The Veterinary Hospital standard represents the highest accredited standard of veterinary practice in the UK.
South Devon Veterinary Hospital is inspected and accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) as part of the Practice Standards Scheme. We are the only Veterinary Hospital in Teignbridge and the only independently owned Veterinary Hospital in the whole of South Devon. Only a very small proportion of veterinary practices in the UK have achieved this level.
We have voluntarily agreed to a regular and intensive inspections by independent inspectors appointed by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). The main inspections are held every 4 years, with spot-checks in between at any time. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is the regulator for the veterinary profession in the UK.
What is assessed in the Veterinary Hospital standard?
At South Devon Veterinary Hospital fully qualified (not trainee) members of the veterinary team are always on site and responsible for the care of in-patients. Many veterinary practices have nobody on the premises after the end of evening surgery or over nights, bank holidays, and weekends to look after pets who need to remain with them.
South Devon Veterinary Hospital’s state of the art facilities far exceed the set standard and include facilities such as: an on site CT scanner; minimally invasive (keyhole) surgery theatre; advanced ophthalmic facilities including those for cataract surgery; high resolution digital dental radiography; a dedicated endoscopy suite with medical grade video-endoscopes.
The following video provides more information about the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme and you can also learn more about the scheme on the RCVS website.