Amidst the rolling hills and picturesque landscapes of Cornwall, where tradition intertwines with modern innovation, a new chapter in veterinary care is unfolding. The journey alongside the team at Beacon VetCare Summercourt has been nothing short of inspiring, filled with passion, purpose, and promise...

With a combined 40 years of advanced veterinary practice experience, Colin and Lizzy Whiting envisioned more than a facility for exceptional animal care; they sought to create a beacon for the Cornish community. A practice that would not only deliver exceptional care, but also become an integral part of the local community by supporting local businesses and fostering a nurturing, collaborative environment. We were honoured to be part of their journey.

The dedicated team at Beacon VetCare Summercourt

The first major milestone was finding an accessible site that could serve as both a hub for their ambitious practice and a vital resource for thousands of local pet owners. This was no easy task; the pair evaluated over 20 locations before choosing the perfect site. Sitting just off the A30, near an intersection which takes you towards Newquay in one direction and St Austell in the other, along the Beacon Road, they found the perfect place for their practice. 

The centrally positioned location in the region made the two-storey former carpet showroom the ideal site for emergency care and referrals, with fantastic direct transport links. They would finally be able to realise their shared dream of seeing referrals in-house. Colin’s extensive experience as a surgical referral vet over the last few decades proved invaluable throughout this process, previously having worked locally at a referral centre, then offering vital peripatetic surgical services to practices across Cornwall. Drawing upon these experiences gave Colin a clear understanding of the workflows, layouts, and the functionality required for an effective emergency practice. Colin got into the habit of using his own paces to measure out the dimensions of equipment or important clinical spaces in practices, using his footsteps to get a precise sense of what would work within the available footprint. The same step counting process was used when they first moved into the premises at Summercourt to determine the position of each station and to best understand the optimal workflow by minimising the travel distances between each of the rooms. From the outset, the Whitings’ approach was holistic and community focused. 

The values that they held dearest centred around being a family run independent practice that was community-led, offering a comprehensive set of advanced surgical services on a 24-hour basis. They wanted a practice that went beyond treating animals, aiming to integrate within the community both economically and socially. The complexity of their project meant external support was required, and finding the right partners to realise the potential of their project was crucial. Our paths crossed at the London Vet Show, where Colin and Lizzy had set out to find a suitable equipment provider with experience of laying out a practice. Meeting Jo Jago at the Burtons exhibition stand, they found a trained RVN with over twenty years of veterinary experience and the Territory Manager for the South-West. Her background working in veterinary practices and currently working as a technical salesperson of veterinary equipment made her the ideal partner for their project. Her expertise in veterinary workflows and equipment design could help steer things in the right direction.

Jo Jago at Summercourt

After a few home visits, with meetings in the kitchen accompanied by several cups of strong coffee, the three were able to collaborate and carefully draw up the final equipment plans for each of the rooms. The devil was in the detail from day one. A seaside themed reception and waiting area with sky blue walls and sand coloured resin floors welcome you as you walk through the doors into vaulted ceilings and ample space. First impressions were important, as was species seperation, with feline patients catered for in a separate, gated, waiting area out of sight of the main waiting room and away from their canine counterparts. 

Compliance with industry standards and futureproofing were considered at every step, with a focus on achieving the highest accreditations. Incorporating an integral set of referral and emergency services throughout the ground floor of the building required considerable foresight. A centralised preparation area acted as the hub of the practice, with off-shoots to the other nearby clinical rooms. The practice boasts six consultation rooms with front and rear exits, three theatres, and separate sterilisation and laundry areas.

Specialist rooms for digital radiography, CT and Dental were all situated near to the central preparation room. A comprehensive quote pack was drawn up, outlining the state-of-the-art equipment for each room along with Burtons ongoing support and maintenance services. Demonstration units were provided for the couple to test, to allow them to evaluate and test various equipment and be confident in their purchasing decisions. This also enabled them to verify which options fitted the measurements from their architectural plans and provided by their local building contractors. They were also provided with rendered images and 3D plans, offering a clear visual representation of how the selected equipment would be integrated within their space. Ultimately, flexibility and manoeuvrability needed to be taken into consideration. Some of the factors that were debated were height adjustable preparation and operation tables that were mobile and could be taken from room to room. These tables needed to be able to double up for the different procedures wherever possible. Ceiling lights proved to be the best choice to support clinical procedures when natural light was insufficient. Wall mounted brackets for anaesthesia machines were placed in each clinical room to eradicate floor-standing trip hazards, with two mounted at the hub of the practice, in the preparation room. Picking the right equipment was key. 

Summercourt, as a general and referral practice, provides round-the-clock emergency coverage, offering essential care to animals within the community. The purchase of multiple pieces of specialised equipment not only made practice life easier but also ensued the reliability and durability needed to deliver 24/7 care. Colin and Lizzy had a field day choosing from the equipment listings in the Burtons Catalogue. During their time as peripatetic practitioners, Colin and Lizzy had the opportunity to test a wide range of equipment, from lighting, tables, and drip pumps to the latest developments in digital radiography and flat panels drip pumps to the latest evelopments in digital radiography and associated flat panel monitors. This experience allowed them to make informed decisions about which equipment would withstand such regular use by Colin, Lizzy and their team. For regularly used items, such as endoscopy units and clinical tables, they invested in multiple high-quality products to ensure the practice was well-equipped with the best tools for the job. The more durable and practical each piece of equipment was, the letter the long-term investment seemed to be for the couple. Believing that well-cared-for staff deliver the best patient care, the Whiting’s prioritised comfortable staff accommodation, with staff rooms, a kitchen, bedrooms, and amenities such as showers incorporated into the practice’s design. 

The savings made in other areas helped facilitate the inclusion of these purpose-built spaces that offered a sanctuary to their hardworking staff members. The couple wanted to incorporate specialist equipment, such as a CT scanner, to provide a complete diagnostic service, and to set them apart as one of the best equipped practices in the area. It was important that the adjacent control room and surrounding area was well equipped and spacious, something that we carefully accommodated to by installing wall mounted anaesthesia and piped gas. Understanding budget constraints was imperative to help facilitate the inclusion of this specialised equipment. By purchasing reconditioned units for non-clinical areas, for the staff amenities and animal housing, the team were able to allocate funds towards important equipment like the CT scanner and other essential areas. Regular visits and daily contact lead to jokes inside the practice that Jo was now on the books. Her availability helped to ensure that every aspect of the project was meticulously planned and executed seamlessly. From room layout to equipment placement, every decision was made with efficiency and safety in mind. With the ground floor layout finalised; attention turned to the first-floor facilities. 

Accessibility and the inclusion of the community was the razor-sharp focus of the upper floor areas. A lift was a non-negotiable for Colin, who wanted to ensure the educational opportunities for school children and training professionals were accessible to all. The practice had dedicated space for educational talks, workshops on animal health, and veterinary training for students in the process of EMS training, ensuring that Summercourt didn’t just serve as a place of treatment, but as a hub for learning, education, and community engagement. One of the important decisions that had to be made involved whether to install piped gas for anaesthesia and other procedures. Early in the discussion, it was helpful to consider the potential benefits of piped gas, especially given the size of their practice, as it could lead to significant savings and a quicker return on investment. As with any piped gas solution, there were several factors to evaluate, such as whether to use an oxygen concentrator or air compressors, and if so, which sizes would be most appropriate. By deciding to go with oxygen concentrators, the couple no longer needed to take regular deliveries of cylinders and calculated that it would save them money in the long run. 

The larger capacity cylinders could be stored in the plant room, as a backup solution, with the installed lift helping to move the cumbersome cylinders from A to B. Eradicating the need for regular deliveries of the smaller cylinders would also enhance safety for staff by significantly reducing the need to move heavy cylinders from room to room. The piped gas solution has direct outlets in each key clinical area within the practice. 

Ultimately, after considering the estimated usage, the cost savings associated with piped gas made it the favourable option. The potential benefits and savings for the practice were significant and outweighed the initial cost considerations. Open to the public since January 2024, Summercourt is well-prepared to achieve ICC Gold Friendly Cat Status for feline patients. With a fast-growing team of over 40 local professionals, this locally owned independent practice is one of the largest veterinary facilities in the South-West of England. 

These fantastic facilities oversee everything from routine boosters to emergency procedures, with a full clinical team permanently on-site. The partnership between the Whiting’s and Burtons has flourished beyond the initial build. 

A year after the initial conversation, and as Summercourt continues to grow and evolve, the Whitings' still revert to Jo for advice. Most recently, the pair added a full endoscopy suite to their practice, communicating directly with Jo, who’s valued for her expert product advice on a broad range of equipment, and they are now in discussions with her about laparoscopy kit.The success of the Beacon VetCare Summercourt practice is a testament to the power of collaboration, community integration, and a shared vision—a partnership born from a single conversation on the Burtons Stand at London Vet Show.