BVC is run independently with people and their pets in mind. There’s no corporate drive. Decisions are fair and honest and made by the very people delivering the care. No shareholders to pay, no CEO’s to answer to, we are people, not numbers.
We care about what we do and love our profession. Our director is a vet, who has extensive experience in the industry and wants to lead by example.
Everyone working at BVC has a passion for the patients and their guardians. We aim to provide the highest level of tailored and continuous care with no blanket approaches. No two patients are the same.
Your welcome should feel warm and inviting, never clinical.
It sounds obvious but a practice owned by a partnership or single vet is likely to set its own policies and choose its own dedicated products. The staff in the practice can work together to progress the team, who are all on site. Access to the decision maker(s) means issues can be resolved quickly and at BVC we have a moral injury log where things that rub up against our moral compass can be openly discussed without judgement so we are all working as close to our comfort zone as possible.
Corporate practices do not need to be owned by a vet and are generally run by remote board members who control executive management, budgets and targets. However, the word ‘independent' appears in some corporate names and so can be a confusing term.
How a practice is run is ultimately down to the owners, whether independent or corporate, and the benefit of being independent is that we are autonomous, self-governing and always trying to improve as individuals. Your constructive feedback is always welcome so we can tailor our services to you, the guardians of our wonderful patients.
We know vet visits can be stressful, so at Brighton Veterinary Clinic we’ve created a calm, welcoming space where you and your pet can feel at ease.
Our team is trained in gentle, low-stress handling, with separate waiting areas for cats and dogs and a calm atmosphere. We also take the time to understand both your pet’s needs and your circumstances, offering tailored advice and treatment plans that truly work for you.
Our mission is to provide friendly and personal veterinary care that considers One Health at everything we do. That is, the effect of our actions on humans (owners, staff, children), animals (pets) and the environment (songbirds, rivers, soil..) including; the use of antibiotics, parasiticides, general anaesthetic gases, Xrays, disposables etc.
Being mindful of the shared bacteria (commensals) within a family unit, the effect of medications of other pets (e.g. exotics) and family members, and the influence on the environment around us on which we all depend.
While you and your pet(s) are our first priority, we want our practice to make a genuinely positive impact in our community and the wider world. Every step of the way we are considering the use of medication, source of products and composition of products.
e.g. We use the crematorium at Peaceways, a local business run by two dedicated and caring individuals Jeff and Sara. The location is surrounded by songbird filled woodlands and rose gardens tended by volunteers. Peaceways is always open for you to wander through the landscape and think of your beloved pets.
Recycling goes beyond cardboard and glass, we recycle tablet packets (we take your back too), we use syringes made from recycled plastic.
You will find recycling, and surgical waste bins in every room with general waste making up the smallest bin.
We are a progressive and ethical veterinary practice caring for the pets and wildlife of the area.
e.g. in years gone by vets used to vaccinate all pets every year with 'everything' (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus “DHP” and leptospirosis). Evidence has since shown that the DHP part, lasts 3 years and only needs be given that frequently. Preventatives for parasites can be considered in a similar way, targeting what is needed and when, for a more bespoke annual scheme. We will discuss this at your annual health check, and if on the Proactive Health Plan review it at your 6 month health check. This approach moves beyond the one-size-fits-all model, acknowledging that individual situations may require a different approach to provide the best outcome.
At BVC we have invested substantially in the things that affect our patients as our priority.
Our head nurse Claire has her Certificate in Mobility Nursing and runs the arthritis / mobility clinics. We have a ‘stance analyser’ to help monitor progress for our elderly and post operative patients, under her excellent care.
Another focus is the kennelling we have chosen. We feel that as our patients spend the majority of their hospitalised time there, we want them to be as comfortable as possible.
Our dog ward is acoustic insulated and each kennel has individual light and temperature control. We can see into the kennel room without entering, and no patient can see another when in their kennel. Separate cat and dog wards and an additional ward for prey species (e.g. rabbits) ensures minimal stress related to smells and sounds.
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Recent research supports our intuition that this is so important.
Sleep plays a vital role in normal bodily function and healing, with alterations in sleep potentially affecting patient convalescence in the hospital setting.
The factors associated with disturbed sleep may be either related to individual pain, anxiety, or the environmental such as noise, temperature and light. This study examined 96 dogs and 16 cats over a four-week period and found veterinary patients experience sleep disturbances similar to human patients.
Hospitalised dogs and cats experience sleep disturbances similar to those reported in human intensive-care-unit patients. Ambient noise and light are significant factors contributing to sleep disruption in cats (especially) and dogs hospitalised in a veterinary hospital. The findings of this study support implementing efforts to promote patient sleep through environmental modifications in the veterinary intensive care setting.
Coming soon
Headed by Bronwen Eastwood, a vet who has worked in Brighton for 30 years, BVC has a cherry-picked team of the best in the business!
I graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in London before settling in Brighton in the 1990s. Since then, I’ve worked in small animal practice across the region, with a few exciting detours overseas.
I spent two years in Egypt establishing a clinic for the Sinai Wildlife Project, where I worked with migrating white storks, camels and other wildlife. Later, I moved to Belize for four years, gaining my license to practise and collaborating on conservation projects involving endangered manatees.
My passion for wildlife and the environment has always shaped my approach to veterinary medicine. I believe in honest, thoughtful, evidence-based care and in offering a thorough and fair service to both my patients and their carers.
Opening my own independent practice in Brighton has been a long-standing dream, and I’m thrilled to finally be able to bring it to life. I’m enjoying every minute of it!
Guilty pleasure: A Brighton Gin and tonic.
Hello I’m Claire and I am the Head Nurse at BVC. I have been working as a veterinary nurse for 20 years and have a particular interest in arthritis management and care. I have two lovely dogs myself who keep me busy in my spare time!
Hello! I’m Megan, a receptionist at BVC. I’ve worked in the veterinary care industry for three years and truly enjoy meeting our wonderful clients and their furry companions. I’m the proud owner of two adorable cats and am deeply passionate about providing excellent patient care. In my spare time I enjoy taking walks and going to the gym
Hello I’m India and I work as a receptionist here at BVC. I have a degree in International relations and am currently taking a gap year before doing my Masters. I have always had a passion for working with animals and had 12 pets at one point! I have previously cared for farm animals and plan to expand my knowledge by travelling to Sri Lanka to do turtle conservation.