Contemporary Issues in Health and Social Care Policy and Practice: A Comparative Introduction

This accessible text presents a comparative analysis of health and social care policy and practice from around the world, with learning points drawn out for the UK. It supports readers to improve practice by reflecting on differences and similarities in the policies of other OECD countries.

Divided into two parts, the book opens with a focus on core concepts in health and social care policy and practice such as service user involvement, the promotion of wellbeing, health inequalities, funding, and integrated care. The differing philosophical, socio-political, and historical perspectives that underpin these key areas in different countries are explored, in order to develop a greater understanding of the UK system. The second part of the book takes a close look at a range of specific contemporary issues, such as end-of-life care, long-term conditions, homelessness, refugee and migrant health, disability, domestic abuse, substance use, and women in prison. These in-depth case study chapters enable readers to identify best practices and challenges in relation to specific areas of health and social care policy and practice.

Ideal for undergraduate students studying health and social care policy from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, this practical text provides a deeper understanding of complex health and social care issues, and supports the development of a global and comparative skill set.

Julia Morgan is an associate professor for public health and wellbeing. She has previously worked on a child development study, and for several non-government organisations which support families with young children and community participation. Her primary research interests focus upon social justice and inequality; nomadic and Indigenous peoples; Gypsy, Roma and Travellers; rural and remote health; loneliness; gender; maternal and child health; community development; and wellbeing among people who are imprisoned. She is currently researching ADHD late diagnosis in adult women. She is the co-editor, with Vincent La Placa, of the Routledge book Social Science Perspectives on Global Public Health.

Vincent La Placa is associate professor of public health and policy and associate head of school for student success in the School of Human Sciences, University of Greenwich. He has been a senior research consultant at the Department of Health (now DHSC) where he managed the qualitative strand of the Healthy Foundations Life-stage Segmentation Model, one of the largest pieces of qualitative research conducted across UK government. He co-edited the book Social Science Perspectives on Global Public Health with Julia Morgan, published in 2023. He is an honorary fellow of Eurasia Research’s Teaching, Education and Research Association.