First look at huge new £13.5m animal 'mega-hospital' as it opens in Bristol

A new £13.5m animal 'mega-hospital' in Bristol is the largest to be built in the South West and Wales.    

The centre in Severn Beach provides treatment for dogs and cats, offering everything from brain surgery and heart bypass operations to bone reconstruction surgery.  

Run by Bristol Vet Specialists, the team were previously based at Highcroft Vets in Whitchurch in the south of the city but relocated due to growing in size. 

The referral centre was planned over five years and took 24 months to build. It is 30,000 sq ft in size and employs more than 100 people, with capacity to treat up to 10,000 animals every year. 

The facility on Madison Way includes facilities such as specialist canine and feline units, plus animal MRI and CT scanners.

It also has a ‘ground-breaking’ radiotherapy unit, which has been installed for the latest cancer treatment. Said to be the only one of its kind for pets in England, it delivers high doses of radiation with high precision over a shortened treatment course. 

There are also separate floors for cats and dogs and waiting rooms, to minimise stress to the animals.  

Delphine Holopherne-Doran, clinical director at Bristol Vet Specialists, said: “Our new hospital will treat anything and everything in cats and dogs under one roof. 

“In every case, no matter how complex, we’ll be able to tap into the knowledge of our multi-disciplinary team.

“Our advanced facilities and eminent colleagues will mean we can provide the best animal care to pet owners across the South West and Wales. 

"We’ve spent years planning then constructing the site and in time it will become known as a centre of excellence in the veterinary world.” 

Bristol Vet Specialists is owned by CVS Group, which has more than 500 veterinary practices, referral centres and sites in the UK.