As far as I know there is no true purpose built wildlife hospital (ie with all the facilities such as operating suites, x-ray facilites, laboratories specialised wards and isolation facilities catering for all species, open 24 hours a day) in Wales and I would like to remedy this. If we can create a large umbrella organisation specialising in wildlife in Wales we might also attract more funding.
However as a rehabilitator I am very busy looking after hedgehogs, giving talks, and raising funds for the Hedgehog Helpline which is a registered charity.
If you have any spare time and can help me with for example a business plan etc let me know. I can be reached on E-Mail hedgehg@dircon.co.uk
I believe that if carers pool their knowledge and have a modern wildlife hospital with diagnostic and surgical facilities etc we can give better care to the wildlife patients and offer a better chance for their eventual return to the wild.
I also believe that by having a main hospital and facilities we should be able to reduce the problems that occur when a rehabilitator dies or cannot cope with the sheer volume of casualties, moves away or just gives up their work. By reducing the workload and financial burdens placed on rehabilitators (and their families) we may be able to keep them from giving up their work and retain their expertise.
Unfortunately any such scheme will cost a considerable amount of money and raising that money is probably beyond the scope of an individual. Co-operation between fund raisers and rehabilitators is probably the only way such a scheme can go forward. This scheme should benefit wildlife and rehabilitators in Wales and the knowledge gained can be passed to other rehabilitators in the UK and abroad.
Informal contact
Feasibility study group to look at:
formation of charity
decide priorities - not all the ideas can be implemented at once it will take many years for all the facilities to be built. Priorities would be based on numbers of particular casualties and where funding comes from eg if a hedgehog unit or badger group donated a significant amount of money this should be taken into account when allocating those funds. My initial thoughts are to concentrate on South/Mid Wales and then North Wales, however some sort of survey of where the majority of wildlife casualties come from may amend this.
Suggested format:
A main hospital
A wildlife hospital with all the necessary equipment, staff and other facilities.
Several smaller specialist hospitals.
These will specialise in particular species but will also have limited space for other species.
Smaller Units
These are already in place ie all the small rehabilitation units run by individuals throughout Wales.
The main hospital.
This is to be strictly for wildlife and their rehabilitation. [Although there is no reason why if there is a large enough site (a farm with a large acreage) other animals (domestic/farm) could also be catered for. The running of these other units/facilities to be carried out by those already involved with their care.]
Located perhaps in or near Cardiff/Newport - easy road/transport access and a large population nearby from which staff and volunteers can be recruited.
The facility would be at least up to the standard that the BVA requires ie for a veterinary surgery to be called a hospital. It would be fully equipped with nursing, operating, x-ray, post mortem, laboratory, convalescing, pre-release pens, flight pens, overwintering areas (hedgehog and migrant bird), storage areas, kitchen, library, incineration/waste disposal facilities. Accommodation for full time and on call staff would also be needed.
A communication centre with admin facilities, switchboard, computer equipment, etc
Suitable vehicles for transporting casualties (of all sizes) between units and for collecting casualties (with emergency/first aid facilities). Garaging facilities for those vehicles - with inspection pit and equipment for routine maintenance etc. Perhaps a mobile operating theatre and x-ray facility (to reduce the need to transport some casualties). Boat and trailer for "water rescues".
Fund raising facilities and storage area (could include greenhouses, woodwork areas). It may be possible to link with other charities to provide work experience in woodwork, gardening etc for people with learning disabilities.
An education block - for the teaching of rehabilitators and the education of youngsters and the general public.
Accommodation block for staff, volunteers, and anyone attending courses.
Some of the above facilities could be offered to raise money for the charity eg laboratory tests for veterinary surgeons, cremation of pets with scattering of ashes to the general public, conference facilities, B&B.
The remaining grounds to be planted with native species of plants, trees shrubs to provide food and bedding for some of the in-patients as well as the local wildlife. Perhaps other types of food could also be produced eg mealworms, earthworms, fruit, nuts and even keeping goats (for their milk) or perhaps fish (as food for birds) could be considered.
Where possible environmentally friendly techniques would be used in its construction, maintenance, energy production (perhaps generating its own power, hot water etc), waste disposal/recycling and in its general running.
The smaller specialist hospitals.
These could include facilities for perhaps marine wildlife (maybe something can be worked in with one already in existence). Each smaller hospital would also have facilities for other wildlife but on a much smaller scale than the main hospital.
Other types of specialties to be decided upon; although, a hospital in or near Dolgellau and one around the Newquay area, together with the main hospital near Cardiff would mean there is a wildlife hospital within 60 miles of most of the population of Wales. Other specialties might include a Birds of Prey unit, a Waterfowl unit, an alternative therapy unit.
Smaller units.
These are already in place although more can be recruited.
It is not the intention to make redundant any of the smaller units in Wales that look after wildlife. My idea is that each week (perhaps twice a week) an ambulance would visit each small unit (or one designated in a particular area) and collect any wildlife which needs that little bit more specialised attention or surgery than can be given by that particular unit. If the unit is getting too many patients or they want a holiday etc this can be catered for. Single orphans could also be collected and placed with others of the same species to reduce imprinting and stress. Some of the wildlife removed can later be returned so they can be released near to where they were found (if appropriate). Equipment, food, items for fund raising can also be ordered by the units (subject to approval) and delivered on the weekly run.
By having these smaller units most people finding a casualty would have a facility near them.
Members of the public ringing the main hospital would be directed to their nearest unit. The units would only be recommended if the "owners" had attended a basic (no charge) course run by the Charity although those who had not attended a course could still use the facilities the same as anyone else.
Some sort of financial system would need to be organised with the units eg when they receive a donation particularly if they are not a registered charity. We would need to ensure any finances are properly recorded and meet any legal requirements. Perhaps the smaller units can be given the option of becoming part of the charity - in which case all or a proportion of the monies given to them are passed to the charity and the charity, where possible and necessary, provides food, equipment etc or the unit could work separately in which case food, equipment etc could be bought by way of a donation (to match the cost incurred by the charity). There would be no charge to any unit for treatment, diagnostic costs etc incurred by a patient in the main hospital nor for any tests undertaken on samples sent from the units. This is something that will require careful thought and discussion before implementation.
Units could be asked to help with some fund raising depending on their work load. Equipment for giving illustrated talks could also be made available.
The main hospital would co-ordinate with other wildlife organisations when any special release requirements for particular species is necessary eg badgers, otters, territorial birds and with any Government Dept if licences are required.
Different telephone lines could be dedicated to the general public; rehabilitators needing advice or making collection arrangements; and veterinary surgeons needing advice. Experience from other organisations shows there are often too few telephone lines and people have great difficulty getting through.
The option to be a trustee would be given to the founders and to those rehabilitators who say took in a certain level of wildlife eg over 200 hedgehogs a year or 20 seals a year or 200 birds (some sort of levels would be needed so not too many people could be trustees and make the running over complicated and burdensome). The same could be applied to the fund raisers eg those groups which raise over a certain amount a year or those which raise three times that amount can have 2 trustees which are elected by that group. Finally any professional eg vet or experts in other fields who are actively involved in or needed by the charity could also become trustees.