A YORKSHIRE specialist veterinary centre for horses has been given a £1m boost.

The Rainbow Equine Hospital in Malton, North Yorkshire, will use an investment received from York-based group VetPartners to re-vamp and expand its centre.

The expansion will include two new operating theatres, an isolation unit with stabling for six patients as well as a new reception building and offices for vets and administrative staff.

The expansion is expected to take 12 months and will see the recruitment of additional vets, veterinary nurses and yard staff to handle the increase in patients.

Rainbow Equine Hospital Clinical Director Jonathan Anderson said: “We are excited about the work because it will enable us to continue to develop our state-of-the-art equine surgical facility as well as giving us more working space to house horses, vets and administrative staff.

“It will mean an even more comfortable working environment with additional examination rooms and offices and, surgically, we can be more efficient.

“Presently only one surgeon can be in theatre at one time. We have to juggle elective and emergency procedures throughout the day. With the additional theatres, we can crack on with multiple surgeries at one time and be able to offer surgical referrals quickly and efficiently.

“It is an exciting development and we are looking forward to its completion in early 2019.”

The current theatre will be changed into a dedicated ‘standing surgery’ suite, where patients can remain on their feet while undergoing surgical intervention for a range of conditions including kissing spines, distal limb fractures dental and sinus surgery and laparoscopy.