - enterology

Medical management of disease of the oesophagus, stomach, small and large bowel. Also organs involved in the digestive system – liver, pancreas (digestive rather than hormone functions).

Oesophagitis, hiatus hernia, diagnosis and medical treatment of cancer of oesophagus, Gastric and duodenal ulcers.

Diseases of small bowel – Crohn’s disease, malabsorbtion e.g. Coeliac disease.

Diseases of large bowel – Ulcerative colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, diagnosis of cancers.

Diseases of liver - Cirrhosis, Hepatitis, diagnosis of cancers Irritable Diseases of pancreas – pancreatitis.

General Medicine

Medical mangement of all medical conditions.

All medical conditions found in gastroenterology, cardiac and respiratory medicine, endocrinology etc. (Such Departments found in smaller hospitals).

General Surgery

Management of common surgical conditions

Gastro-intestinal, hernia and cancer surgery. Would exclude cardiac, respiratory and neurosurgery. (Such Departments found in smaller hospitals).

Genetics

Offers a genetic counselling, diagnostic and testing service to people affected or have offspring affected by genetic disorders. They will advise pre conception about the chances of having a child with the genetic condition

Down’s syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis, Myotonic dystrophy etc.

Genito-urinary Medicine

Medical management of diseases (usually infections) of the Reproductive organs and related conditions.

Sexually transmitted diseases – HIV/AIDS, Clamydia etc.

Haematology

Management of Blood disorders

Anaemias, Leukaemia, Haemophilia etc.

Hospice

Management (usually by a multidisciplinary team) of serious progressive illnesses where there is no curative treatment or such treatment has failed. The hospice staff may also supply support in the community.

Malignancies, progressive neurological diseases.

Neurology

Medical management of Nervous system disorders.

Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone disease, Parkinson’s disease etc.

Neurophysiology

Study of the central and peripheral nervous systems usually by measurement of electical impulses in the nervous system.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) in epilepsy. Nerve conduction studies to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome.

Neurosurgery

Specialises in surgery on any part of the nervous system.

Brain tumours, Spina Bifida, nerve compression neck and lower back (orthopaedic surgeons may also perform such surgery).

Nuclear Medicine

Diagnostic and treatment of diseases using radioactive compounds

May be part of Department of Radiology

Diagnosis – thallium scan to assess IHD, Radioactive iodine scan for thyroid disease.

Treatment – radioactive iodine for thyrotoxicosis.

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Management of pregnancy and childbirth

Management (usually surgical) of diseases of the female reproductive organs.

Mainly complicated pregnancy and childbirth.

Hysterectomy, uterine prolapse etc.

Investigation of infertility.

Occupational therapy

Treatment of conditions through activities. The aim is to achieve independent living

Chronic physical and psychiatric conditions.

Ophthalmology

List of NHS hospitals with Ophthalmology departments

Management (mainly surgical) of eye disorders.

Amblyopia, Cataracts, Myopia, Nystagmus, retinal detachment, Retinopathy etc.

Oral & Maxillo-facial Surgery

Specialising in surgery of the mouth and upper jaw

Oral cancers, trauma to the face etc.

Orthopaedics

Surgical management of disease of bones, joints, muscles and tendons

Fractures, Osteo-arthritis – joint replacement.

Paediatrics

Medical management and prevention of Children’s illnesses.

There is usually a separate Department, Child Psychiatry dealing with mental illnesses, learning disability in childhood

Developmental delay, failure to thrive.

Acute medical conditions – chest infections, meningitis

Childhood cancers and leukaemias (may be specialised unit).

Chronic illnesses – asthma, diabetes.

Pain clinic

May be part of an anaesthetic department

Treatment of chronic pain

Chronic pain and pain due to cancer.

Palliative Medicine

Treatment aimed to relieve symptoms e.g. pain breathlessness of a person with a terminal illness. There is usually no prospect of a cure.

Cancers and progressive neurological diseases e.g. Motor Neurone Disease.

Physiotherapy

Treatment of conditions by prescribed physical exercise and other physical treatments

Musculo-skeletal conditions, strokes etc.

Podiatry

Treatment (including minor surgery) of foot conditions

Fitting and supply of specialised foot-ware

Treating diabetic foot disease – ulcers etc

Dealing with calluses.

Psychiatric

Management of mental illness

There is usually a separate Department, mental health for the elderly dealing with mental health problems in old age including dementia

Bipolar disorder, Depression, Schizophrenia etc.

Psychology

Usually part of the Department of Psychiatry

Study of the function normal and abnormal of the human mind (thought processes cognition etc)

Treatment of mental illness usually by ‘talking therapies such as Cognitive behaviour therapy.

Radiology

Imaging of internal body organs and structures using X rays and ultrasound

X- Rays, CT & MRI scans, ultrasound scans etc.

Radiotherapy & Oncology

May be separate departments

Radiotherapy – treatment of cancer using radiation

Oncology – treatment of cancer using drugs

Treatment of all malignancies.

Renal Medicine

Kidney disorders

Treatment of kidney disorders. Care often shared with department treating underlying condition e.g. diabetology for diabetic kidney disease. Haemodialysis, Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD).

Respiratory

Lung disorders

Asthma, COPD, Emphysema, occupational disorders e.g. asbestosis, pneumoconiosis lung malignancies etc.

Rheumatology

Medical management of disorders of bones, joints, tendons and muscles

Osteo-arthritis, Osteoporosis (also see Orthopaedic), Rheumatoid arthritis (also see Orthopaedic), Tendonitis.

Urology

Surgical management of disorders of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, prostate and male reproductive organs

Kidney tumours, renal transplant, stones in ureter, bladder tumours.

Prostate disease – cancer and benign hypertrophy.