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We'l l mi ssyou, AlanWar ren
We'll miss you, Alan Warren
Alan Warren, Director of Finance at Herts Valleys CCG, will be retiring after over 40 years of
working with the NHS. If you feel like you haven't had a chance to get to know him well enough yet, find
out more about him by reading the interview below (interview by Jadie White).
About Alan
Very soon, I would have worked in the NHS for 40 years. I started in September 1976. I left
school in June 1976 and had a job lined up for NHS Finance Trading Scheme which was run
by regional health authorities (North West Hems). When I was at school I wanted to become
an accountant, I didn’t want to go to University because I wanted to get out and earn money
and become independent. I was offered a job in a firm of chartered accountancy in Bedford
which was my hometown. As an A level entrant, they required you to do a foundation
course at a polytechnic so I had lined up to go to Leicester polytechnic. I went to school with
a guy who was the son of Area Treasure Bedford Health Authority Finance. He gave Paul the
forms to apply for the finance trading scheme in the NHS and Paul gave them to me, I got
offered an interview in 1976. And the rest is history.
Timeline
1976 – Left school and had a training role lined up for NHS North West Thames Finance Training Scheme
which also funded the foundation course at Southampton Polytechnic: College of Technology
1976-1977 – A year at Southampton Polytechnic and worked in the holidays at an office in a Finance
department in London and Bedford working for a friend, Paul’s dad.
1978 - 1979 - Spent time working in different sectors of the NHS Finance role.
1980 - Passed the exams and became a qualified accountant.
2. 1981-1983 – Got offered a job in Bedford at Bedford Health Authority. Was advised by the Regional
Treasurer to work in London (Paddington) instead. Took a job with the Regional Health Authority for
three years.
1983-1991 – Worked in Lewisham and Southwark health authority - Guys Hospital in London Bridge
1991 – First job as a substantive finance director in Luton (South Bedfordshire Authority)
2001 - Worked for Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire strategic health authority for 3 years in St Albans as its
first finance director.
2003 – Bedford Hospital for eight years
2011 – Worked for the East of England Strategic Health Authority in Cambridge
2012 – Joined the newly forming CCG just before it was formally created in April 2013.
2012- 2016 – Director of Finance in Herts Valley CCG.
What has been the best job you have experienced?
The last job is always the best job, as it’s the one you’re currently having an impact in. I learnt a lot
working in London but I was younger and soaking it all up and now I’m at the end of my career and giving
something back, hopefully.
What do you think is the best thing about working in the
NHS?
I think it’s like marmite – you love it or you hate it. I wanted to be an accountant – the NHS was a vehicle
to achieve a professional qualification in accountancy. You applied, got qualified and decided whether you
wanted to stay or leave the NHS, well I decided to stay. I’d enjoyed working in hospitals in Bedfordshire
and London, I liked the buzz of the place and I thought it was a public place to do something good. The
longer you stay in the public sector, the harder it is to make the switch to the private sector. I was fortunate
enough to be in the right place at the right time - to get promotions and fortunate to get the jobs I wanted
when I chased them. Overall, I’ve enjoyed it.
Is there anyone in particular who has impacted you the most
along your journey?
I’ve worked with a lot of very influential people along the way. The time I remember working with really
inspirational leaders was my time working at Lewisham and Southwark Hospital and Guys Hospital.
They’ve all retired now, we’re all old together. But I worked with people that went on to be the first NHS
trust chief executive in 1991. Guys and Lewisham hospital became a part of the NHS trust in 1991 and I
worked for the guy who was their first trust executive. I also worked with a chap called Peter Griffiths,
who was the first NHS director of department of health.
3. What do you feel are your main personal attributes that reflect
the organisations values?
At work, I am very calm and not necessarily friendly but I’d hoped I was friendly. I coped with most
things; it’s not necessarily my persona out of work but in the office, that is how I am. I think, I have to
have the values of honesty and integrity, as accountants do. I guess wanting to be an accountant, I had to
own qualities as paying attention to detail; I’ve learnt that everything isn’t black and white. There is
always a balanced position, and if there isn’t, it isn’t right. Decisions aren’t clear cut, you have to have
shades of grey, and you have to weigh up ethical and moral issues as well as technical and practical. There
is a Myers Briggs personality testing, I am an ISTJ personality type and I’ve never been anything other
than ISTJ (Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judging). If you think about the CCG values, I mean, how could
you disagree with them? You want people to be caring, as what they’re doing is making a difference for
the patients or population. If you’re not, then what are you doing and why are you here?
What do you believe are the top three qualities necessary to be
a member of the Hert’s Valley CCG?
You have to want to make a difference to the health of the people of the Hert’s Valleys and the population
of the area. If you don’t aim to improve and help the health services of the population, then what are you
doing here? It helps if you are committed and ambitious – go over and above the criteria.
Can you recall your best memory?
Now I’m old I forget. I do remember this one memory, I think this organisation, not only because I’m
working for it now, but because I was present through its birth and growth, it is probably the friendliest
organisation I have worked for. In May 2013, I went on holiday to Derbyshire, unfortunately I contracted
food poisoning. I was very poorly, I was off work for a couple of weeks and for the first time in my career
of over 37 years, I got a card from the CCG, wishing me well to get better soon. I was thinking, I’ve
worked in lots of organisations and I must have been ill at least once in 37 years and never have I received
a get well card. I will remember this. I can honestly say, this is the friendliest organisation I have worked
for.
What are your plans for your retirement?
I’ve joined Greetham Valley – Stamford golf club. I’ve had a couple of lessons from a golf pro there, I’m
still appalling but I enjoy walking around the course and getting out in the sunshine and taking in the fresh
air.
I have two dogs at home; I only walk them Saturdays and Sundays so I will be able to take them for walks
more often.
My wives horse will require my attention more often than usual - I’m an unpaid groom and driver of the
lorry, if she wants company or wants to go anywhere.
I’m going to learn to swim, I only have a schools certificate for 15m breast stroke - I never learnt to swim
so I’d like to swim properly.
I live in an old house in Stanford (1850). And I’d like to learn about whom else lived in this house before
as a project.
4. What is the biggest lesson you’ve learnt throughout your
career?
However difficult the problem seems, there is always a solution and there is always somebody that can
help you find the solution. You never have to do it on your own. And if you can help someone else find
their solution, they will help you find yours when you need it.
As a man who has experienced the birth and growth of the CCG, we wish Alan Warren the
greatest happiness after his dedicated and hard work as an influential role model during his time in the
NHS. We feel proud to be a part of his last years in the organisation, as he enters a new chapter of his life
and we hope he has enjoyed our company as much as we have his. All the best Alan, you’ve been a true
gem in Herts Valleys CCG and the NHS as a whole.
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