English Vocabulary in Use - 51 Healthcare

primary care

provided by the doctors who the patient goes to first when they have a problem

locum

a doctor who does the job of another doctor who is ill or on holiday

acute condition

one that is severe and sudden in onset

secondary care

provided by specialists in special clinics or hospitals

organ

part of the body, e.g. stomach, liver

ophthalmologist

eye doctor

cardiologist

heart doctor

psychiatrists

specialise in the mind

dermatologists

specialise in the skin

gynaecologists

specialise in women’s reproductive systems

obstetricians

specialise in pregnancy and childbirth

paediatricians

specialise in children

anaesthetists

specialise in anaesthesia or stopping people from feeling pain during surgery

complementary medicine

approaches that differ from conventional western approaches

acupuncturists

people who treat patients by using needles at special points around the skin

chiropractors

people who treat patients by pressing joints in places where two joints are connected, e.g. the spine or backbone

homeopathic doctors

doctors who use tiny amounts of natural substances to treat an illness

aromatherapist

therapists who use aromatic oils and massage

healthcare

general expression for all of the services offered by hospitals, clinics, dentists, opticians, etc.

national insurance

tax paid by most working adults which covers the costs of healthcare for everyone

National Health Service (NHS)

British name for the state-funded service that covers hospitals, clinics, dentists, etc.

family doctor/GP (general practitioner)

doctor who looks after people’s general health

surgery

small centre offerring primary care, run by a single GP or a group of GPs

clinic

centre which specialises in treating a particular condition or group of conditions

prescription charge

charge for the medication the doctor prescribes, which you pay at a pharmacy

go private

choose private healthcare