The ‘Get to Know’ series showcases staff from around the NHS Workforce Alliance to give you a glimpse of the variety of roles in our organisation, and the people who perform them.
This month, we’re pleased to introduce David Downey. Find out more about David’s background, role and interests.
Q: What is your role within the NHS Workforce Alliance, and what does it involve?
I am a Procurement Specialist at the East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub (Hub) and member of multiple Integrated Care System Working Groups across the East of England.
The most important aspect of my role is workforce planning in Acute, Community and Mental Health settings across the East. The Hub help NHS trusts plan and manage workforce staffing whilst simultaneously promoting the services of the NHS Workforce Alliance, ensuring the safe and sustainable recruitment clinical and non-clinical NHS staff.
I am currently supporting NHS trusts navigate their way out of the COVID pandemic with a focus on the reinstatement of full services and future planning in the wake of further outbreaks.
Q: Why are you passionate about this?
The NHS is the most important institution in the UK.
We are a health system that ensures anyone and everyone can get the treatment they need irrespective of who they are or how much wealth they have.
Any person walking through the doors of the NHS to ask for help will hear “yes we will do everything we can to help.” I cannot think of a more rewarding job than contributing to a system like that, it’s marvellous
Q: What is the greatest challenge you face at work?
The pressures faced by the NHS in respect of Workforce are well documented.
As a member of the NHS Workforce Alliance, we are constantly balancing the clinical need against spend expectations to help the NHS deliver clinical services in a sustainable way.
Q: What was your first job?
Washing my Dad’s car. I wasn’t paid for the labour, but he insists to this day it was a job….
My first ‘official’ job (if it can be called that) was a Christmas toy demonstrator in Debenhams. Every day I would have a 4-hour running battle with my boss’s 6 year old son to see who could win Speed Stacks. I’m pretty sure he’s the world champion now.
Q: Can you tell us something surprising about yourself?
I have never eaten a banana, not even a single bite.