Wendy Pike, Communications Officer at the East of England NHS Collaborative Procurement Hub (EOECPH) is our interviewee in this month’s Get to know feature.
The Get to know series showcases staff from around the NHS Workforce Alliance (NHS WA) to give you a glimpse of the variety of roles in our organisation and the people who perform them.
What is your background?
I’ve been involved in news gathering and storytelling for most of my working life. In the 80s, I joined Anglia TV in Essex, as news centre secretary, on a temporary, maternity cover contract … and stayed. For about 23 years. In those decades at ITV Anglia, I was a news co-ordinator, reporter and video journalist. I can add local newspaper reporting, teaching journalism on a BTEC course and producing promotional videos to the list of jobs I’ve done.
More recently, I’ve been providing publicity and writing services to a diverse portfolio of clients – a brewery, undertakers and Buddhist centre among them.
I’m married and we have a grown-up daughter who lives nearby with her fiancé.
What is your role within the NHS Workforce Alliance and what does it involve?
Working in the comms team at EOECPH as communications officer, I work with the Alliance comms team, sitting in on the group’s weekly meetings. I’ve been contributing to all sorts of communications projects including drafting copy for newsletters, emails, flyers and social media, working on the Alliance website and posting news on the blog as well as sending out finalised communications.
Why are you passionate about this?
I really enjoy the challenge of creating simple, clear messages that are understood by the reader, first time, every time. It’s a privilege to be part of such a co-operative, efficient team, getting those important Alliance messages out. Especially about how the Alliance can support NHS colleagues with the many workforce challenges they face, whilst always keeping the best interests of the NHS at heart.
What is the greatest challenge you face at work?
Being new to the NHS I’m trying to make sense of how it works. Acronyms and procurement speak can be baffling at times. There is much to learn.
What was your first job and how has it impacted your career?
Not counting the Saturday job at Romford McDonald’s, (free Big Macs for lunch on workdays) my first proper job was working for the BBC in London. I was a ‘floating’ secretary in the appointments department, deployed wherever help was needed. It was a lot of fun. Plus, we could listen to Radio 1 all day. It was a great introduction to working in different teams.
How would you spend a perfect day off?
A summertime trip to the Essex coast for a swim in the sea and a picnic on the beach with my husband. Or a long walk in the countryside with him, any time of year.