St John Ambulance Norwich availability concerns from SOS Bus

NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) announced in August that it was scrapping funding for the bus, run by Voluntary Norfolk, and would instead provide funding for St John Ambulance to take its place.

However, there are concerns among SOS Bus volunteers that the new service won't be on hand to help as often, amid reports it will only run around three times a month.

The SOS Bus had its funding cut by the ICB - which will finish at the end of March (Image: SOS Bus)

St John Ambulance says its schedule is so it "can have the most impact".

Belinda Buxton, development manager of the SOS Bus, said: "We've been here for 22 years so it was a huge shock to have our funding cut.

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"But what the ICB is providing as a replacement isn't like-for-like. We run roughly 104 shifts a year - every Friday and Saturday night, as well as New Year's Eve.

The new service, St John Ambulance, is said to only run on average, three times a month (Image: SOS Bus)

"My manager has been speaking with the St John Ambulance team and they've told us they'll be running, on average, three times a month.

"We're upset the ICB is making cuts everywhere."

The SOS Bus is set to have funding until the end of March.

Alice Gray, district manager for St John Ambulance in Norfolk, said: "We're ICB funded and they've selected the dates where we can have the most impact based on evidence.

The SOS Bus has been operating in Prince of Wales Road for 22 years (Image: SOS Bus)

"This isn't an unusual situation and is how many night-time economy services are run around the country.

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"Not covering the other nights allows our life-saving volunteers to go where they are most needed to save lives and support our community."

Despite the funding cut, Belinda reassured folk the SOS Bus "wasn't going anywhere". 

She added: "We'll be there in some capacity, whether helping St John Ambulance fill in the nights they're not there or doing Saturdays.

The SOS Bus is mainly made up of volunteers, with some contracted staff (Image: SOS Bus)

"We've managed to get some grant funding and we'll begin a public fundraising campaign in January.

"We're trying to raise £60,000 to cover our contracted staff, maintain our vehicles and admin too.

"Everyone seems keen to help us, so we hope to get some sponsorships in soon."

Belinda Buxton, third from the right, said it was a huge shock to have its funding cut (Image: SOS Bus)