Glossary of Terms

Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) are conditions that are present at birth and can affect the structure of a baby's heart and the way it works. They are the most common type of birth defect. Current statistics from NHS England show that around 8 in every 1000 births have CHDs.

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) is a birth defect that affects normal blood flow through the heart. As baby develops during pregnancy, the left side of the heart does not form correctly. Described as having half a working heart, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome is one type of incurable Congenital Heart Defect.

Mowat-Wilson Syndrome (MWS) is a genetic condition that affects many parts of the body. Major signs of this disorder frequently include distinctive facial features, intellectual disability, delayed development, an intestinal disorder called Hirschsprung disease, Epilepsy and other birth defects.

Palliative Care is the term given to anyone with an incurable illness, predicted with having less than 12 months of life. Within Hospitals and Communities, Palliative Care teams work to make patients as comfortable as possible, by managing pain and symptoms. Patients and their families should also receive psychological, social and spiritual support.