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Module

HSC8045 : Public Health Protection

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Sarah Sowden
  • Lecturer: Dr Simon Howard, Dr Lindsay Bramwell, Dr Gayle Dolan, Dr Kirsty Foster, Mrs Dor Wilson, Dr Simon Wilkinson, Dr Petra Manley
  • Owning School: Population Health Sciences
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module introduces students to the key principles of public health protection, illustrated by reference to common communicable diseases and environmental hazards in the UK. Students will develop an understanding of major factors contributing to health protection risk, the fundamental principles of assessment and control of these risks. Local and national methods of surveillance will be described, including their application in monitoring patterns of illness in the population and identification of outbreaks of communicable disease. Examples of communicable disease outbreaks and environmental investigations will be used to illustrate the commonly used epidemiological methods and demonstrate the importance of partnership working in health protection.

Outline Of Syllabus

The sessions include the following topics and themes:
General
•       Principles of Health Protection
•       Health Protection Surveillance
•       Outbreaks and incidents
•       Risk Perception and Communication in Health Protection
•       Emergency Preparedness and Response
•       Communicable disease control
•       Vaccine preventable disease
•       Gastro-intestinal infections
•       Blood-borne viral infections
•       Sexually transmitted infections
•       Respiratory infections: Tuberculosis and Legionella
•       Environmental hazards
•       Introduction to toxicology
•       Contaminated land and public health

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion111:0011:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture101:3015:00Present in person
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture41:004:00Pre-recorded sessions
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading111:0011:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study591:0059:00N/A
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

This is largely an interactive module which draws on the experience of tutors and students. Most sessions are suited to seminar format with student and tutor led preparation, presentation and discussion. The module is delivered entirely by staff from UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The teaching and learning methods used are designed to maximise opportunities for students to reflect on and incorporate their own experience into their learning.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay1M1002000 words
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The written assignment will test the students understanding of the principles of public health protection, and their ability to synthesise and critically appraise relevant sources of information to produce advice, strategy or other form of written commentary on key and current areas of public health protection

Reading Lists

Timetable