Day time appointments deemed emergency?

[Poingsettia]

Does this seem normal? My dog seems to have an ailment, causing him to be dizzy and not himself. When I managed to get through to our only local vet, they said all appointments were gone. However if I deemed it urgent they would try to fit him in, but it will be at the emergency rate of £100. During normal hours.

I opted to take the only appointment left for tomorrow, and will monitor him today.

 

[Lurfy]

I had a horse emergency daytime appointment with the vet a couple of months ago. I was charged an emergency rate even though it was business hours. They would have had to reshuffle other appointments already lined up to fit my horse in, so fair enough. I was extremely glad they could see me so quickly so didn't think twice about the extra fee.
I hope your dog is ok and recovers soon xx

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I think it is pretty normal I think with any vet if you ring and want a vet that day it's classed as an emergency regardless of the time of day.

 

[Clodagh]

Blimey I’d be livid. Mine have always got me in same day with no surcharge. I am, sadly, a very good and regular customer though.

 

[Highmileagecob]

It does smack of emotional blackmail, but seems to be normal. I agree it appears unfair.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I had to ring for an immediate appointment one morning when the dogs had eaten most of the grapes in my veg box delivery. Nobody said anything about extra cost and tbh, I thought the whole charge was quite reasonable. From memory, it cost about £300 for 3 Labs to be examined, given emetic injections, observed for an hour and discharged with charcoal.

 

[rara007]

For busier practices yes. If they’re already fully booked someone’s finishing late or missing lunch to accommodate. They save appointments for on the day bookings but once they’re full that’s the staff at capacity.

 

[SilverLinings]

I have always been charged the usual appointment price for a daytime appt whether it's been an emergency or not (several different practices, dogs, cats, birds, small pets and horses). This has been the case even if by the time the animal was seen by the vet it was after 5pm (usually horse emergencies where the vet came after their last booked appt). I wonder if this is a new thing being introduced by the conglomerates?

I would have thought it will just mean they end up seeing more animals at unsociable hours as many owners won't make an effort to get them seen before 5pm (if they aren't sure how much of an emergency it is at that point), they will just leave it until the animal is worse and needs attention urgently.

 

[rextherobber]

My small animal practise saves a few emergency appointments each day, they don't cost more, and they would never refuse to see your animal for an emergency, but can't remember if that would cost more

 

[Poingsettia]

I feel like it should be like the GP - a few emergency slots kept open. He is quiet so will monitor him.

 

[rara007]

You’re more than within your rights to call around and see if any the other local practices have on the day slots available.

 

[ihatework]

I think it’s perfectly fair if they are already at maximum capacity and are then chopping appointments around and having to work overtime.

If you felt it were a genuine emergency then I’m sure the dog would have been rushed in and the cost not questioned.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

My vet clinic always leave a few slots open for urgent, same day appointments, but usually to get one of those slots, you need to call when they open, or not long after that, and have a bit of luck. If they've said that they can squeeze me/my pet in between the other appointments if I can wait for as long as that takes, because some of the other things they have booked in that day isn't too complicated, and gives them a bit of room time wise, they've only charged me their ordinary fee.

{{{{{{Vibes}}}}}} to your dog.

 

[Landcruiser]

I feel like it should be like the GP - a few emergency slots kept open. He is quiet so will monitor him.

It is at most/all vets. But once those are all filled, they're at capacity. Some days the book on day slots are also filled by animals seen the previous evening which HAVE to be booked in the following day for rechecks/to be admitted- and there are no vet appointments left EXCEPT the book on days. We DO try to cancel/reschedule routine appointments that are likely to be impacted by a vet suddenly being occupied with a non scheduled emergency such as a walk in or a triage resulting in "Come straight in!". Most people are accommodating but you would be amazed at the flak we sometimes get when people turn up for boosters etc and have long unexpected waits because it was too late to get hold of them to reschedule.

That said, at our (corporate) small animal practice, we don't charge extra for any emergency unless it goes out of hours.

 

[Poingsettia]

You’re more than within your rights to call around and see if any the other local practices have on the day slots available.

Sadly nothing else nearby.

 

[Poingsettia]

I think it’s perfectly fair if they are already at maximum capacity and are then chopping appointments around and having to work overtime.

If you felt it were a genuine emergency then I’m sure the dog would have been rushed in and the cost not questioned.

Quite.

 

[misst]

Blimey I’d be livid. Mine have always got me in same day with no surcharge. I am, sadly, a very good and regular customer though.

Same here. Mine ripped a dewclaw on a Saturday morning. They saw him immediately squeezed in just as they were closing at 1pm. Normal charge nothing extra.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I was about to say, I'd never heard of this before and we've always been fit in but then what rara says makes perfect sense to me.

For busier practices yes. If they’re already fully booked someone’s finishing late or missing lunch to accommodate. They save appointments for on the day bookings but once they’re full that’s the staff at capacity.

 

[satinbaze]

To be very honest the time it has been a true emergency (GDV) I just phoned the vets and said dog is bloating I’m on my way, no excess charge unless it really was out of hours. Unfortunately Lily was a regular bloater even though she had a gastropexy. My vets were always very accommodating for this true emergency

 

[AmyMay]

I’ve only had one emergency visit for Daisy, and was charged the same. However I can see that it could be an issue as outlined above. The cost to me would have been irrelevant.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve done a few emergency visits. I’m not aware I’ve ever been charged differently from a normal visit, it’s not been mentioned and I’ve never gawped at the price.
Obviously out of hours emergency I’ve paid extra (lots extra) for.

 

[meleeka]

I’d say my corporate vets are very profit driven, but I’ve never been charged extra for an urgent appointment, even when I needed them seeing immediately. Obviously out of hours is many £££ more.

 

[Jenko109]

I've not been charged extra either.

I would feel a bit uneasy about it, but of course would not stop me going ahead with it.

 

[rara007]

How did you get on today?