Work restarts on Kettering's £1.3 million veterinary hospital

A new state-of-the art pet hospital for Kettering is a step closer after work resumed on the £1.3 million project this week after being delayed by Covid-19 restrictions.

The three-storey Northlands Veterinary Hospital in Station Road has been designed to meet the needs of poorly pets, from cats and dogs to bunnies, guinea pigs and hamsters.

When it opens its doors this summer it will benefit from four operating theatres, three separate wards for cats, dogs and exotic pets, a diagnostic lab, a large waiting room with dedicated areas for cats and dogs and four consulting rooms.

There will also be a bereavement room for owners facing a difficult decision, medicine dispensary, laser therapy treatment room, general office space, client toilets, night-team accommodation and outside exercise yard.

Additional rooms will house the hospital’s high-tech veterinary equipment, including an ultrasound machine, digital X-ray and a £150,000 CT scanner.

The new facility will provide 24-hour emergency and out of hours care and, as well as treating sick pets and performing surgery, the veterinary team will offer healthcare advice to help prevent animals becoming ill.

Ten on-site car parking spaces will allow easy access for clients.

The project has a budget of around £1.3 million and is part of a £5.5 million investment in veterinary practice sites this year by VetPartners, the larger veterinary group Northlands is part of.

Karl Walker, Northlands practice manager, said: “I am delighted that work to complete the hospital has resumed and we are moving ahead to fit out the interior of the building so the veterinary equipment can be installed.

“This is a very exciting project because the hospital will provide much improved facilities for pets and their owners, and a vibrant, modern working environment for members of our team.

“Every element of the hospital has been designed to enable us to offer the highest levels of care to our patients and provide an excellent experience to our clients.

“As well as two general operating theatres, there will be special theatres for orthopaedic and dental surgeries and we have invested in a CT scanner that can provide highly detailed images of a pet’s anatomy to help vets diagnose physical issues.

"The new hospital will also have dedicated wards for cats, dogs and exotic pets to ensure pets are happy and stress-free when they visit us, and separate waiting areas for different species, too.”

The site of the veterinary hospital was previously a nursery and had been empty for 12 years.

It is leased from a local developer who has already renovated the exterior of the building, including adding a new two-storey extension.

The building will be a new home for the current Northlands hospital in Northampton Road and its local sister practice, The Avenue Veterinary Clinic, which are merging.

Northlands Veterinary Group also has five other veterinary surgeries across Northamptonshire, including a specialist cat and rabbit clinic.

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