Birmingham’s new £10m Pet Hospital is now open in Longbridge and we’ve got a gallery of pictures so you can take a look around this pioneering centre.
Officially called Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital, this is the UK’s newest pet hospital - and it’s being run by local Julie Davis who grew up in south Birmingham. Julie went on to become a journalist and champion powerlifter - before taking up her latest role as director of the animal health care unit.
The pet hospital is providing 24/7 emergency care for pets and has the capacity to care for up to 10,000 animals in Birmingham and the surrounding areas each year, which will offer peace of mind to many animal lovers.
IVC has told how their decision to open the pet hospital in south Birmigham has been driven by a boom in pet ownership over the last three years. Pets and their owners will be referred to Blaise by their local daytime vet practice when they need more specialised treatment, such as oncology for pets with cancer or cardiology for heart issues, among many others.
The hospital has advised BirminghamWorld that in addition to this - and at the heart of Blaise - is a state-of-the art intensive care unit where a dedicated team can cater for emergencies around the clock, with out of hours support provided by Vets Now, the UK’s leading pet emergency service.
Duncan Phillips, UK and Ireland CEO of hospital owner IVC Evidensia, visited Blaise on Monday (November 13) to officially welcome the new team and meet some of the hospital’s first patients.
Where can I find the new Pet Hospital?
The 36,000 sq. ft hospital is located on the West Longbridge regeneration site on the land that was once home to the Austin car manufacturing plant before it closed in 2015. Blaise is easily accessible by road from the main A38 route which links the M5 and M42 with Birmingham city centre and means that the hospital will welcome patients from across the midlands and the rest of the UK.
‘A huge milestone’
Mr Phillips said: “Blaise marks a huge milestone for IVC Evidensia and we are so excited to officially open the doors today. As well as being home to phenomenal, modern facilities that will provide a wide range of options for pet care and treatment, we have built an amazing and collaborative team here who I strongly believe will see Blaise become one of the most prestigious and well-respected referrals centres in the UK.”
Andrew Kent, clinical director at Blaise, said: “We’ve worked incredibly hard to get to this point and I know I speak on behalf of the whole team here at Blaise when I say we are thrilled to officially be able to welcome pets and owners from all around Birmingham and the Midlands. Recent years have seen an ever-increasing need for specialist referral services in the veterinary industry and we are here to answer that demand by providing excellent high-quality and professional care for pets who need it.”
Take a look around Birmingham's £10m Pet Hospital here:
1. Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital in Longbridge, Birmingham
2. Reception at Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital in Longbridge, Birmingham
3. Dog kennels at Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital in Longbridge, Birmingham
4. CT scanner at Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital in Longbridge, Birmingham