The aim of this unit is to equip you with the skills necessary to independently assess, plan, treat and safely discharge adult clients presenting with undifferentiated and undiagnosed minor illnesses.

It will enable you to evaluate the evidence base for practice and critically reflect on their encounters with clients.Having completed this unit you will be able to:

• Articulate or critically analyse your own role in relation to the needs of clients presenting with minor illnesses
• Holistically and effectively assess client needs using a systemic framework and document their findings accurately
• Critically appraise and evaluate the evidence base and implement care for the most common presenting minor illness
• Evaluate or critically appraise the care provided and use the information to develop and enhance the service you are providing
• Advance your practice through critical reflection.

This course requires 100% attendance.

This course can be used towards the PG Cert Primary Care

Normally students may enter Level 7 (Master's level) study if they have been awarded:

• Undergraduate degree (honours or non-honours)
• An equivalent qualification (the learning outcome of which are demonstrably appropriate in terms of knowledge, understanding and skills) equivalent to 120 credits at Level 6.

If you do not meet this criteria you are still able to apply for this unit but we may ask you to complete a study skills handbook to familiarise yourself with academic writing at masters level or pre-admission work. This will be sent to you when we have received your application form.

This unit is also available at Level 6 (degree level).

Fees and funding:

You will need to pay or indicate employer support of payment for unit or course fees to the university.

Applicants working within the NHS or other healthcare providers may be eligible for support with funding from their employer through the Learning Beyond Registration contract with the NHS South of England.

Applicants should contact their employing organisation for further details.

Pre-purchased places
The Faculty of Health & Social Sciences has contractual arrangements with NHS organisations for pre-paid places on specified modules including NHS South of England. If you work within Dorset & Somerset or Hampshire & Isle of Wight you may be able to access the pre-paid places. These arrangements allow NHS Trusts to nominate the staff they wish to send on each unit or course.

The pre-arranged agreements allow individuals, such as yourself, a route to access appropriate professional development opportunities that are seen as strategically important to your organisation (in consultation with your Line Manager/Education Co-ordinator). All requests for pre-paid places must first be agreed by your organisation’s Education Lead prior to completing an application.

Students will submit a reflective case study of a patient with a minor ailment which they have assessed and managed, outlining the rationale for their actions and decisions (3000 words). 

 Having completed the unit the student is expected to:

1 Critically analyse their own role in relation to the needs of clients presenting with minor illnesses

2 Holistically and effectively assess client needs using a systemic framework and document their findings accurately

3 Critically appraise the evidence base and implement care for the most common presenting minor illness

4 Critically appraise the care provided and use the information to develop and enhance the service you are providing.

5 Advance their practice through critical reflection of their encounter.

Course review:

In order to take advantage of new approaches to learning and teaching, as well as developments in practice to benefit our students we regularly review all of our courses. This course is currently going through this process and we will update this page to give you full information about what we will be offering once the review process has concluded.  These changes will come into effect for all new students from September 2025. Applicants will be notified by our admissions team of any changes.