A new 24-hour veterinary teaching hospital is set to open at Keele University this autumn.

Founded by leaders in innovation and veterinary care, Garden Vets are working in partnership with the University to open a new 20,000 sq. ft. independent primary care-led veterinary practice and teaching centre on the Keele campus.

The new hospital - "Garden Vets at Keele" - will feature state-of-the-art technologies and equipment that will allow the majority of care for small animals to be coordinated on-site. The Garden Vets business model launches with a revolutionary approach to pet care which aims to alleviate the worries of unexpected costs by offering a comprehensive, all-inclusive pet care subscription service, affording clients the security of knowing all aspects of their pet's health care is covered under one monthly fixed cost.

The team of veterinary experts will focus on the full-lifecycle care of small animals, offering preventative care and education which is supported via a wide range of new ways to interact with the team and facility, including bespoke apps at launch.

Students studying the five-year Veterinary Medicine and Surgery degree at Harper & Keele Veterinary School will gain extensive clinical professional experience in the new facility, acquiring valuable skills and experience to take into their future careers.

Professor Matt Jones, Head of the Harper & Keele Veterinary School, said: "This is a unique development in that it has been fully designed to a contemporary educational and research specification through close collaboration between the Vet School and Garden Vets at Keele. It is great to have a purpose-built primary care focused teaching and research hospital here in North Staffordshire.

"Students will be fully embedded in the clinical and business operations of the centre and are going to further benefit from advanced experimental learning and research through technology such as virtual reality and immersive simulations. The new development at Keele perfectly complements the extensive clinical skills, farm animal resources and expertise at Harper Adams University, providing students with the combined excellence of both institutions."

Dr Sheldon Middleton CEO of Garden Vets said: "The opportunity to lead Garden Vets at Keele is incredibly exciting. It is not just a new facility in a new building but also a new concept in the profession. The business is being built around the people within it ensuring they are at the heart of what we do."

Sheldon sees this new facility as an opportunity to "reduce the barriers to care through technology, digital channels and a new business model freeing up our colleagues to do what they do best – provide optimal contextualised care without compromise."

The development is due to open to the public in autumn 2023 and has created more than 45 new full and part-time jobs in the area.

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