Complete retirement is “not an option” for the Department of Health’s Strategic Ambulance Advisor Russ Mansford, who leaves his post on 31st March 2012 to continue his career as a consultant in resilience and emergency preparedness.
In April, Russ will begin a two-day per week role as an advisor to West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust where he will continue to provide support and advice to the National Ambulance Resilience Unit (NARU), as the organisation develops and establishes its work-streams and strategy.
Russ has also been approached by other organisations and individuals who have expressed an interest in utilising his expertise as a consultant in ambulance services, resilience, civil protection and emergency preparedness issues and for his packed book of diverse contacts.
In a career that spans 40 years’ operational expertise in ambulance services – most of it spent in London – Russ has been involved in the management of some of the defining major incidents of recent times. These include the Moorgate tube train disaster of 1975 and the aftermath of the various IRA bombs throughout the 70’s and 80’s, through to the Southall and Paddington train crashes and the 7/7 London Bombings of more recent times.
Says Russ: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at London Ambulance Service and also within the Department of Health and across government, and although I am formally retiring from the ambulance service, complete retirement for me is simply not an option! I am now looking forward to providing high level advice and consultancy to a range of people, and the sign on my door says open for business – so do get in touch.”
For many years Russ has been an active member of various influential working groups and committees in the civil contingency field, including the London Resilience Team working on cross-government emergency planning, where he led the work on CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) resilience planning for London.
Mike Shanahan, the former Head of Resilience and Special Operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, has been seconded to take over from Russ at the Department of Health, working as part of the National Ambulance Resilience Unit delivery team.
From 01 April 2012, Russ Mansford will work under the banner of his own company Russ Mansford Associates Ltd. He will still be contactable via his current mobile which is 07774 708293 but his email address will change to russellmansford@btinternet.com.