FOOD FOR DOGS
T seems hard to believe but August 5 marks one year since Donaldson’s Vets moved from the Maple Street surgery, where we had been based for nearly 60 years, to the Veterinary Hospital on Somerset Road.
Where the old surgery was cramped and cluttered, the new hospital is spacious and state-of-the-art. Although the ethos of the practice remains rooted in old fashioned personal service, the fantastic premises have propelled the standard of veterinary care well and truly into the 21st century.
During the years where we meticulously planned the new hospital, we thought that we had considered every possible requirement for the future. However, I must admit that nobody foresaw the current Covid crisis on the horizon and yet the space in both car park and waiting room have proved invaluable during these socially distanced times.
During the peak of the Covid lockdown, following Government advice, the practice had to temporarily close all of our branch practices and, for some time, the Somerset Road Hospital was the sole provider of veterinary care for the Donaldson’s Group across the whole of Kirklees and Calderdale.
Thankfully, we have been gradually able to reopen Shepley, then Sowerby Bridge, Mirfield and Thongsbridge surgeries.
For the last few weeks, it has only been the Donaldson’s surgery at Birchencliffe that remained closed – but it has been worth the wait.
This week, a newly refurbished and extended Birchencliffe surgery has happily re-opened its doors.
With a refreshed reception and improved separation in the waiting room, Birchencliffe surgery is now as up-to-date as the hospital at Somerset Road. There are more consulting rooms designed for the comfort of patient and owner alike.
The Animal Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) now boasts two water walkers rather than one, allowing the highly qualified Rehab. Team to help more patients with problems ranging from back pain to arthritis and obesity.
We are so proud of the new and improved Birchencliffe surgery which reopened its doors on Monday and we have already had lots of positive comments from the owners of our regular patients.
Although the surgery is now bang up to date, the team at Birchencliffe, led by the highly-experienced Rhona Warnock, remain the same so you can be sure to see familiar faces in the updated surroundings.