A VETS' practice in Worcester is celebrating becoming one of just two fully-fledged animal hospitals in the city.

Severn Vets, which has practiced in St John's and Warndon, was awarded the status of veterinary hospital by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

This, according to the RCVS website, makes them one of only two in the city to have this status, the other being Brentknoll Vets.

The accreditation follows a £650,000 revamp to improve its facilities.

The practice, which was founded in 1999 by vets Caroline and Jock Queen, has a 22-strong team of vets, nurses, receptionists and office team members at Berkeley House, providing veterinary care for cats, dogs and other small animals.

Establishing 24-hour on-site care and separate isolation facilities enabled Severn Vets to move from general practice status to veterinary hospital through the RCVS accreditation scheme.

According to the RCVS, many important aspects of pet care can only be guaranteed to happen at a veterinary hospital. Some of the criteria that need to be met are:

• Veterinary hospitals must have a dedicated, aseptic operating theatre in which to perform a pet’s operations.

• Veterinary hospitals have an obligation to make sure their vets and other team members are well qualified and up to date.

• Veterinary hospital status ensures x-ray, ultrasound, ECG and laboratory facilities will be available on site.

• Veterinary hospitals have dedicated separate cat and dog wards with sufficient, comfortable kennels as well as intensive care and isolation facilities.

Hospital director and head veterinary nurse Jane Harding said: “We are extremely proud to have achieved hospital status since it reflects the consistently high standards of patient care that out team provides across all our practices.

“We provide a high level of care for pets and being awarded hospital status recognises this and is a great reward for the hard working and dedicated team we have.”

The 2019 refurb included a rehabilitation centre offering pets physiotherapy and alternative therapy treatments, complete with a pet hydrotherapy pool and underwater treadmill.

As well as its main hospital in Berkeley Way in Warndon Villages, Severn Vets also has practices in St John’s, Henley-in-Arden and Alcester.