Hammersmith's Blue Cross  Hospital Wins Vet Wellbeing Award

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Charity's local team 'thrilled' to be named Best Small Practice

The team from Hammersmith Blue Cross with Clare Balding

The Blue Cross animal hospital in Hammersmith has named Best Small Practice at the 2019 Vet Wellbeing Awards.

The Hammersmith team were presented with their awards by TV's Clare Balding at a ceremony held on Friday 24 January.

The awards, which celebrate and highlight the significance of wellbeing in UK vet practices were created by the Society of Practising Vets (SPVS) in partnership with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Mind Matters Initiative.

The team at the Hammersmith Hospital, in Argyle Place close to King Street, work around the clock to make sure that it’s not just pets who are well looked after, but all the humans too. Some of the wellbeing initiatives implemented by the charity’s smallest hospital include ‘monthly reflective rounds’, which is a safe space to talk about the emotional challenges of the role, regular sharing lunches and ‘Time to Talk’ days.

They also include regular events like monthly pay-day dinner/drinks and activities outside and inside of work. Around the hospital, mental health first aiders can be identified by green ribbon badges. The team are dedicated to creating a happy and safe environment, and so have wellbeing champions and have training in courageous conversations.

Nadine Lock, Chief Veterinary Surgeon at Blue Cross Hammersmith, said: “I am thrilled that in this time of increasing mental health awareness we have been recognised by our veterinary colleagues. It is a real honour to win the Small Practice award and I hope it will encourage others to look at the ways we can create the most supportive working environments possible.”

The hospital also hosts mental health awareness week activities and managers have regular sessions with a coach trained in psychology. There are some really easy but effective things the Hammersmith team do to keep spirits up in what is a notoriously difficult job – things like having a team WhatsApp group for sharing lots of thanks and encouragement at the end of a busy day and creating an end of the day wellbeing checklist.

Nadine adds: “The team has demonstrated that their compassion goes beyond that for animals, extending this to each other and finding ways to offer support.”

Blue Cross is a charity and receives no government funding so relies on the generous support of animal lovers to continue helping pets in need.

The Blue Cross animal hospital in Hammersmith is the smallest of the three hospitals in London. The hospital underwent major alterations in the 1970s and, more recently, a refurbishment of the surgical suite.

The hospital undertakes over 6,000 consultations every year.

You can find out more about the Blue Cross Hammersmith here and about the work of the Blue Cross here.

February 7, 2020