THE new Mount Vets hospital on the outskirts of Wellington at Cades Farm opened its doors for the first time to members of the public on Saturday.

Members of its pet health club had a chance to look around the building ahead of another open day this Saturday (March 17) when anyone can visit between 10am-4pm.

The state-of-the art hospital opens on Thursday, March 22, more than six years after planning permission was granted.

The building is about three times the size of the previous premises in Wellington High Street and the site about twice the size with better parking than in town, including emergency and disabled bays.

Among the facilities at the new hospital are four consultation rooms, a spacious waiting room and reception, two operating theatres and dental theatre. It also has an x-ray room, ultrasonography room, laboratory and isolation ward.

Mount Vets, which will be keeping on its premises in Lancer Court near the old main building, employs 45 staff and treats tens of thousands animals a year.

More pictures in this week’s Wellington Weekly News.