Small Animal Referral Hospital Langford Vets University of Bristol

11/06/2026

It’s been a busy and rewarding few weeks at Langford Academy.

We started with two days of veterinary splinting alongside the brilliant Mel Bruder. Delegates built confidence in carpal and tarsal splinting, combining essential theory with hands-on practical sessions.

Lizzie from Wimba was also on hand to talk about pet orthotics, she ensured our delegates left feeling inspired.

Our teaching dogs took it all in their stride – most opting for a well-earned snooze during their bespoke fittings!

Phoenix Veterinary Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Ready to build your skills?

🔗 Explore upcoming Langford Academy events:
https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/events/

Kindly sponsored by:
vet

05/06/2026

Next week you'll find several members of our Small Animal Referral Hospital team speaking at BVA Live at the NEC Birmingham on 11th and 12th June.

🎤 Kevin Parsons:
"Fix, replace, or manage? Making the right call in hip dysplasia"
and
"Angular limb deformity: From diagnosis to correction".

🎤Kate Whybrow, will be presenting a clinical research abstract:
"Description and comparison of complications and short-term outcomes following Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy in giant breed dogs ≥50kg stabilised with 3.5mm Broad or 4.5mm Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy plates."

🎤 Phoebe Katsikioti will be presenting a clinical research abstract:
"Evaluation of coagulation status in dogs diagnosed with non-regenerative immune-mediated anaemia."

Events like this are a great opportunity to share knowledge, discuss cases and connect with colleagues across the profession.

If you're attending, do come and say hello!👋

01/06/2026

Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month - Passion

Passion in veterinary nursing goes far beyond the wards, theatres, and treatment spaces. 💚🐾

This May, we joined many others in celebrating our veterinary nursing team and all the incredible things they do for our patients and their families during their time with us.

Their passion is something we are immensely proud of, and this extends beyond the hospital itself as well.

Through mentoring, teaching, and delivering CPD, our nursing team is committed to sharing knowledge and supporting the development of the wider veterinary profession. By encouraging continuous learning and collaboration across disciplines, they help drive the highest standards of care for our patients.
To us, passion looks like compassion, teamwork, and education.
Next week, we're excited to host our Vet Nurse and ACA Congress, - a fantastic opportunity to showcase our team, their expertise, and their passion for learning and teaching.

"Thank you to all of our nursing team here at the Small Animal Referral Hospital, Langford Vets. Your hard work, passion, and care for both the patients and your colleagues does not go unnoticed. I feel incredibly proud to be in a position where I am able to work alongside you all.

VNAM gives us the opportunity to reflect on the vital role our vet nurses play within the hospital, and an opportunity to thank them for everything they do.

I am really excited to be able to attend our Vet Nurse and ACA Congress in June and hope to see some new faces there."
-Eleri Counsell, Nursing Manager

29/05/2026

⏰ Final call for BOAS Congress 2026 tickets

If you’ve been meaning to book, now’s the time. Ticket sales for the BOAS Congress at Langford Vets close at 12:30 on Monday 1st June.

Tues 9th June – Vet Congress
Ideal for general practice vets and advanced nurses. The lectures will provide a holistic view of Brachycephalic patients, including emergency triage and stabilisation, anaesthesia, spinal disease, skin disease and soft tissue surgery.

Weds 10th June – Nurse and ACA Congress
For general practice nurses and ACAs. The lectures will provide a holistic view of Brachycephalic patients, including emergency triage, anaesthesia, care of the spinal patient, skin disease and nutrition.

Don’t miss out—secure your place before booking closes.
https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/events/

Kindly sponsored by:

Hill’s Pet Nutrition
Pioneer Veterinary Products
Virbac
The Langford Trust for Animal Health & Welfare
Animalcare Ltd
Boehringer Ingelheim
Chase De Vere

28/05/2026

The Power of Transparency: What Vets and Owners Really Think

Researchers from the University of Bristol are carrying out a new study with a view to helping optimise the relationship between vets and clients, ensuring every pet receives the best possible care.

The study, “The Power of Transparency: What Vets and Owners Really Think" is being run by the University of Bristol with support from Langford Vets, with the researchers asking pet owners to share their perspectives through a quick, anonymous online survey.

“We are living in a century defined by rapid and abundant communication, yet there is surprisingly no data on how veterinary professionals and pet owners actually communicate with one another,” said project lead Dr Latifa Khenissi, Senior Clinician in Anaesthesia and Analgesia.

“By sharing your views, you’ll be helping to build a more transparent, supportive and effective environment for pets, owners and veterinarians alike,” Dr Khenissi explained.

The aim is to find out how pet owners would prefer vets communicate with them, particularly around complex topics such as care decisions, expectations, and emotional impact.

The study comprises two questionnaires: one for pet owners and another for vets to explore the importance of transparency in their communication with pet owners, with a view to making them more clearly aligned in the future.

Follow the link to complete the questionnaire.

The survey will be open for six months.

The Power of Transparency: What Vets and Owners Really Think. Have your say here.

22/05/2026

Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month - Empathy

A 24-hour multidisciplinary veterinary hospital is built on collaboration, compassion, and continuity of care.

At the heart of that care are veterinary nurses - combining clinical skill with empathy, patience, and compassion during some of the most difficult moments families may experience with their pets. Whether monitoring a critical patient through the night, reassuring an anxious owner, or advocating for an animal who cannot speak for itself, their role extends far beyond clinical care alone.

Alongside emergency clinicians, specialists, patient care assistants, client care teams, and support staff, veterinary nurses help create an environment where both patients and owners feel supported, informed, and cared for at every stage of treatment.

In a fast-paced hospital setting, empathy matters. Small moments of kindness, communication, and reassurance can make an enormous difference to families placing their trust in us during vulnerable times.

Our team takes the time to help patients feel safe and comfortable, whether that means handfeeding, grooming, providing cuddles, using toys and licky mats for enrichment, or ensuring our feline patients have hideaway spaces that provide comfort and security within their kennels.

We are incredibly proud of the compassion and dedication shown by our veterinary nurses and the entire hospital team, 24 hours a day. 🐾

21/05/2026

🐾 Making the most of the bank holiday? We’re here if you need us. 🐾

For emergency referrals (from your vet), call us anytime: 0117 394 0513.

For Langford Vet Practice out-of-hours emergencies, call 01934 852 422.

Small Animal Referral Hospital Bank Holiday hours: Saturday 23rd May 9am to 4pm, Sunday 24th May 9am to 4pm, Monday 25th May 9am to 4pm.

24/7 emergency service provided throughout the late May Bank holiday weekend by our own dedicated vet team.

20/05/2026

There’s a Congress for Everyone!
🩺 Langford Clinical Veterinary Congress Series 2026

Join us this June for three dedicated CPD congresses, each designed to support your role in practice — whether you're a vet, veterinary nurse, or ACA.

🔹 Vet Congress | Tuesday 9 June
A full day of advanced, practical CPD on the brachycephalic patient, with real-world, evidence-based learning for general practice.

🔹 Vet Nurse Congress | Wednesday 10 June
A hands-on programme focused on essential nursing skills, from emergency triage to inpatient care.

🔹 ACA Congress | Wednesday 10 June
A dedicated event to help ACAs and support staff build confidence in patient care and day-to-day practice skills.

✨ Three congresses. One goal — better patient care.
Explore each event and book your place:
👉 Vet Congress: https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/events/vet-congress-2026/
👉 Vet Nurse Congress: https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/events/vet-nurse-congress-2026/
👉 ACA Congress: https://www.langfordvets.co.uk/events/aca-congress-2026/

Tag your team 👇 and plan your CPD together!

Kindly sponsored by:
Hill’s Pet Nutrition
Pioneer Veterinary Products
Animalcare Ltd
Virbac
The Langford Trust for Animal Health & Welfare
Boehringer Ingelheim

15/05/2026

This week, for Mental Health Awareness Week, we took time to focus on supporting our team and continuing important conversations around mental wellbeing.

We were fortunate to enjoy several guided garden tours led by a member of our Garden Team, who shared the history of the site and insights into the beautiful grounds we're lucky to work within. 🌿

Zoe Richards, Clinical Floor Lead, said:

"Here at Langford Vets we are very lucky to have use of the beautiful university grounds. This helps us, as the nursing team, step away from the busy hospital and spend our breaks outside in the summer months helping promote good mental health.
Recently staff were able to attend a garden tour as part of Mental Health Week, lead by a member of the Garden Team. We learnt in detail about the sites planting plan and how this helps attract nature to visit. Having this green space is a massive benefit to working at Langford Vets."

Alongside the garden tours, the team were also invited to enjoy a yoga class, Indian head massages, brunch, a meet-and-great with our Wellbeing Champions and an inspiring talk on "Why Small steps matter".

Our Wellbeing Champions are always looking for new and innovative ways to support our teams, and we're incredibly proud to see members of our nursing team playing such an active role in championing wellbeing across the hospital. 💚

14/05/2026

Langford Vets appoints first Veterinary Human Support Worker to work alongside its teams and clients

Langford Vets, a leading Veterinary Care provider and a subsidiary of the University of Bristol, is pleased to announce the appointment of Rhonda Hopkins as its first Veterinary Human Support Worker. This marks a significant milestone for Langford Vets and reinforces its commitment to supporting its clients and teams to deliver outstanding care, dedicated to learning.

What makes this role so unique?

Veterinary Social Worker roles are already established in North America and Australia, and the value of onsite counselling in large veterinary settings has become recognised recently, but this is the first role of its kind in the UK, embedding clinical expertise, safeguarding and crisis management for both staff and clients across our veterinary practices.

What is the purpose of the role?

To provide in the moment and strategic support to both staff and clients managing the emotional load and complex decision making resulting from caring for our patients. This will allow us to deliver the best quality care to animals whilst taking the best care of our people.

Rhonda will be embedded in our multidisciplinary small animal referral hospital and first opinion small animal clinic at Langford and will also be available when needed to support our teams in our farm animal and equine practices. Her skills and experience will be invaluable in helping clients navigate difficult decisions and end of life care whilst supporting our teams to manage the emotional load that comes from their roles in delivering clinical care.

Continue reading:

Langford Vets appoints the UK’s first Veterinary Human Support Worker, strengthening emotional support for clients and teams alongside clinical care.