BSc Healthcare Sciences

The biological basis of medicineShapes the modern agenda.Studying healthcare science enables you to understand the scientific basis of health & disease issues.

Modernising scientific careersMSC introduced degree programme in response to workforce demand

Degree combines academic learning consolidated by practice/experiential learning in work place

Plymouth University expertise in providing degree programmes for allied health professions

Why study healthcare science?You want to know how the human body works.

You want to study the scientific basis of altered health states. Why do cancers develop? How do we fight off infection?

You want experience of working within the NHS

You want a biomedical career.

You want to pursue a career in research (PhD)

You want to pursue post-graduate entry to medicine or dentistry.

NHS Laboratory based diagnostics.

5% of the NHS workforce.

Provide diagnostic support to other healthcare professionals.

Career structure and entry reviewed by the DoH in 2008.

What do Human health scientists do?

Healthcare sciencesDiagnostic practice, cutting edge research and career specific skills.

BSc Healthcare SciencesPhysiological Sciences

Life Sciences

CardiacPhysiology

Respiratory & sleep sciencePhysiology

CellScience

BloodScience

InfectionScience

Blood Sciences consisting of biochemistry, haematology, transfusion and Immunology

Cellular Sciences consisting of histology, cytology and reproductive science (basic semen analysis and where possible, fertility and assisted conception services)

Infection Sciences bacteriology, virology serology and molecular methods.Life Scientists

Examination of samplesMegaloblastic Anaemia Peripheral BloodMacrophage morphology

Antibody screeningLife ScientistsLaboratory based clinical diagnostics

Cellular basis of disease

Modern techniques and technology

Clinical and research setting

Full patient contact diagnostic servicesCardiac or respiratory and sleep physiology Understanding of the patient journey.Core physiological measurements and procedures of either Cardiac Physiology or Respiratory and Sleep PhysiologyWide range of clinical diagnostics techniquesAdditional roles, consultations in pacemaking clinics, outpatient/inpatient environments, data analysis processes, surgical support

Physiological Scientists

Physiological ScientistsExercise stress testEchocardiographyCatheter ablation surgeryLung function testSleep studiesCPAP treatment

Within NHS and private careSophisticated analytical and diagnostic procedures relating to human health and in the monitoring and treatment of physiological conditions.Clinical respiratory physiologists perform highly skilled tests to assess all aspects of lung function. In particular sleep apnoea and intermittent hypoxia are associated with vascular dysfunction and demand for services is likely to increase. Cardiac physiologists multidisciplinary team providing care to heart patients from babies to the elderly, working with GPs,working in operating theatresworking in critical care units Roles of Physiological Scientists

Other career destinations of Healthcare science graduatesLonger term career options may include research science and teachingOpenings in fields such as clinical research, bio-analysis, bio-informatics Scientific communications and mediaMedicine/dentistryMSc/ PhDFurther accreditationIndustryOther

Integrated work placement during programmeYear1 10 week placementYear2 15 week placementYear3 25 week placement1st year placement rotational - experience of different specialismsIdentify specialism at end of first year2nd & 3rd year placement in one specialist areaFinal year project carried out during placement

NHS Placements in the South West Peninsula

Derriford PlymouthNorth Devon BarnstapleSouth Devon TorbayRoyal Cornwall TruroMusgrove Park TauntonYeovil District YeovilRoyal Devon and Exeter ExeterBournemouthPoole

Course contentTransferable skills

Experimental methodology, design and analysis

Professional modules

Work placement

Research project

Teaching modes

Degree structure- Stage oneDevelops knowledge and skills in key scientific areas.

Graduate skills modules and assessments.

Healthcare sciences have 10 weeks of placement in NHS labs

Assessment modes: lab reports, essays, oral presentations, practical skills, in-class tests, on-line tests, end of module exams.

Stage one module structure

Stage two HCS (Life sciences)BIOM2001 Evidence based practice in healthcare science Infection sciences in health and disease(Immunology and microbiology)Cellular sciences in health and disease(Molecular biology, histopathology and cytopathology)Blood Sciences in health and disease(clinical biochemistry, haematology and transfusion medicine)BIOM2003Partners in investigationBIOM2020Workplace training in healthcare scienceBIOM2005Diagnostic and clinical biomedicine

BIOM2006Methods in infection and immunity

BIOM2007Techniques in microscopy and molecular biology

Stage two HCS (physiological sciences)BIOM2001 Evidence based practice in healthcare science Techniques in respiratory gas analysisMethods in the monitoring of pulmonary functionElectrocardiographyBIOM2003Partners in investigationBIOM2020Workplace training in healthcare scienceBIOM2011Clinical physiology instrumentation and techniques

BIOM2014Disorders of cardiovascular, respiratory and sleep physiology

BIOM2015Principles of cardiovascular, respiratory and sleep analysis

Professional practice.

Specialist knowledge relevant to route.

Personal research project in work placement area.Clinically based real patient data.Allows you to put the skills you have learnt in the previous 2 years into practice.

Final year

Find out more at:http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/4323/Pages/CourseOverview.aspx

http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/4281/Pages/CourseOverview.aspx

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/healthcare-science/careers-in-healthcare-science/careers-in-life-sciences/

http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/healthcare-science/careers-in-healthcare-science/careers-in-physiological-sciences

http://www.academyforhealthcarescience.co.uk/

Contacts:

Admissions tutor: Dr Kathryn YuillKathryn.Yuill@Plymouth.ac.ukProgramme Lead: Dr Lynn MccallumLynn.Mccallum@Plymouth.ac.uk

Media focuses on scientific discoveries or tests that have an impact on our health****Examples of types of investigations that cardiac or respiratory physiologists would be involved inElectrocardiography and exercise stress test - does heart struggle to function when you increase its workload Echocardiography identify changes in the structure of the heartCardiac physiologists are also involved in invasive surgical procedures PCI percutaneous coronary intervention unblocking coronary arteries, when patient is having a heart attackcatheter ablation getting rid of accessory pathways, so electrical conduction only passes through the correct cardiac conduction pathwayLung function testing, spirometry, whole body plethysmography idenitify if patients have disorders of impaired breathing, asthma, Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseSleep studies, identify basis of sleep disorders neurological and respiratoryCPAP for people with sleep apnoea keeps airways under continuous positive pressure good for getting rid of snoring!!

Healthcare science offers increasingly sophisticated support in analytical and diagnostic procedures relating to human health and in the monitoring and treatment of physiological conditions. Cardiac physiologists work as part of a multidisciplinary team providing care to heart patients from babies to the elderly, working with GPs, in operating theatres or in critical care units. Clinical respiratory physiologists perform highly skilled tests to assess all aspects of lung function. Sleep apnoea and intermittent hypoxia are associated with vascular dysfunction and demand for services is likely to continueCPAP continued positive airway pressure*******