More helping hands for humans at Paragon

A £5m vet centre which is setting the standard for animal care is reinforcing its commitment to looking after humans, too, with a pledge to provide first aid training to every member of staff.

Paragon Veterinary Referrals, in Wakefield, is making it mandatory for all staff to complete first aid training and already 50 per cent of the 70-strong team have completed it.

As part of the belt-and-braces approach, Paragon is also providing training in manual handling, health and safety and fire safety.

It’s not the first commitment the practice has made to looking after humans as well as animals – it recently purchased an automated external defibrillator (AED) to provide emergency help to anyone suffering from cardiac arrest.

Debra Scuffham, referral hospital manager at Paragon, said: “The idea has been well received by everyone and our aim is to keep it going as the business continues to grow.

“That way, it adds even more value to Paragon by having a growing number of staff who are all first aid trained.

“Most companies have one or two first aiders, which is great but by having everyone involved there is always a first aid trained person on hand to act immediately. We’re hoping to put this culture in place, for all the right reasons.”

Paragon, which is part of the Linnaeus Group, plans to employ up to 80 staff at the site to provide dedicated treatment in ophthalmology, orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery, cardiology, neurology, medicine and dermatology. 

The centre is part of Dewsbury-based Calder Vets, which has 13 first opinion practices across Yorkshire.