Leading vet charity PDSA welcomed Abena Oppong-Asare, MP for Erith and Thamesmead, to its Thamesmead Pet Hospital recently.
During the visit, Abena met with PDSA Director General, Jan McLoughlin, and the charity’s Chief Operating Officer, Sander Kristel, and saw first-hand the vital veterinary care being provided to pets in the local community.
The visit included a tour of the recently relocated Thamesmead Pet Hospital, as well as a chance to meet with the veterinary teams and hear all about the increasing demands on pet owners across the area.
PDSA Director General, Jan McLoughlin, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Abena to our Thamesmead Pet Hospital and show her the work our dedicated team carries out every day to support pets and owners in the local community.
“We were able to share with Abena more detail about the growing pet health inequality crisis in the UK, driven by the cost-of-living crisis and rising pet ownership costs, known as ‘petflation’.”
In April 2026, the charity published its first-ever Pet Health Inequality Report, which shares the challenges many people across Thamesmead and the wider area are facing.
Last year, PDSA treated over 58,000 pets across London with around 8,000 of these being seen at Thamesmead PDSA Pet Hospital.
The Thamesmead PDSA Pet Hospital recently relocated from Eynsham Drive to Abbey Place due to major redevelopment plans affecting the original site. The new location continues to provide veterinary care and support to pet owners across the local area, with upgraded facilities for patients, clients and staff.
Reflecting on the visit, Abena Oppong-Asare MP said: “I was pleased to visit PDSA’s Thamesmead Pet Hospital and see first-hand the vital work being done to support local pet owners and their much-loved animals across Erith and Thamesmead.
“With the cost of living continuing to put pressure on families, organisations like PDSA play a crucial role in ensuring pets can access the care they need. I’m grateful to the whole team for their dedication and for the essential service they provide to our community.”
Jan McLoughlin added: “We know how important pets are to people’s lives, and we’re proud to continue providing accessible veterinary care from our new Thamesmead location. Visits like this are a valuable opportunity to raise awareness of the vital work PDSA offers to people and their pets.”
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PDSA is the UK’s leading veterinary charity, operating more than 40 Pet Hospitals nationwide. In 2025, the charity treated more than 422,000 pets, including dogs, cats and small animals.
The Thamesmead PDSA Pet Hospital is located at Abbey Place, 125 Felixstowe Road, Abbey Wood, London, SE2 9SG. If you live locally and are on benefits, you might be eligible for PDSA services, visit pdsa.org.uk/eligibility to find out more.
