Basildon: Works start on Southfield's new £16m vet centre

Southfields Veterinary Specialists, in Laindon, will be relocating to the new 40,000 sq ft complex in January 2022, with building work now well under way on the project.

The new Basildon referral centre - which is just ten minutes from Southfields’ current site - will offer 24/7 facilities as well as creating more jobs in the region as the crew look to double the size of their team.

The multidisciplinary referral centre will continue to boast 15 specialist-led services, including an oncology and radiotherapy service.  

There will be seven operating theatres, 16 consultation rooms, recovery suites, lecture halls, a dedicated ICU department and there are plans for a future hydrotherapy suite.

While the new referral centre will not only become a hub of cutting-edge veterinary treatment, it will also cater to staff wellbeing, with yoga and boxercise classes among the activities available to the Southfields team.

Daniel Hogan, Southfields’ hospital director, said: “This is a huge move for us in every way. The increased size of the hospital will enable us to provide a dedicated staff wellbeing area and to offer a range of activities which will benefit our team in both body and mind.

“Along with exercise and relaxation classes, we will have an education centre which will offer some really exciting qualifications and courses for the wider profession.”

Designed to allow maximum light into the building, the Southfields team has been working closely with an animal behaviourist to ensure the facilities are as comfortable and accessible as possible for their patients, clients and staff.

Southfields managing director Tim Richardson hopes the move will reinforce the group's status as leaders in the veterinary industry.

He said: "The new hospital is a real statement of intent, a clear signal we are committed to delivering a level of excellence in treatment and care second to none.

“It will provide the region with one of the largest and best-equipped veterinary centres in, not only  the UK, but also throughout Europe, with an extensive range of expertise in a wide variety of disciplines all under one roof.

“The fabulous facilities include a cutting-edge imaging suite, comprehensive treatment facilities and a new linear accelerator to assist our illustrious oncology team, which has already seen its status as one of the most experienced in the industry enhanced by the arrival of James Elliott, a renowned specialist in oncology.

“We will also be providing separate cat and dog waiting areas, walking and comfort areas for our patients when they visit us.

“By consulting animal behaviourists and sustainability leads from day one, it has meant we can deliver a centre that meets and exceeds the needs of our patients and clients like no other in the UK.”

Read more:

Woman flashed by pervert as she walked dog through woodlands

REVEALED: Hospital trust lost almost £10m due to no-shows during Covid pandemic

Henry L'Eplattenier, clinical director at Southfields, added: “We will also be ensuring we care for both our community and country by working with Investors in the Environment (iiE) to introduce a bold green initiative to substantially reduce our environmental impact and enhance our sustainability.

“This move promises to be a very exciting and fulfilling one for everyone at Southfields and a major leap forward in the scope of our ability to care for all our patients and clients.”

The significant investment was made by parent company Linnaeus and backed by global giants Mars Veterinary Healt.

Bart Johnson, chief executive of Linnaeus, added: “This move is a reflection of the ambition of Southfields, Linnaeus and Mars to continue providing the best veterinary care in the UK.

“It’s a significant investment to provide state-of-the-art facilities and technology, while we will also be attracting new talent to Southfields’ expert team.

“We’re incredibly excited to continue to expand the unique and innovative offerings in patient care at Southfields.”