Terms starting with H

Haematoma

A localised collection of blood that has pooled outside blood vessels within tissue or a body cavity, typically resulting from injury to a blood vessel during or after surgery. Small haematomas may reabsorb spontaneously, whilst larger ones may require surgical drainage to prevent pain, infection, and delayed healing.

HCPC

The Health and Care Professions Council, the UK statutory regulator for fifteen allied health professions including physiotherapists, paramedics, biomedical scientists, and operating department practitioners. HCPC registration is mandatory for practice in the UK; patients receiving rehabilitation or imaging services from clinicians who plan to return to UK practice can verify status at hcpc-uk.org.

Health Tourism Authorisation (Turkey)

Turkey's mandatory licensing scheme operated under the Ministry of Health's International Health Services Department (USHAS), requiring every clinic, hospital, and intermediary that markets to international patients to hold a Sağlık Turizmi Yetki Belgesi authorisation. The authorisation list is published on the official portal saglikturizmi.saglik.gov.tr and is the primary mechanism for verifying that a Turkish provider is permitted to treat overseas patients.

Health Tourism Facilitator

A company or individual that acts as an intermediary between medical tourists and overseas healthcare providers, offering services such as provider research, appointment coordination, travel and accommodation booking, translation, and on-the-ground support. Reputable facilitators are transparent about their affiliations with hospitals and any referral fees received.

Hernia (Inguinal/Umbilical/Incisional)

A condition in which an internal organ or fatty tissue protrudes through a weakness or gap in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue wall, with inguinal hernias occurring in the groin, umbilical hernias at the navel, and incisional hernias developing through a previous surgical scar. Surgical repair, either open or laparoscopic, is the definitive treatment and often involves the use of a synthetic mesh to reinforce the weakened area.

HFEA

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority — the UK regulator of fertility treatment and human embryo research, established under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The HFEA licenses and inspects UK fertility clinics and publishes inspection reports and per-clinic success rates.

In medical tourism: UK patients travelling abroad for fertility treatment should still be aware of HFEA standards as a comparison benchmark and use the HFEA as a reference point for what regulated fertility care looks like. UK donor-conception rules differ from those in many destinations; consult the HFEA before travelling.

Hyperopia

A refractive error, commonly known as long-sightedness, in which the eye's focusing power is insufficient relative to its length, causing close objects to appear blurred whilst distant objects may remain clearer. It can be corrected with spectacles, contact lenses, or refractive surgery such as LASIK or PRK.

Hypertrophic Scar

A raised, thickened scar that forms within the boundaries of the original wound as a result of excessive collagen production during the healing process. Unlike a keloid, a hypertrophic scar does not extend beyond the wound margins and may gradually flatten over time, though treatments such as silicone sheets or corticosteroid injections can accelerate improvement.