Pets are often treated as members of the family and owners rightly want to be sure they receive excellent medical treatment. Horse owners and farmers also want to ensure their animals are receiving the best possible veterinary care. Standards in veterinary practice are generally high but a new scheme can help owners find a practice that has been accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

Highcliff Veterinary Practice has been approved as part of the scheme following a series of inspections. The practice, which has surgeries in Ipswich, Hadleigh and Brantham passed a series of external inspections by a RCVS Inspector to receive the accreditation.

Highcliff Partner, Richard Pettit MRCVS said "these inspections are the veterinary equivalent of an OFSTED report so we are really pleased with our achievement. It has been worthwhile for all of us to know that we are practising well and offering a good service to our clients."

The surgeries in Hadleigh and at Ellenbrook Green in Ipswich have been awarded the RCVS Core Standards, whilst Brantham and Cliff Lane in Ipswich have been accredited as RCVS General Practices for small animals, enabling them to have access to laboratories for diagnostic testing, train staff and have a system for monitoring the outcome of treatments. The surgery at Hadleigh will become an RCVS General Practice following major refurbishments planned for 2007.