Primary and Secondary Care Interface

Delivering safe, timely and person-centred care for the people of Sandwell and West Birmingham depends on good organisation and strong, trusting relationships between primary and secondary care.

The way we work together at the interface matters for patients, for clinicians, and for the sustainability of our local health system.

Primary and Secondary Care Interface Principles

This document has been jointly developed by clinical leaders from general practice and Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, reflecting a shared commitment to collaboration, mutual respect, and collective responsibility for the care we provide.

It brings together national good practice with local insight to set out clear, practical principles that support safe transfer of care, reduce avoidable friction between services, and help ensure patients receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

These principles align with national expectations from NHS England and the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme, while being grounded in the realities of how care is delivered across Sandwell and West Birmingham.