The Richard Wells Research Centre at Thames Valley University

The Social and Policy Implications of Health Protection:

The need to protect society from health hazards is a fundamental public health issue with its origins dating back to ancient times. The introduction of the National Health Service in 1948 included a responsibility for the health of geographically defined populations and not just those seeking medical help.  However, assessing the nation’s health needs is problematic as health is not readily defined.  Consequently health protection covers a wide range of activities including legislation, policies and programmes affecting the environment, community care and emergency situations, in order to protect the public from infection and chemical and radiation hazards.

This module will chart the development of health policy in the UK and its influence on public health and the development of services.  Many of these developments will provide an underpinning historical basis for the subsequent optional modules.  Throughout the students will be encouraged to focus on their own locality and critically appraise the effects and interpretation of national policy on the delivery of health protection locally. 

This module is delivered entirely on line and throughout the module students will be enabled and encouraged to make full use of Blackboard and e-learning facilities.  The assessment is a report on a national health protection issue which has relevance to the course participant’s area of work.