I really don't see the problem with '26 left hand' to mean left hand circuits and '26 Left' to mean a runway if there's also a '26 Right'. How many of those are there in the UK? Sure, '26 Grass' or '26 Hard' seems sensible - but "Runway 26, Left Hand Circuits" is too verbose.
Frequently I have to join "Runway 26 left, join right base". Scope for confusion indeed - but that's miltary ATC, I'm afraid....
