Out of Hours Service
If your pet becomes ill or has an accident outside of normal working hours, we have an emergency service, available 24 hours a day, staffed by our own vets and nurses.
We feel that it is very important that our clients do not have to travel to another practice or night service, often some distance away, with a sick or injured pet. This is part of the service that we offer to clients who are registered and active* with us.
If you need to speak to a vet outside the usual office hours, please call the usual number 01380 728505.
The call will be directed to a nurse or receptionist, who will then contact the duty vet. We do not use answerphones. If you are concerned please call, as we are happy to talk to you and check your pet over if you wish, rather than leave you to worry overnight.
If you’re worried, please call.
The duty vet is assisted by a duty nurse who cares for the in-patients, and can carry out blood tests and assist with emergency surgery as needed. Out of hours consultations will incur extra charges.
Overnight Care
Should your pet need to be hospitalised with us, rest assured that he or she will be under our care at all times. The nurses taking part in the out of hours rota are all fully-qualified registered RVNs.
Night care
After our premises close at 7pm, the Duty Veterinary Nurse will confer with the Duty Vet about your pet’s needs.
The minimum care will consist of continuous monitoring until 10pm and then night checks at 11pm and 3am and then full care from 7am. More frequent checks, up to continuous attendance, will be given when appropriate. A listening device is used when the nurse is out of the ward.
The duty vet is available on call should the Veterinary Nurse have any cause to be concerned about your pet’s condition. At times other than for scheduled checks, the Veterinary Nurse will be on the premises but may be asleep.
Sundays and Bank Holidays
Your pet will be under the continuous care of our nurses during daytime hours. The duty vet will visit your pet during the morning and agree the treatment plan with the duty nurse, with further attendance as required. You are welcome to visit by prior arrangement.
*Please note:
If you are already registered with another practice, please contact their out-of-hours service. All veterinary practices are obliged to offer emergency cover, although this may be through another practice or service. We will not see clients from other practices, except in the severest emergency e.g. bleeding or major trauma, in which cases a surcharge of £250 will apply towards the costs of maintaining this service.
A typical out-of-hours consultation will cost between £170 and £310 plus any treatment that might be required.