As many practices are now being taken over by corporate shareholders who own multiple sites, Veterinary practice is changing. If you need to choose a practice, here are some tips on finding one that will suit the needs of you and your pet.
- Find out who owns the practice, is it part of a group or a stand-alone independent (often owned by a Vet/Vet Nurse).
- Do they have permanent staff? As Vets we love continuity of care, I see patients that I have known for years, and a good relationship is invaluable for care.
- Are prices openly displayed on websites? We think this should be easily visible on all practice sites.
- Can they perform a range of procedures? –for example in house blood machines and ultrasonography are very useful for emergencies. Experienced surgeons save you having to go elsewhere for more advanced procedures.
- Do the opening hours suit around your working week? Online booking is a very useful tool and means you can book when the practice is closed.
- How far away is any out of hours provider?
If you are thinking of moving practice have a chat to the new practice or pop in and try and get a feel for how it works.
Lucy Travers BVSc CertAVP MRCVS
Highfields Vets