Practice into theory: learning to facilitate new health and social care partnerships in London

The contemporary relationship between theory and practice in interprofessional learning and development is explored in the context of the United Kingdom (UK) government's multiple reform policies for ‘modernizing’ health and social care. As part of a 1‐year action research programme, four local case studies in London are described. These illustrate the new collaborations being created and point to the importance of understanding, as a priority for future research and organizational developments in primary care, the changing and complex roles of non‐statutory stakeholder agencies and process facilitation. Both are emerging as critical factors for effective policy implementation. Overall, the London‐wide programme indicates the dysfunctional nature of excessively linear conceptual models, and the need, in practice, to espouse eclectic and dynamic approaches to theories for learning in health and social care.