Dr Sarb Clare Takes Medical Director Role at NHS Trust

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust have appointed Dr Sarb Clare as its new medical director. A nationally recognized clinician, innovator, and healthcare leader, she brings significant expertise in improving healthcare services and advancing clinical practices.

Dr Sarb is a respected consultant and published author who actively advocates for women in medicine. Her work focuses on healthcare transformation, clinical innovation, and service redesign to improve patient outcomes and strengthen healthcare delivery.

With this appointment, Dr Sarb becomes one of a small number of British Asian women to serve as a medical director within the National Health Service (NHS). She has built a national reputation for promoting diversity in healthcare leadership and encouraging greater representation in senior medical roles.

Key Highlights:

• Dr Sarb has been appointed medical director of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust
• She brings 18 years of experience in clinical leadership, healthcare innovation, and patient care improvement
• She will lead medical staff development, patient safety initiatives, and healthcare service improvements across the region

Throughout her career, Dr Sarb has contributed to major NHS developments; including helping establish Acute Internal Medicine as a recognized specialty. She also played a key role in the NHS response to the COVID-19 pandemic and developed innovative approaches to integrated community care, supporting more coordinated and accessible healthcare services.

She also clinically led the transition to Midland Metropolitan University Hospital and pioneered approaches to patient flow and capacity management that are now used nationally and internationally.

Dr Sarb said: "With 18 years serving the Trust, it is a tremendous privilege to be appointed Medical Director at such an important and exciting stage in its journey.”

“I am passionate about supporting clinical excellence, developing our workforce and ensuring patients receive the highest standards of care.”

“I look forward to working with colleagues, patients and partners to help shape the future of healthcare across our communities."

It follows that the Black Country Provider Collaborative Group (BPCG) has strengthened Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust's contribution to the group, which operates as a group with The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust.

The Medical Directors of both organizations report to the group chief medical officer Dr Mark Anderson, which aims to improve the two trusts' collaboration, clinical leadership and service improvement.

Dr Anderson commented: “Dr Sarb is an excellent clinical leader who has a history of innovation, delivery and the improvement of patient care.

“She combines exceptional clinical expertise with a deep understanding of our communities and a strong commitment to developing the next generation of healthcare professionals.

“Her appointment strengthens our clinical leadership at an important time for both organizations as we continue to work more closely together across the group to improve services, tackle health inequalities and deliver the best possible care for local people."

Dr Sarb will continue to direct the professional development of the medical staff of the Trust, lead on quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, and influence the future of health care in Sandwell, West Birmingham and the Black Country.