This 15 credit module, Health Protection, is delivered in partnership with colleagues from the UK Health Security Agency who are working in the field, ensuring that you are exposed to relevant practice issues.

The course has been designed to meet the needs of those currently working in roles that require up-to-date health protection knowledge, or those who are keen to develop their knowledge in this field.

On successful completion of this level 7 (Master level) module, you will be able to demonstrate:

• understanding and critical insight into principles of surveillance, applied epidemiology and the aetiology, monitoring and interpretation of patterns of communicable diseases
• understanding and critical insight into public and environmental health protection issues relevant to international contexts, including understanding of how inequalities impact exposure and epidemiological outcomes.
• understanding and capability to communicate evidence-based actions necessary to manage communicable diseases and environmental impacts on health, taking into account the social and political environment in the implementation of such actions.

Careers / Further study

This module can contribute towards the PGCert Health and Social Care, MSc Clinical Practice, and the Professional Development Awards. If you have any queries, please contact the Professional Development team (pd@uwe.ac.uk).

This module can contribute towards: PGCert/PGDip/MSc Public Health.

Content

The course syllabus for the Health Protection course typically includes:

• Principles of infection control, surveillance, outbreak control and immunisation.
• Knowledge and understanding of epidemiology, risk factors and prevention and control measures for key communicable diseases hospital acquired infection; meningitis, tuberculosis, influenza, blood borne viruses (including HIV), food and water borne infections.
• Current UK immunisation schedules and their limitations.
• Critical understanding of the impact of the wider determinants of health on the distribution and course of communicable diseases, as well as the inequalities in risk exposure and outcomes.
• Knowledge and understanding of key material environmental impacts on population health physical, radiological, chemical and biological, covering specifically climate change, air quality and pollution, water quality, asbestos and radon.
• Key health issues associated with poor housing.
• Knowledge of current statutory and non-statutory approaches to harm prevention and reduction, including protection from occupational hazards.
• Awareness of current emergency planning structures and systems.

Learning and Teaching

This module draws on a range of expertise within the field, ensuring that students are exposed to those dealing day-to-day with health protection issues.

Scheduled learning includes lectures accompanied by workshops intended to apply the learning in group-based tasks.

Independent learning includes hours engaged with essential reading, workshop preparation, assignment preparation and completion.

All taught sessions are supplemented with online learning materials, which may include videos or podcasts. Module support is provided via email and online discussion board.

Assessment

The assessment for this module is a 3,000 word written assignment.