This module addresses the principles, structure, and financing that underpin the UK’s health system, while exploring the key challenges being faced.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
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A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
What are the challenges facing health policy and delivery in the UK? What do potential responses look like and how do they fit alongside prevailing social attitudes towards healthcare and the NHS?
The module has three ‘blocks’: Contexts; Issues in health; and healthcare scenarios. In the first students will explore the structures of healthcare and place these in a wider context. In the second block students will consider the myriad of challenges faced by and changes within the health system. In the final section will critically engage with such issues and then develop ‘solutions’ to particular issues.
Contexts: Health as a pillar; Development and structure of healthcare in the UK; Financing and delivery.
Issues: Ageing and Social Care; Superdiversity and epidemiology; Workforce; When it goes wrong - complaints, scandals and Public Inquiries.
Scenarios: Future of general practice; Role of technology; Income generation in the NHS; Choice and patient-centred care.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
Understand challenges facing health policy and delivery in the UK.
Conceptualise the NHS as both a historical artefact and site for reform.
Assess how NHS reforms address population change and diversity, i.e. age, disability and ethnicity.
Outline and compare suggested improvements to NHS policy and delivery.
Evaluate contemporary reform of the NHS.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 40 |
Essay/coursework | 60 |
None
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 100 |
Feedback will be given in accordance with the University Policy on feedback in the Guide to Assessment as well as in line with the School policy.
Glasby, J. (2012). Understanding Health and Social Care. Bristol: Policy Press.
Baggott, R. (2010). Public Health Policy and Politics (2nd Edition). Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Klein, R. (2013). The New Politics of the NHS (7th Edition). CRC: Florida.
Exworthy, M., Mannion, R., and Powell, M. (eds). (2016). Dismantling the NHS?: Evaluating the impacts of health reforms. Bristol: Policy Press.