Round of ap-paws for charity ‘Pet Wellbeing Centre’

07 November 2022

Local pets have given a huge round of ap-paws to vet charity PDSA, which has opened the doors to its brand new Pet Wellbeing Centre in Nottingham.

Singer and People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Danyl Johnson visited to officially cut the pink ribbon to open the centre; he was joined by the charity’s vet team, Director General Jan McLoughlin and Deputy Chairman John Miller.

The purpose-built Nottingham PDSA Pet Wellbeing Centre, The Marian and Christina Ionescu Hospital, on Radford Road, Basford, replaces the charity’s old site on Dunkirk Road.

Discussing the opening, PDSA Senior Vet Sarah Brown said: “PDSA has been caring for pets in Nottingham since 1927, when the charity first opened a dispensary in the city. Now, nearly a century later, we’re thrilled to formally open a brand new, much-needed centre to support pets and people in need in Nottingham. Our services continue to be a vital lifeline for owners struggling to provide care for their pets and it’s a privilege to start this positive new chapter to help those most vulnerable in the local community.

“It’s been a long road but the team and I are completely bowled over by our new home. The old hospital on Dunkirk Road holds many memories, and helped so many people and their beloved pets over the years, so the team was sad to leave. However, we are really excited to welcome our pet patients to this fabulous new facility for many more years to come.”

The new Wellbeing Centre comprises a bigger, brighter waiting area, with separate areas for cats and dogs; it is specifically designed by the charity to help make visiting the vet a stress-free experience. It also houses improved kennel facilities to help give pets a more comfortable recovery from surgery.

The facility features eight spacious consulting rooms, a room dedicated to phone consultations – a first for the charity - two operating theatres, a diagnostic room, digital x-ray facilities, the latest diagnostic and surgical equipment and a bigger car park to allow easier access for pets and their owners.

The hospital will also help train and educate the next generation of veterinary surgeons through its links with the University of Nottingham. The centre includes a large, dedicated training room especially for veterinary students.

Sarah continued: “We are so grateful to every single supporter and organisation that has donated to help this fantastic new hospital become a reality. On behalf of everyone at PDSA, I offer special thanks to Mr and Mrs Ionescu, whom the hospital is named after, players of People’s Postcode Lottery and the University of Nottingham for their generous support.

“We were delighted to welcome People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Danyl to help us mark our opening day.”

Speaking on behalf of People’s Postcode Lottery, Danyl Johnson, added: “It’s fantastic to see the amazing Nottingham PDSA Pet Wellbeing Centre open and helping poorly pets, thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery. PDSA does fantastic work helping to care for the sick and injured pets of people struggling financially in Nottingham, and it can now do so in this excellent new facility which will help pet owners now and in the future.” 

PDSA’s dedicated team of vets, vet nurses and support staff in Nottingham helps over 10,000 pets a year, treating around 129 pet patients every single day.

The centre, which cost £3.7 million to build and equip, was funded thanks to the generous donations of supporters and members of the public. PDSA receives no government funding towards its vital veterinary care, and it costs the charity nearly £1.2 million a year to run its life-saving service in Nottingham.