General
grolies
What does grolies mean?
Notorious UK hospital acronym aimed at a specific stereotype of patient — the earnest, middle-class, alternative-medicine type who reads The Guardian and turns up in ethnic dress with a folder of internet research. Catalogued in a 2003 BMJ piece on hospital slang that caused a small media storm. Properly retired now, but historically real.
"Adams flagged the new admission as a classic GROLIES — bring the herbal tinctures."
Origin
UK hospital jargon, brought to wider attention by Adam Fox's 2003 BMJ article on medical slang.
Frequently asked questions
What does GROLIES stand for?
GROLIES is a British medical slang acronym standing for "Guardian Reader Of Low Intelligence in Ethnic Skirt."
Is GROLIES offensive?
Yes — it's derogatory hospital in-joke slang used dismissively about a patient, and it's considered offensive and unprofessional.
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