PRIVATE ambulance company Norvic is planning to expand after securing a three-year deal to compete to provide services for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST).

Norvic, which is based in Norfolk and also operates in Essex and Cambridgeshire, has come through a tender process to provide a range of ambulance services in support of the trust’s own operations.

John Banbury, Norvic’s chief executive, said: “This is terrific news and recognises all the hard work and effort put in by everyone involved with Norvic.

“It gives us the platform on which to grow our business even further with hospitals, care homes and event organisations throughout the region who require private ambulance services.”

Norvic has been gearing up for expansion since the start of this year. In January it acquired Cambridgeshire-based private ambulance firm Meditranz and last month opened two new stations, at Colchester and at Papworth, near Cambridge.

It has also recruited 40 new staff this year and is investing in a number of new ambulances and equipment to meet future demand.

Alan Whitehead, EEAST general manager, said: “Following a rigorous tender process, EEAST selected eight private ambulance providers to provide a range of ambulance services to support EEAST’s operations. EEAST, like many ambulance services, uses private and voluntary ambulance services to support its operations as this provides increased flexibility and capacity.”

Mr Banbury added: “What makes this significant is that it’s the first time the NHS has awarded a contract of this nature to the private sector in the UK. Along with seven other companies we’re now competing for work totalling several millions of pounds over the next few years.

“We should all feel proud to have come through what was a very thorough tender process, and giving us the opportunity to work in partnership with the NHS.”