Accessibility statement

Individual & Public Health Policy - HEA00083M

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  • Department: Health Sciences
  • Module co-ordinator: JPE2
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22

Module aims

This module provides opportunity to explore contemporary challenges to people's health, the persistence of social inequalities and the principles guiding, and issues addressed by, key policy documents that determine the design of structures to deliver health and social care.

The module addresses current threats to individual and public health drawing upon research, insights from policy analysis and literature to enable students to assess the impact of health policy decisions upon individuals and communities.

Students will use the knowledge gleaned to examine the political and ethical dimensions of policy making, links between health and social care and the changing roles and responsibilities of the individual, communities and care services in light of contemporary health needs.

Module learning outcomes

At the end of this module, students will be able to:

  1. Debate perspective of public health acknowledging the pluralistic and contested nature of different positions.
  2. Examine the determinants of health, across populations locally, nationally and globally.
  3. Explore and critically analyse the complexity of the relationship between material, psychosocial and behavioural determinants of health and well-being, drawing upon research-based knowledge of inequalities in health and the impact of social determinants.
  4. Explore current healthcare policy and provision in the context of contemporary patterns of health, illness and disability: analysing the intended and unintended consequences of policy initiatives.
  5. Explore the ethical and political imperatives that inform the process of health needs assessment and influence judgements about the priorities, allocation of resources and the limits of provision.
  6. Critically appraise changing responsibilities for the promotion and maintenance of health, between users and providers, across health and social care boundaries.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay - 4000 words		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

Non-compensatable

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay - 4000 words		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Written feedback for summative assessment is provided on the standard proforma, within the timescale specified in the programme handbook.

Indicative reading

  • Bhopal, R.S. (2008). Ethnicity, race and health in multicultural societies: foundations for better epidemiology, public health, and health care. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Bradby, H. (2009). Medical sociology: an introduction. London: Sage.
  • Diclemente, R., Crosby, R. and Kegler, M. (Eds.) (2009). Emerging theories in health promotion practice & research. 2nd ed. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  • Graham, H. (2009). Understanding health inequalities. 2nd edn. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
  • Graham, H. (2007). Unequal lives: health and socio-economic inequalities. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
  • HM Government (2010). Our health and wellbeing today. [Online]. Available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh _122238.pdf
  • Klein, R. (2011). The New Politics of the NHS: from Creation to Reinvention. 6th edn. Abingdon, Oxon: Radcliffe Publishing.
  • Making Every Contact Count. [Online]. Available at: http://www.makingeverycontactcount.co.uk (accessed 20.10.15)
  • Naidoo, J. and Wills, J. (2009). Foundations for Health Promotion. 3rd edn. Edinburgh: Bailliere Tindall.
  • NHS 5 year forward view NHS England (2014). Five year forward view. London: HM government.
  • Piper, S. (2009). Health promotion for nurses: theory and practice. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
  • Sines, D., Appleby, F. and Frost, M. (Eds.) (2009). Community health care nursing. 4th edn. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons.
  • Scriven, A., Ewles, L. and Simnett, I. (2010). Promoting health: a practical guide. Edinburgh: Bailliere Tindall.
  • Wilkinson, R. and Pickett, K. (2010). The spirit level: why more equal societies almost always do better. London: Allen Lane.


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.