Policy and Politics module: HEALTH POLICY AND POLITICS PORTFOLIO

Policy and Politics module: Guidance on the portfolio assessment (2000 words). This piece of work is an assessment portfolio, you need to marking criteria as you develop your portfolio. The word limit is very narrow so focus very specifically on the content of the portfolio to ensure that you include material that is very directly addressing each of the required components. Construct the portfolio in a report or grid style (your choice), with headings for each of the areas of assessment (4 headings and a reference list). Suggested structure: Section 1 – The political nature of health (500 words) • Financing the NHS Identify a health issue that we have discussed in class, or that is listed in the module handbook. You can select a different topic if you wish (check in with me if you are unsure). Critically discuss how the issue that you have selected illustrates that health is political (useful here to think about ideology associated with the issue, how politicians ‘see’ it and deal with it e.g. how it is framed? How does this show that the issue is political?) Section 2 – Analysis of a selected policy (500 words) • Healthy Lives, Healthy People (2010) Select an example policy (just one) and discuss how the broader political and economic context at the time it was created/formulated shaped it. E.g. why was it a priority? Was it ‘accepted’ by all parties, and the public? What rationale was provided for it? Was there evidence about it, and was it used? How did ideology influence it in shaping it as a priority? Section 3 – discuss the relationship between policy and/or politics and an example health outcome (500 words) • Vaccination provision Focus on a single health outcome. Again, it can be something that we have discussed in class, or that is listed in the module handbook. You can select a different topic (check in with me if you are unsure). What evidence is there to illustrate the relationship between your chosen policy and the health outcome? For example, how has Austerity affected/changed/impacted upon life expectancy? Section 4 – 500 words on this: “The health of the population is not just a matter of how well the health service is funded and functions, important as that is. Health is closely linked to the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age and inequities in power, money and resources – the social determinants of health” (Marmot et al 2020: 3). Critically discuss this statement highlighting how this relates to current inequalities policy in England. Can we all take full responsibility for our health as many politicians suggest that we should do? Given the evidence base about the relationship between the social determinants and health outcomes (see full Marmot et al 2020 report), why is taking responsibility problematic? To what extent should the government be taking responsibility too? Reference list Harvard As always reference your sources throughout (a single list at the end of the portfolio document is fine).