David has been campaigning for mental health care reform since the late 90's when his daughter was given a diagnosis of schizophrenia in her late teens. Based on what he felt was lacking in his daughter’s early experiences of care David changed his career, leaving general practice to co-lead with Professor Jo Smith the National Early Intervention in Psychosis Programme in England between 2004 and 2010.

Now 'sort of retired', David continues to challenge why people like his daughter should accept poor physical health. He has been a clinical advisor to the National Audit of Schizophrenia and has taken part in several relevant NICE guideline and quality standards. Over the last ten years David has enjoyed many international collaborations through the iphYs network. A highlight has been to work with Dr Jackie Curtis and Bondi colleagues to promote more attention to keeping the body in mind right from the start of psychosis including an international consensus statement, Healthy Active Lives that launched at the International Early Psychosis Association conference in Tokyo in 2014. David has been recognised by peers with national and international awards for contributions as a carer.