A veterinary practice that has been caring for pets in East Lancashire for more than 115 years is celebrating Hospital accreditation from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

Stanley House Vets in Colne has successfully gained Veterinary Hospital status under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, recognising its continued commitment to delivering the highest standards of veterinary care, clinical excellence, patient safety and practice management.

Founded in 1911, Stanley House Vets, which also has sites in Burnley and Barnoldswick, has spent more than a century caring for animals across East Lancashire. What began as a traditional local veterinary practice has evolved into a modern Veterinary Hospital supporting approximately 10,000 clients and caring for around 15,000 pets.

Veterinary Hospital accreditation requires practices to meet enhanced standards and follows a rigorous assessment process. Inspectors assessed every aspect of the practice including patient care, surgical and diagnostic facilities, medicines management, health and safety, staff training, clinical governance, record keeping and client care. Inspections across all practice branches were undertaken in addition to interviews with both staff and clients.

placeholder image — Stanley House Veterinary Group Colne

Inspectors were particularly impressed by the practice's facilities, organisation and strong team culture and recognised the strong sense of teamwork across the practice and proactive care the team takes to deliver excellent care for patients and their owners.

Practice Manager Becky Harrison said: "Achieving Veterinary Hospital accreditation is a proud moment for everyone at Stanley House Vets. It reflects the hard work and dedication of our team and recognises the high standards of care we provide every day. While veterinary medicine has changed dramatically since we opened in 1911, our commitment to caring for local pets and supporting their owners remains the same."

Clinical Director Yana Taylor said: "Veterinary medicine has advanced enormously over the years, allowing us to diagnose conditions earlier, treat patients more effectively and achieve better outcomes than ever before. This accreditation recognises both the quality of our facilities today and our ongoing commitment to investing in the future of veterinary care.”

Stanley House offers services and facilities today that would have been unimaginable to veterinary professionals a century ago, including advanced digital imaging, endoscopy, modern surgical suites, sophisticated anaesthetic monitoring equipment, enhanced inpatient care facilities, improved infection control measures and comprehensive preventative healthcare programmes.

Yana added: “Despite all the advances in veterinary medicine, one thing has remained constant throughout our history - our commitment to providing exceptional care for pets and supporting their owners.”

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For local pet owners, the accreditation provides independent assurance that Stanley House Vets has been assessed against some of the highest standards in UK veterinary medicine.

Becky added: “We're grateful for the trust that generations of local pet owners have placed in us over the years. We are proud to be part of this community and we never take that for granted. This accreditation is not only recognition of where we are today, but also a celebration of the journey we've been on and our commitment to continuing to provide outstanding care for pets for many years to come.”

Alongside investing in facilities, technology and staff development, the practice also plays an active role in the local community through charity fundraising, educational initiatives, school visits and support for local organisations.