The next BVHA Annual Meeting will be at the Hampshire CentreCourt Hotel - Featuring a series of Wet-Lab sessions and interactive Hands-On CPD Experience, not to mention BVHA's famous desire for Excellence in Hospitality - Food and Fine Wine. Click 'Meetings' for more details.
  Public Area Resources

Veterinary Surgeons Area

BVHA Aims to Promote Excellence in Veterinary Practice
BVHA can offer you and your practice a range of services to help your practice develop in providing excellence in the care of clients and patients. In association with Veterinary Practice magazine we also run the Practice Design Competition.

BVHA Aims to promote awareness of Veterinary Hospitals
BVHA have developed (in conjunction with marketing professionals) a range of services to help promote the benefits of attending a BVHA member veterinary hospital to your clients.

BVHA Membership
BVHA has two main categories of members – Hospitals and Associates. Hospitals obviously represent those practices that have already achieved Veterinary Hospital status, whereas Associates represent individuals or practices that either aspire to develop veterinary hospital status, or who have a keen interest in excellence in Veterinary practice (or who simply enjoy the excellent social camaraderie that BVHA engenders).

BVHA Politically
BVHA is involved in discussions, consultations and liaisons with RCVS, BVA, BSAVA, SPVS, BEVA and other veterinary organisations. BVHA has a place on the Practice Standards Group which advises the RCVS on Veterinary Hospital and other practice standards. The actual inspections are carried out by the RCVS, by inspectors appointed by the RCVS. BVHA actively seeks to promote Veterinary Hospitals as being the highest level of practice standard. Only by acting through the BVHA can any Veterinary Hospital hope to have any influence over the future of practice standards. The BVHA represents its members' viewpoints on BVA council, at RCVS meetings and with the BSAVA and BEVA.

BVHA Historically
Past President John Tandy has put an enormous amount of work into preparing a detailed history of the BVHA from its foundation in 1972 until 1987. Click here to download a copy of this 67 page document as a PDF.

The Constitution.
The constitution states that:-


The objectives of the British Veterinary Hospitals Association (hereinafter referred to as the "Association") shall be:
.. .. .. a) The promotion, establishment and maintenance of the highest standards of excellence
  .. .. .. (i) In design, construction, equipping, maintenance and management of Veterinary Hospitals
(ii) In the medical and surgical treatment and the care of animals provided by Veterinary Hospitals, with a view to serving and protecting the interests of animals, their owners and the veterinary profession.
b) The promotion of the highest standards in the skills, training and development of staff
c) Increasing the awareness of the Veterinary Profession and the general public to the services provided by, and the benefits of, Veterinary Hospitals

In general terms objectives a) and b) are carried out through the holding of regular meetings of our members and by the creation and regular updating of the standards of Veterinary Hospitals. BVHA's role regarding the Veterinary Hospital standards has been to advise the RCVS. The standards are technically those of the RCVS, the inspections are carried out by the RCVS, by inspectors appointed by the RCVS. However BVHA is one of the few organisations that represents a specific group within the Practice Standards Scheme.

Regarding objective c), the promotion of Veterinary Hospitals, the BVHA is now set to provide much more active assistance to its membership. Click here to look at the list of membership benefits and here to see the price list of products and services.

BVHA also plays an important part in the UK's veterinary political life. BVHA is represented on BVA Council and seeks to present the membership's views. We are always happy to hear members' feedback on current issues.

Click here to learn more about the BVHA Governing Council.

If you are a BVHA member Click here to access the AGM minutes and BVHA Constitution.