We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

A History of Public Health in Post-War Britain

Christopher Sirrs, Alex Mold, Suzanne Taylor, Marcos Sanchez, Janet Weston, Hannah Elizabeth, Peder Clark, Jonathan Wong, and Josie Gallo

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more Learners from across the world who are intrigued by the history of public health in Britain. No prior knowledge or expertise in the area is needed, although you may be a student, professional, or individual with an interest in an aligned field, such as healthcare, medicine, public health, local government, history, or science. You can use the hashtag #FLHistoryHealth to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

How the meaning and scope of public health has changed in Britain over the last 70 years
The nature of public health services and their shifting relationship to local government and the National Health Service
Individual responsibility for public health
How chronic disease became a key challenge for public health
The persistence of infectious disease and the appearance of new conditions like HIV/AIDS
Socioeconomic status and its impact on public health
Health education techniques, tactics and effectiveness
Attempts to use regulations to improve public health
The limits of public health, its successes and failures over time.

Enroll now

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.

Save

Reviews summary

Insightful british public health history

According to students, this course provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of public health's evolution in post-war Britain. Learners consistently praise its well-structured content and expertly delivered lectures from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Many find the historical context highly relevant, even for contemporary understanding of health challenges. The course is considered accessible for beginners yet offers enough depth for those with existing interest in healthcare or history. While some might desire more interactive elements, the overall experience is described as a valuable academic journey.

Suitable for both beginners and those with existing interests.

"As someone new to public health history, I found it very approachable and easy to grasp."

"It offered enough new insights even though I have a background in healthcare."

"I appreciated that the course didn't require prior knowledge, making it accessible for me."

Historical context illuminates current public health challenges.

"The historical insights helped me understand present-day health policies much better."

"I found the discussions on chronic and infectious diseases surprisingly relevant today."

"Understanding the past clearly showed me the roots of current public health debates."

Delivered by knowledgeable instructors with a clear, logical flow.

"I found the lectures well-organized and delivered by highly knowledgeable experts."

"I appreciated the clear structure which made complex historical data easy to follow."

"The teaching quality was top-notch; I felt like I was learning from the best."

Provides a detailed and broad overview of public health's evolution.

"I gained a deep understanding of how public health has changed over 70 years."

"It thoroughly covered key topics from disease to social impact for me."

"It was a fantastic deep dive into post-war British health policy and history."

Primarily lecture-based, could benefit from more interactive discussions.

"While the content was excellent, I wished for more interactive discussions or assignments."

"The course felt a bit passive at times; more hands-on activities would be beneficial."

"I would have liked more opportunities to engage with other learners on the forum."

Career center

Learners who complete A History of Public Health in Post-War Britain will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 46 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in A History of Public Health in Post-War Britain.

Emerging Theories in Health Promotion Practice and...

Save

This comprehensive textbook provides a broad overview of the field of health promotion, covering the latest theories, methods, and interventions. It is an essential resource for students, researchers, and practitioners.

Emerging Theories in Health Promotion Practice and...

Hardcover

$$$

Emerging Theories in Health Promotion Practice and...

Hardcover

Emerging Theories in Health Promotion Practice and...

Kindle Edition

$$$

Emerging Theories in Health Promotion Practice and...

Kindle Edition

$$$

Modern Epidemiology

Save

Providing a comprehensive overview of the field, this book covers study designs, data analysis methods, and the application of epidemiology to public health.

Modern Epidemiology

Kindle Edition

$$$

Modern Epidemiology by Rothman, Kenneth J.,...

Unknown Binding

$$$$

Modern Epidemiology by Kenneth J. Rothman Timothy...

Hardcover

$$$$

The Health Gap

Save

A seminal work on the social determinants of health, this book argues that health inequities are a matter of social injustice. It provides a strong evidence base for understanding how social and economic factors drive health outcomes, a critical concept in global health.

A History of Public Health in Post-War Britain

Topics Covered

Topics Covered

Save this course

Reviews summary

Insightful british public health history

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses

Futurelearn Buyer Protection & Guarantee

Free Access on Short Courses

14-Day Cooling-Off Refund Window

Verified Academic & Industry Partner