A NEW £16 million vets is now offering some of the most advanced treatments in the UK after opening a new oncology and radiotherapy suite. 

Southfields Veterinary Specialists, in Basildon, officially opened last summer as one of the largest animal hospitals in the UK.

And its range of services has continued to expand with a new oncology and radiotherapy suite opening this week.

It incorporates chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment facilities under one roof, including a cutting-edge linear accelerator.

Hospital director Daniel Hogan said: “Everyone at Southfields is so excited and proud to be opening the doors of our new oncology and radiotherapy suite.

“From having one of the largest teams of oncology diplomat in Europe, to offering industry-leading oncology and radiotherapy treatments, our new suite firmly places Southfields as a leading referral centre in Europe providing the very best in dedicated cancer care.”

Southfields’ new suite includes a separate reception and waiting area for outpatients, two chemotherapy rooms, a patient prep room, and an oncology ward for outpatients receiving courses of radiotherapy who are cared for by the dedicated oncology nurses.

The linear accelerator is a new “Varian TrueBeam radiotherapy system” which enables treatment - with pinpoint accuracy - of tumours that had previously been considered untreatable.

Sarah Mason, Southfields lead in general oncology, said: “Southfields is already renowned as being the leader in cancer treatment for small animals in the UK and the opening of our dedicated oncology and radiotherapy suite takes patients care to an even higher level.”

This new suite makes it one of the only UK referral centres with two full-time client-facing specialists in radiation oncology.

As well as the only practice in Europe with two on-site full-time double-boarded medical and radiation oncologists, along with dedicated radiotherapy technicians and therapeutic radiographers.

James Elliott, lead in radiation oncology, added: “The new dedicated oncology and radiotherapy suite is a strong statement of intent, a clear signal we are committed to delivering the very highest level of excellence in cancer treatment and care.”