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.

Vet Menu

n Member Benefits

n Design Competition

n Practice Standards Scheme

Practice Design Competition Winner 2000 Alfreton Park Veterinary Centre, Alfreton, Derbyshire A new build mixed veterinary practice owned by four young partners. Extracts from the judges' notes: Building Large two tone brick building in good position on main street with ample car park. Excellent paw in leaf logo everywhere. Smart glass vestibule featuring logo on wall and etched in glass. Keypad to mortuary only from outside so bodies collected 23:00 hours. Smart welcome sign using logo also. Clever list of vets on glass sheet updated by sign man. Front of House Excellent bespoke reception desk with two heights, low opposite the entrance. Joinery in light coloured wood all matches - desk, cornice, dado etc. Large, light and airy waiting room. Notice boards for displays - no posters on walls. Neat custom built rack for leaflets - made by a friendly joiner! "Pet of the month" is a good idea. Chairs are wide enough to get a cat basket underneath. Logo is even used on room door signs. Consulting Rooms Magnetic child locks on low doors. Computers neatly housed. Smart beige units throughout. Air conditioning throughout. White rock used instead of tiled splashbacks. One room suitable for disabled clients (or family groups). Pharmacy Separate key pad accessed room with hatch. Routine wormers and repeat prescriptions go in basket to be locked at reception. All vets carry Controlled Drugs keys. Loaded trolley used back of consults. Wards Separate wards for each species. Tall cupboards above kennels so neat and no space wasted. Walk in walls same emulsion paint but varnished over for wash-ability. Plenty of space, exam table etc. to use. Food prep room cleverly positioned between dog and cat wards. Low Belfast sink in cats for washing anything. Preparation room Large room with lots of neat cupboards. Green colour scheme here less homely, more clinical. Central services pillar. Wide drawers for catheter storage. Sterilisation Separate washer and drier for surgical use, not bedding. Theatres (three) These beyond scrub. Large windows between each. Positive pressure ventilation and air conditioning. Bare rooms for sterility. Opaque windows to outside. Heated tables. Brandon lights. Large animal facilities Available but not used and feel like an add on. However maybe wise as small animal work increases and large animal work decreases. Pictures
		Partners Babs and Matt Ingram welcome the judges to the Alfreton Park Veterinary Centre.
"Tall cupboards above kennels so neat and no space wasted."
		Separate key pad accessed pharmacy with hatch.
One of the practice's consulting rooms.
		One consulting room is suitable for disabled clients (or family groups).
Magnetic child locks on low doors.
		Logo is used on room door signs.
"Notice boards for displays - no posters on walls."
		"Large, light and airy waiting room."
"Excellent bespoke reception desk with two heights, low opposite the entrance."
		"Clever list of vets on glass sheet updated by sign man."
"Smart welcome sign using logo."
		"Smart glass vestibule featuring logo on wall and etched in glass."
"Large two tone brick building in good position on main street with ample car park."
		One of the three highly professional operating theatres, with another visible through a large internal window.
"Wide drawers for catheter storage."
		"Large preparation room with lots of neat cupboards and central services pillar."
"Low Belfast sink in cats' ward for washing anything."
		The cat ward, separated from the dogs.
Judge Freda Scott-Park inspects the spacious dog ward.