130 year old Middlesex vet practice invests in the future with Lloyds Bank
Middlesex veterinary surgeons, Willett House, is continuing to thrive and support local pet owners with the help of a six-figure funding package from Lloyds Bank.
The £840,000 loan from Lloyds Bank has funded the refurbishment of its Staines practice and the purchase of a CT scanner, advanced technology which is usually only available via a specialist. The practice is now the only one in the area to offer CT scans.
Established in 1888, Willett House Vets has a rich history, having previously counted Queen Victoria’s clumber spaniels among its clients, and is one of the longest running vet practices in the UK. There are now eight branches, treating 20,000 animals, and employing a 70-strong team who work across all the locations according to demand. Its main practice is in Staines with other sites in the neighbouring communities of Feltham, Addlestone, Hampton Stanwell, Egham, Sunbury and Laleham.
Willett House has been a customer of Lloyds Bank for seven years, and this latest support follows the bank backing the vets to acquire the adjoining property to its Staines branch in 2016. After obtaining planning permission to convert the property for veterinary use, the larger, renovated practice includes five operating theatres, a dedicated dental surgery, a keyhole surgery room, and a cat ward. These improvements not only helped to transform the business’s growth potential, but they also mean the team can deliver more surgical operations inhouse, rather than having to refer the animals to specialist practices.
Leigh Sobye, director at Willett House Vets, said: “Our new CT scanner has already proved an invaluable addition to the services we offer. We’re committed to providing the best possible care to the area’s pets, and thanks to Lloyds Bank we’re able to continue to do just that. Lockdown has been challenging – perhaps more so than any other time in our long history – but we’ve been able to be flexible and adapt to the changing situation. Now, as we start to come out of the other side, we’re in a great position to build on our heritage and keep the pets of Staines and the surrounding area as happy and healthy as possible.
David Wood-Griffiths, relationship director, Healthcare at Lloyds Bank, added: “Willett House Vets has become a real lifeline to its customers and it’s encouraging to see improvements and progress continue to be made by such a long-established company, particularly during the last six months.
“We’ll remain by the side of South East businesses across the UK to help them navigate the ongoing disruption and emerge from lockdown in as strong a position as possible.”
