https://www.vetsurgeon.org/f/clinical-questions/29194/animal-health-trust-rip I s ee news that the AHT is finally going to have to accept the inevitable and pull the plug then finally close down. The Directors are apparently deciding how to go ahead with the closure any day now! This is a disaster for the profession and foren-USTelligent Community 10https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/224069?ContentTypeID=1Sat, 04 Jul 2020 17:35:40 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:d974a50f-cea1-43eb-81e6-10e672404b15Rob Loxley<p>Very sad. I believe the black hole in the historic pension fund, worsened by the stock market drop was a&nbsp;(the?) major issue. I&#39;m sure DWR will take some of the staff into their new large hospital, and as you say there are a lot of other local referral centres. I believe they are trying to retain the &#39;research&#39; parts.&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/224054?ContentTypeID=1Fri, 03 Jul 2020 20:01:26 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:d94c01e7-1073-4455-8317-b9fa336fcf58David Mills<p>Looking at their accounts, it wasn&#39;t healthy for a good few years it seems, with spending outstripping income and a heavy reliance on donations rather than paid for clinical work (ratio about 10:1), and poor accounting compliance. Suspect covid was the final nail, and there may be questions asked about the lack of reserves. Maybe it was trying to be too many things, location not great with the referral centres close by, and I&#39;m never really sure what they stood for in all honesty. They were quite pricey for referrals when the smart practice would have been to increase volume and reduce prices. But, this is speculation on my part.&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/224052?ContentTypeID=1Fri, 03 Jul 2020 18:51:13 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:f1a02278-ae51-4f61-b144-46ff3cfb155avetbl.locum<p>Sad</p> <p>Perhaps RCVS could fund it ?</p> <p>Rgds</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>https://www.vetsurgeon.org/thread/224046?ContentTypeID=1Fri, 03 Jul 2020 15:47:42 GMT146601cc-3922-4be7-9974-7e1d4e45a66b:32563215-772b-424a-95ef-7968afc8d812Bob Russell<p>Much of the referral work for companion animals has been taken over by the multitude of commercial referral centres. Charity donations have reduced, probably disastrously with covid and lockdown.</p> <p>It was a fantastic place and offered facilities we could only dream about in its day!</p> <p>It was a shock and a surprise to hear things had become so bad. Perhaps a bit more publicity, earlier might have helped.&nbsp;</p> <p>A great shame and a big loss. I doubt it will be the only casualty though!&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>