A new donor milk hub has opened at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, aiming to support premature and unwell babies as well as families facing feeding challenges.
The facility, run by Hearts Milk Bank, will make it easier for parents across West Norfolk to donate surplus breast milk and improve access to donor milk for those who need it most.
Donor milk can play a vital role in helping babies grow and develop, particularly those born early or with medical conditions, while also giving mothers time to establish their own milk supply.
Through funding from the Best Start in Life programme, the service will also support a new community initiative led by the Human Milk Foundation. This will provide families with specialist lactation support alongside access to donor milk, particularly for those with conditions such as diabetes.
Milk donated locally will be screened, pasteurised and tested before being distributed to hospitals and families across the region. Norfolk Blood Bikes will help transport supplies quickly and efficiently.
Hospital leaders say the hub will improve access to donor milk across Norfolk, helping more families benefit from its long-term health advantages.
The service builds on existing provision in the region and is expected to make a significant difference to vulnerable babies and their parents.
