The RSPCA plans to sell its “ageing” Finsbury Park Animal Hospital, which it said needs £1m of investment, as it aims to make more effective use of resources.
Yesterday, the charity announced plans to create a hub of animal welfare excellence by moving its specialist veterinary service from the London hospital to the site of the nearby Southridge Animal Centre.
The proposal forms part of the charity’s strategy “to have a bigger impact for animals suffering cruelty and neglect”, it said.
A spokesperson for the RSPCA told Civil Society there are currently 35 members of staff based at Finsbury Park Animal Hospital.
“We’ve consulted with the team and union in order to support and retain as many staff as possible by offering all a transfer to the new site,” they said.
“However, we understand due to location and family commitments, that some won’t be able to move and we’ll be seeking alternative roles or providing enhanced redundancy packages to them upon closure in the spring/summer of 2027.”
They added that there are 23 members of staff at Southridge Animal Centre and around 70 volunteers, “but none of these roles will be impacted by the move”.
The RSPCA said it intends to use the proceeds of the sale of its “ageing north London site” to cover the costs of the new specialist veterinary provision.
Reduced travel times and improved accessibility
At the moment, around half of the animals brought into Finsbury Park Animal Hospital are from the charity’s frontline teams based outside of London.
The RSPCA said providing specialist veterinary services at its Southridge site “is likely to reduce travel times and improve accessibility”.
“Frontline officers currently use around 90 vets in the London area to provide urgent care,” it said.
“There’s ongoing work to further develop these important relationships and the charity is also exploring other ways to support the inspectors in London working together with our branch network and partner vets.
“It’s hoped new ways of working will help animals be seen more quickly, welfare issues resolved sooner, and reduce the need for some animals to travel at all.”
‘We’ll save millions of pounds in the next few years’
Charlotte Beckett, interim chief veterinary officer and former director at Finsbury Park, said: “Having a modern and purpose-built vet facility on the site of an animal centre brings benefits to animals and also for our skilled and dedicated team who have been doing incredible work in an outdated building.
“Finsbury Park Animal Hospital needs £1m of investment.
“By selling the current building and reinvesting the money into our Southridge centre, we’ll create a hub of animal welfare excellence, giving the highly vulnerable animals in our centre direct access to specialist veterinary care, reducing travelling and giving them the best chance of recovery.”
Beckett said modernising the RSPCA’s facilities means “a better use of our supporters’ donations as we’ll have lower running costs, saving millions of pounds in the next few years alone”.
“Our strategy focuses on having the biggest impact for animals most in need including through our specialist veterinary work.
“Along with this centre of excellence at Southridge, we’ve also invested in improvements at our Greater Manchester Animal Hospital and we’re exploring plans for a new site in the north of England.
“All these measures give animals the best care, in a modern, financially and environmentally sustainable way.”
