Out Of Hours Service

Where are we now...

Our growth since the launch of our first clinic in Glasgow in 2001 has been rapid and we now have 44 clinics in the UK. Our fast growth was supported by a demand from veterinary professionals across the UK who saw that the solution in Glasgow worked for both clients and the profession and wanted access to a similar service themselves.

How are clinics staffed...

Each clinic is staffed by qualified Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Nurses who are passionate about working in 'out of hours' (OOH) and Emergency and Critical Care (ECC). The local clinic is managed by a Senior Veterinary Surgeon and Senior Veterinary Nurse who, in line with the overall company direction, have the autonomy to tailor their local service to meet the local needs.

There is always a Veterinary Surgeon and Veterinary Nurse onsite during our opening hours and, in most clinics, they are supported by a Receptionist. This is the very minimum staffing level. During busier times there may be additional staff.

...and how do they operate?

For full details on our service, read this doc...

 

• Our clinics open at either 6.00pm or 7.00pm in the evening (you can find out local variations by searching in the "Find your local clinic" tab) through to 8.00am or 8.30am the following morning. All clinics open at 12 noon on Saturdays and operate continuously over the weekend until a Monday morning
• At the time our clinic opens, Member Practices can then switch over their phones to us (usually this is by leaving an answering machine message giving their clients our contact number).
• During our opening hours, any calls to the clinic are triaged by our staff onsite and if required, clients will be asked to come down to us for treatment. Very occasionally a house visit may be necessary, but in nearly all situations the best possible care for your pet is available at the Vets Now clinic. Bringing your pet to us will give us immediate access to the range of drugs and equipment we will need to begin treatment. The Vets Now staff will be able to advise on the safe transport of your pet to the clinic. 
• When clients come to the clinic for treatment, our Vet will undertake an initial examination and decide on the best form of treatment. We don't do non-urgent work that should be carried out by our Member Practice the following day but we do provide a comprehensive service.
• For any animal treated, a full set of clinical notes will be faxed or emailed (your choice) to you the next day so you can continue the treatment/follow up with your client.