Leading veterinary care provider IVC Evidensia has announced a number of investments into its hospitals, people and equipment to ensure the ongoing development of its referral services across the UK.
The plans to ‘futureproof’ the services come on the back of pet ownership in the UK being at an all-time high – an estimated 3.2m new households in the UK purchased a pet during lockdown.
A number of its UK referral centres across the UK are undergoing major refurbishment and extension works including Southern Counties Veterinary Services in Hampshire, Hamilton Specialist Referrals in Buckinghamshire, Vale Referrals in Gloucestershire and Swift Referrals in West Yorkshire. This will be further complemented by investment in greenfield sites across the UK.
IVC Evidensia, which has over 100 veterinary referral centres across the UK, continues to create additional roles for new specialists in everything from dermatology to internal medicine and neurology.
Investment will also be made in state-of-the-art equipment, pioneering treatments and specialist-led extended clinical services including: the addition of new diagnostic imaging suites including CT scanners at Abington Park Referrals in Northamptonshire and Crown Vets Referrals in the north of Scotland, and a new MRI scanner at Rowe Referrals in the southwest of England.
John Turkington, head of referral developments in the UK for IVC Evidensia, said: “We are investing in our profession and our people to help futureproof our provisions and help support our dedicated teams on the frontline.
“IVC Evidensia recognises that the best way of delivering this is through local leadership with clinical freedom. Our teams of dedicated specialist vets and nurses are passionate about ensuring the best outcomes and the highest standards of care for your pet, which coupled with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, will ultimately support our country’s growing pet population.
“Our expanded, state-of-the-art hospitals across our UK network of referral centres are being designed to enable the best outcomes for our pet patients, with leading-edge technology and experienced, high-calibre staff.”
Referrals manager at Rowe Referrals in Bristol, Meg Hayman commented on their new MRI Scanner, “The difference between the two machines in amazing. The 1.5T produced very detailed scans but the 3.0T is incredible! It gives our clinicians the ability to perform more complex investigations with far greater clarity.” She went on to say “The 3.0T is like something else. An absolute game changer.”
The largest expansion is taking place at Southern Counties Veterinary Services where building works have commenced to extend the existing buildings at their site in Ringwood, Hampshire. The build schedule, which includes a new additional building, fit outs of existing buildings and new equipment, and extensive landscaping of the site, is due to be complete by late summer of 2022.
Stephen Collins, clinical director of Southern Counties Veterinary Services said: “As part of IVC Evidensia’s ongoing investment to their referral infrastructure, Southern Counties Veterinary Specialists is now in the second and largest phase of expansion to our facilities. This current construction phase will see the creation of a new client reception and consulting suite, state-of-the-art theatre suite, CPD lecture facility, expanded office space and a new physiotherapy/hydrotherapy facility. Once this has been completed, we will then repurpose some of the older parts of the facility to create a new diagnostic imaging facility including a new Siemens Altea 1.5T MRI scanner, upgraded facilities for our medicine, neurology and oncology services, as well as expanded ward space.”
