Chief Executive announces his retirement

The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust Chief Executive, John Burnside, has decided to retire from his role later this year.

John became Chief Executive of the North West Ambulance Service on 1 July 2006, following the merger of the four legacy ambulance trusts across the region. He has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in senior management, beginning in 1975 when John joined the NHS graduate management training scheme.

Throughout his career, John has made a significant contribution to the urgent and
emergency care agenda. A highly successful and experienced NHS Chief Executive for 19 years, John was the first Chief Ambulance Officer in the United Kingdom from a non-ambulance background and the only Chief Executive to lead four Ambulance NHS Trusts - namely Cleveland, Kent, Greater Manchester and now the North West.

Elected as the founder Chairman of the Ambulance Service Network within the
NHS Confederation and the Ambulance Chief Executive national lead for Commissioning,
as well as Equality and Diversity, John was also the founding President of the British Association of Public Communities Officers (BAPCO).