A NEW state-of-the-art veterinary practice in Ilkley is set to open its doors to clients and their pets this month.
Ashlands Veterinary Centre’s new practice in Leeds Road, Ilkley, will start welcoming clients old and new, whether for urgent treatment or routine healthcare, in December.
A huge logistical operation is now underway to move from the current site further along Leeds Road, where it has operated for 25 years, into the new, modern 4,823sqft facility.
The new practice will be double the size and boast the latest equipment and technology to enable the team to provide the best possible care of patients and a great service for clients.
Facilities will include:
- Five consulting rooms, with one dedicated especially to cats.
- Three operating theatres, a dental suite, an ultra-sound suite and x-ray facilities.
- Cats and dogs will benefit from having separate waiting areas and wards.
- A dedicated room to provide a calm, quiet space for owners during difficult times, including clients suffering bereavement if their pet has been put to sleep.
- On-site client parking.
Practice Manager Ben Ogden said: “Everybody is very excited because the new hospital will transform our way of working. Clients are going to see huge improvements in facilities, and it will be much better for pets coming to the practice for treatment.
“We have spent 25 years in a converted house and by the end we were tripping over each other as we grew out of the building 10 years ago. Moving into a purpose-built, much bigger facility will be a huge advantage and there will be more scope to better care for pets.
“Being able to keep cats separate to dogs in the waiting room will be much less stressful for them, and we will also have cat-only consult rooms. A lot of careful planning and thought went into the new practice, and it is a really exciting time for everyone now it is finally happening.”
Investment is being provided by VetPartners, a York-based veterinary group led by vets, which owns some of the UK and Europe’s most respected and trusted small animal, equine, mixed and farm practices and animal healthcare businesses, including Ashlands Vets.
In the lead up to the opening, a logistical operation will see 25 infusion pumps, an x-ray, dental x-ray, ultrasound scanner, desks, chairs and other equipment packed up and moved to the new practice.
Ben added: “It is going to be a lot of hard work in coming weeks, but it is really going to be worth it.
“It is really exciting for everyone as it is going to be a great place to work and enable us to provide the best possible care of patients.”
The team is led by Ben, clinical directors Sam Burnell and Nikki Holt, and clinical nurse manager Jenny Chapman, and the practice attracts clients from Ilkley and the surrounding areas. Ashlands Vets also has branches in Glusburn and Skipton.