Boost for pets as Rochdale vet practice unveils new look after major revamp

A veterinary practice in Castleton has reopened its doors after undergoing a major revamp.

The renovation of Valentine’s Vets on Manchester Road, has increased the number of consulting rooms from three to four and created a second operating theatre to give clients more appointment times and a wider range of services.

The improvements also include a dedicated X-ray and ultrasound suite, a state-of-the-art dental suite to allow for complex treatment, an in-house laboratory - helping to speed up diagnosis - and full isolation facilities for infectious patients.

Clients and pets will also benefit from separate cat and dog waiting areas, as well as separate kennels, helping to reduce feline anxiety as cats are kept away from the noise and smells of barking dogs.

Valentine’s Vets continued to see pets from a temporary unit in its car park while the main building was closed during the works, while clients also had the option to visit the Middleton branch for consultations and appointments.

As the team welcomes clients into the new-look practice, they are expanding consultations and services as experienced veterinary surgeon Kirsty Baird settles in as Valentine’s Vets’ new clinical director.

Kirsty previously led the veterinary team of a small animal practice with three sites in West Yorkshire where she worked for 17 years.

She said: "I’m really looking forward to meeting more of our valued clients and beloved pets. With our exceptional and devoted team, our collective aim is to deliver top-notch care. My utmost priority is ensuring client satisfaction and I will strive to engage clients in every aspect of the treatment planning process."

The renovation and investment in the latest hi-tech equipment has been funded by VetPartners, which owns some of the UK’s most respected and trusted veterinary practices including Valentine’s Vets.

 

 

Practice manager Lindsay Bowden thanked clients for their patience during the work.

She said: “The whole team is thrilled with the changes. This refurbishment has made such a big difference to our practice and will transform the service we can offer. Kirsty has come on board at such an exciting time for Valentine’s Vets and is a great addition to our team.

“There are now two operating theatres and four consult rooms, including one for nurse-led clinics such as senior pet checks, nail clipping, weight and dental check-ups, or bandage changes.

“The improvements mean we are able to be more versatile and we will now be offering appointments throughout the day. Our waiting room is also much bigger, so we have a separate cat and dog waiting area, with shelving and covers for people to put over their cat’s box to keep them calm and relaxed.

“We also have a dedicated cattery, kennels with more space for bigger dogs, and a new oxygen kennel to administer oxygen therapy when it is required to treat conditions such as pneumonia.”

Valentine’s Vets’ Castleton branch is open from 8.30am until 6pm from Monday to Friday, and from 9am to 12.30pm on Saturday.