The module offers a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding health services and draws on the contributions that medicine, sociology, economics, history and epidemiology make. This helps us to engage with the complexity of health services that confront the inexperienced observer and to guide the identification and analysis of the problems affecting health care to arrive at suitable solutions. It also shows how it is necessary to consider health care at three key levels: the micro-level of the individual patient and their experiences; the meso-level of how healthcare organisations such as health centres and hospitals work; and the macro-level of regional and national institutions. In an ever-changing healthcare landscape, it is important for us to retain a grasp on the fundamentals and core principles of health services. A good understanding of these aspects enables us to adapt health services and the working practices and routines within them to emerging innovations e.g. the applications of artificial intelligence and new models of health care delivery.
The overall module aim is to provide students with a range of ways of thinking about health services and health systems. Drawing on epidemiology, history, medicine, economics and sociology, the module will help students understand how services function, the reasons services have developed in the way they have, the basis of some universal, persistent problems, and possible solutions to such difficulties.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the module, a student will be able to:
- Describe some of the basic functions of health services and outline the reasons why services have developed in the way they have.
- Explain how the disciplines of epidemiology, history, medicine, sociology and economics each contribute unique insights to understanding how a health service functions.
- Describe and give examples of the inputs, processes and outcomes of health services.
- Critically examine responses to challenges to health services in different countries.
- Analyse key, persistent and widespread problems in providing health services and suggest approaches to resolving these problems.
Session Content
The module is expected to cover the following topics:
- Inputs to health services.
- Diseases and medical knowledge.
- Health professionals.
- Sources of finance.
- Historical influences.
- Need, demand and use.
- Paying providers.
- Staff-patient interaction.
- Quality assessment.
- Quality improvement.
Mode of delivery
This module is delivered predominantly face-to-face. Where specific teaching methods (lectures, seminars, discussion groups) are noted in this module specification these will be delivered by predominantly face-to-face sessions. There will be a combination of live and interactive activities (synchronous learning) as well as self-directed study (asynchronous learning).
Assessment
The assessment for this module has been designed to measure student learning against the module intended learning outcomes (ILOs) as listed above. The grade for summative assessment(s) only will go towards the overall award GPA.
The summative assessment for this module is by a 1500 word written assignment to be submitted in week 10 of term 1.
Credits
- CATS: 15
- ECTS: 7.5
Module specification
For full information regarding this module please see the module specification.
Please note: information based on the 2024-25 module specification subject to change for 2025-26 entry.
This module is aimed at students intending to purchase, plan, manage, regulate or evaluate health services i.e. clinicians, managers and those working in healthcare policy. It will take examples from high, middle and low-income countries.
Applications for 2025 are now open and can be made via our online application form.
The application deadline is Monday 1 September 2025, 23:59 (UK time). We strongly advise that you apply early as courses may close earlier than the stated deadline if they become full.
Visa information
Please refer to the current visa requirements for short-term study.