Member Article

Westway vets invests £100k to create cat only ward in Newcastle

Westway Veterinary Centres is investing £100k in a cat-only ward, with construction now underway at the Newcastle-based site.

The region’s biggest veterinary business, Westway owns Easyvets and Value Vets and owns 23 surgeries employing 37 vets right across the North East, from Newcastle to Darlington.

Building work to create the new feline unit, comprising of an operating theatre and prep room, at the veterinary hospital on West Road, Newcastle, is expected to be completed in April.

The wing has been designed by David Kershaw, who owns Whitley Bay firm DJK Architect Limited, and the building work is being carried out by Stocksfield- based Andy Duncan Building and Roofing Contractor.

The new facilities will enable the practice to keep cats separate from dogs while they are undergoing treatment, and to handle an increase in patients as the veterinary group continues to grow.

Westway director Nick Myerscough said: “We want to provide a better environment for cats and keep them away from barking dogs to minimise the stress of being in the vets.

“We try to ensure that all animals brought here are treated with care, compassion and understanding, and we are committed to constantly improving facilities and treatment of pets.

“We will be the only practice in Newcastle with a separate cat ward and facilities to this standard.

“The International Cat Care charity set standards of the best care and facilities for cats and we have been working hard at making our hospital more cat-friendly.”

David Kershaw added: “This is the latest in a series of alterations to Westway’s hospital that I have worked on as it has quadrupled in size in the last 12 years.

“It has been a very challenging project because it is a very tight site as the hospital has grown and grown over the years.”