Already one of Europe’s largest veterinary referral centres for small animals, we are now set to double our existing size with the construction of a 3,000 square metre expansion.
On Wednesday 25th April, the first turfs were cut by the clinic’s Founders – Professor Dick White and his wife Christine. The site had already been cleared and it is envisaged that the extensive works will be completed by early 2020.
DWR was founded in 2003 and opened with a staff of just three people. It expanded rapidly and now provides jobs for over 250 colleagues. As a Specialist Centre, we take referrals from first opinion practitioners across a wide range of disciplines, including neurology, orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery, ophthalmology, internal medicine, oncology, dermatology and cardiology.
During the 15 years since its inception, DWR has also developed a reputation for top class training of undergraduate and post graduate vets and, for the last 10 years, we have had a formal association with Nottingham University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. To enhance our education and training facilities, in 2016 the Dick White Academy was opened to provide training courses for veterinary nurses and animal care assistants.
The anticipated cost of the current expansion is in the region of £7 million. As Professor White commented: “this represents a major investment. However, it is essential that we stay at the cutting edge of veterinary medicine and this means not only having outstanding veterinary Specialists who are the best in their field, but also providing them with the facilities and technology to support their skills. We have reached a stage where we must expand the available space to achieve these objectives and to plan adequately for future development”.
Artist’s impression of the new building – due for completion in 2019
As a result of this expansion, the clinic will double its inpatient capacity, from 5 to 10 wards and will allow for additional consulting rooms, medicine procedure and treatment facilities, a significantly enlarged laboratory, an integrated imaging suite with new MRI and CT units, extensive oncological facilities, an out-patient facility to complement the existing in-patient physiotherapy unit and water treadmill; and an enhanced and expanded intensive care unit to include an emergency triage area. The new building will also house a spacious and welcoming reception, a separate feline waiting area with intergrated cat ward and dedicated feline consulting rooms, a new lecture theatre and colleague welfare areas along with a suite of administration offices. These developments will then facilitate the reconfiguration of the existing buildings to create 5 further operating theatres and significantly enhanced surgical facilities
Clinical Director, Dr Rob Foale, said, “this is a very exciting development for me and for all of my colleagues. We have involved everybody in the planning process to ensure that the new facilities provide the best possible environment – not only for our clients and their pets, but also for our own team”.