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Accreditations

What does accreditation actually mean?

There are many things to consider when making your choice - personal recommendation, convenience of access etc. However it is important to remember that not all veterinary practices are the same. Veterinary Hospitals such as Wood Street Veterinary Hospital (WSVH) represent the highest standard of veterinary practice in the UK.

BVHA and RCVS Inspection

All British Veterinary Hospitals Association members, like Wood Street Veterniary Hospital, have voluntarily agreed a regular and intensive examination and inspection of their practices every 4 years. This inspection is carried out by independent inspectors appointed by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), our governing body. The inspection covers a whole range of issues relating to the care of patients - for example the continuing education of staff, the provision of anaesthetic monitoring and laboratory equipment, the quality of radiographic (X-ray) and other diagnostic facilities and the quality of the case records. It also covers the physical aspects of the buildings - for example isolation facilities to prevent the spread of disease from infectious patients.

One of the most important aspects of a Veterinary Hospital is that members of staff must be on the premises 24-hours a day. This means that members of the veterinary team are always on hand and responsible for the care of in-patients. Most veterinary practices have nobody on the premises after the end of evening surgery or over nights, bank holidays, and weekends to look after pets who need to remain with them.

We understand how important it is that your pets are looked after diligently while they are away from home- this means having staff on the premises caring for them 24-hours a day, 365-days a year. Many people are surprised to find that this is not the situation at all veterinary practices

RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) Veterinary Hospital Status – What Does It Mean?
The RCVS is the regulatory body for the veterinary profession in the UK. Wood Street Veterinary Hospital is proud to be an approved member of the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, and to have achieved Small Animal Hospital status. Only a very small proportion of Practices in the UK have achieved this level. Click on the image to the right for more infortmation on this.

What Does Accreditation Mean?

To be a Hospital under the scheme, a practice must:

Comply with Core standards Including legal and health and safety requirements AND Meet all requirements of a general practice, including showing a commitment to client care, having access to laboratory facilities and fulfilling an obligation to promote staff training. AND Fulfil specific hospital requirements:
 

  • Nursing staff must be present on the premises round the clock and a veterinary surgeon available 24-hours a day to attend to in-patients if required. This means that continual nursing and veterinary care for in-patients is available.
  • Clinical standards must be maintained and improved by monitoring performance and the outcome of treatments.
  • The availability and overall quality and range of equipment is checked e.g. there must be specific diagnostic equipment available such as ECG and Ultrasound.
  • The standard of the premises and facilities is rigorously examined, with emphasis on cleanliness and sterility.
  • For more information regarding the Practice Standards Scheme please visit the RCVS website.