Southfields Veterinary to open new Basildon hospital soon

Southfields Veterinary Specialists in Laindon are relocating to a new 40,000 square foot complex in Gardiners Lane South, with building work well under way on the project.

The new Basildon centre – just ten minutes from Southfields’ current Bramston Way site – will boast 24/7 emergency services, seven operating theatres, and 180 kennels.

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On top of that, hospital bosses have invested £3 million in new MRI and CT systems for its diagnostics suite.

Big plans - Hospital director Daniel Hogan

Daniel Hogan, hospital director at Linnaeus-owned Southfields, says the firm has been consulting with animal behavioural experts through the design process.

“Our patient journey has been carefully planned to minimise stress and reduce anxiety,” he said.

“We know how challenging it can often be for pets to come into a practice and, for that reason, we have devoted a huge amount of time and effort into making sure our new site will be as welcoming and accessible as possible.

“This starts from before patients even enter the building. So, from the car park design and separate entrances and waiting areas, through to consult rooms and the pick-up process, it has all been carefully designed with our patients at the forefront."

Plans for the hospital reception

The center will have separate cat and dog entrances, separate waiting areas, a dedicated cat treatment facility, walking and comfort areas for patients and separate dog and cat exercise areas.

Daniel added: “This is a huge move for us in every way. Our expert team will double in size and we will become one of the largest and best-equipped referral centres in the UK.

“It was absolutely paramount for us to ensure that among the clinical excellence and state-of-the-art facilities, our patients always remained at the very core of the new centre.

“Not only this but we will also be providing additional training to all members of the team on the impact of human interaction with patients, through factors such as handling techniques, and also on assessing emotional health of patients, so individual needs can always be met.”  

The referral centre will offer specialist services such as anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, exotics, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, radiation and soft tissue surgery.