Using The Parkvets Emergency Service
How to use our Out of Hours Emergency Service by calling 02083008111.
We hope that you never have to contact us out of hours but we know it is very worrying when your pet suddenly becomes ill or has been involved in an accident. Here are a few tips to help you through the process of contacting us and to give you an idea of what will happen if you do.
These are the things to think about before you call the vet:
- Is it really an emergency?
- If your pet truly suffering or is its life in danger?
- If it is or you are genuinely unsure please call us.
Don't just go to your local Parkvets veterinary clinic - it will probably be closed. The emergency service is run from the Parkvets Veterinary Hospital in Sidcup.
If you have not been to the veterinary hospital at Sidcup before make sure you get directions or input the postcode DA14 5HB, number 53-55 into your tom-tom.
Call the Emergency Answering Service first - 020 8300 8111 (or your local Parkvets Clinic number if you know it).
The answering service will ask you a number of questions such as which practice you normally attend, what the problem is and whether you feel it is an emergency. They will ask for a contact phone number for the vet to call you back.
The answering service will alert the duty vet who will return your call after a short period of time. The vet will be able to give you advice on whether or not a visit to the hospital is required and when to come.
Try to avoid using the phone until the vet returns the call. Make sure you know the details about the problem:
- What's wrong?
- When did it start?
- Has it worsened?
If the vet thinks that your pet's condition is urgent but not life threatening you will be advised of the costs and give you the opportunity to decide whether you feel your pet can wait until the normal consultation hours to be seen.
If your pet has a major problem or injury be prepared to make some urgent decisions.
Emergencies to call immediately about are:
- Poisoning - if possible identify the poison and keep any packaging. The vet can then contact the Veterinary Poisons Unit for advice while you are on your way to us.
- Road Traffic Accidents - a severely injured animal can usually be moved safely and quickly. It is always best to speak to the vet for advice if you are unsure. If it is safe to do so have as many helpers as possible to pick up the pet and bring it to the hospital as quickly as possible after contacting the duty vet.
- Bloat or Gastric Dilation - if your dog's stomach swells up then ring the vet so that they can see you as soon as possible to check.
- Persistent vomiting or diarrhoea with or without blood.
- Breathing difficulties
- Any other condition that appears to be making your pet acutely ill.
Late Night Consultations
Parkvets run late night consultations up until 9.30 p.m. If you're getting worried about your pet during the evening ring and have it seen straight away in a normal consultation. Leaving it until the early morning hours means a delay in treatment and significant extra cost.
And Finally
Providing an effective 24-hour emergency service is all part of the veterinary profession's service and no vet would begrudge their time to help an emergency case. At Parkvets you will always be seen by one of our own vets and your pet will be cared for by our own nursing staff 24 hours a day.
Remember
Running such a service is very costly please be prepared to pay for this service. Remember to bring with you some means of payment (we take most credit and debit cards and can transax cheques for any amount). Our terms of business are payment at time of treatment.
While your pet will always receive the best emergency treatment if required we appreciate owners dealing promptly with the costs incurred. Think about what it cost the last time you called a plumber in the early hours!
