BSc Healthcare Sciences
The biological basis of medicine
Shapes the modern agenda.
Studying healthcare science enables you to understand the scientific
basis of health & disease issues.
Modernising scientific careers
•
MSC 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.
What do Human health scientists do?
• 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.
Healthcare sciences
Diagnostic practice, cutting edge research and career specific skills.
BSc Healthcare Sciences
Physiological
Sciences
Cardiac
Physiology
Respiratory &
sleep science
Physiology
Life
Sciences
Blood Infection
Cell
Science Science Science
Life Scientists
• 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
• Laboratory based
clinical diagnostics
• Cellular basis of
disease
• Modern techniques
and technology
Macrophage morphology
Examination of samples
• Clinical and
research setting
Megaloblastic Anaemia
Peripheral Blood
Antibody screening
Physiological Scientists
Full patient contact – diagnostic services
Cardiac or respiratory and sleep physiology
Understanding of the patient journey.
Core physiological measurements and procedures
of either Cardiac Physiology or Respiratory and
Sleep Physiology
• Wide range of clinical diagnostics techniques
• Additional roles, consultations in pacemaking
clinics, outpatient/inpatient environments, data
analysis processes, surgical support
•
•
•
•
Physiological Scientists
Exercise stress test
Echocardiography
Lung function test
CPAP treatment
Catheter ablation surgery
Sleep studies
Roles of Physiological Scientists
• Within NHS and private care
• Sophisticated 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 theatres
• working in critical care units
Other career destinations of Healthcare science
graduates
• Longer term career options may include
research science and teaching
• Openings in fields such as clinical research,
bio-analysis, bio-informatics
• Scientific communications and media
• Medicine/dentistry
• MSc/ PhD
• Further accreditation
• Industry
• Other
Integrated work placement during programme
Year1
10 week
placement
•
•
•
•
Year2
15 week
placement
Year3
25 week
placement
Cardiovascular,
Respiratory and
Sleep Science
(CVRS)
Rotate:
Cardiovascular
Respiratory and
Sleep
Specialist:
Cardiac
Respiratory
Sleep
Specialist:
Cardiac
Respiratory
Sleep
Life Sciences
Rotate:
Blood
Cellular
Infection
Specialist
Blood
Cellular
Infection
Specialist
Blood
Cellular
Infection
1st year placement – rotational - experience of different specialisms
Identify specialism at end of first year
2nd & 3rd year placement – in one specialist area
Final year project carried out during placement
NHS Placements in the South West Peninsula
Derriford – Plymouth
North Devon – Barnstaple
South Devon – Torbay
Royal Cornwall – Truro
Musgrove Park – Taunton
Yeovil District – Yeovil
Royal Devon and Exeter – Exeter
Bournemouth
Poole
Course content

Transferable skills

Experimental methodology, design and analysis

Professional modules

Work placement

Research project
Teaching modes
Degree structure- Stage one

Develops 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
BIOM1001
BIOM1009
BIOM1010
BIOM1004
Foundations of
Cellular &
Healthcare
Physiology &
Healthcare
Molecular
Life Sciences
Patho-
science practice
Biomedicine
Contexts
Physiology
20 credits
20 credits
20 credits
20 credits
BIOM1006
BIOM1002
Infection &
Biomolecular
Immunity
Sciences
10 credits
10 credits
BIOM1003
BIOM1008
Genetics &
Pharmacology
Development
& Therapeutics
10 credits
10 credits
Stage two HCS (Life sciences)
BIOM2001
BIOM2005
Blood Sciences in health and disease
BIOM2003
Diagnostic and
(clinical biochemistry, haematology and
Partners in
clinical biomedicine
transfusion medicine)
investigation
Evidence
BIOM2006
based
Methods in infection
practice in
and immunity
healthcare
BIOM2020
science
Workplace
BIOM2007
training in
Techniques in
healthcare
microscopy and
science
molecular biology
Cellular sciences in health and disease
(Molecular biology, histopathology and
cytopathology)
Infection sciences in health and disease
(Immunology and microbiology)
Stage two HCS (physiological sciences)
BIOM2011
Clinical physiology
BIOM2001
BIOM2003
instrumentation and
Partners in
techniques
investigation
Electrocardiography
BIOM2014
Evidence
Disorders of
based
cardiovascular,
Methods in the monitoring of pulmonary
practice in
respiratory and sleep
function
physiology
healthcare
BIOM2020
science
Workplace
BIOM2015
training in
Principles of
healthcare
cardiovascular,
science
respiratory and sleep
analysis
Techniques in respiratory gas analysis
Final year

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.
Find out more at:
• http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/4323/Pages/CourseOvervie
w.aspx
• http://www1.plymouth.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/4281/Pages/CourseOvervie
w.aspx
• http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/healthcare-science/careers-inhealthcare-science/careers-in-life-sciences/
• http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/explore-by-career/healthcare-science/careers-inhealthcare-science/careers-in-physiological-sciences
• http://www.academyforhealthcarescience.co.uk/
Contacts:
Admissions tutor: Dr Kathryn Yuill
Programme Lead: Dr Lynn Mccallum
Kathryn.Yuill@Plymouth.ac.uk
Lynn.Mccallum@Plymouth.ac.uk