twiggy2
Well-Known Member
Often the sell out arrangement includes current vets/partners staying for a year or 2 they rarely seem to stay longer than this which is very telling. The practice I worked at did not completely change till the 4-5 yr mark at which point it went down hill rapidly.Our local vet practice (of TV fame) has quite recently been taken over by Medivet, a shock to everyone I think, but 2 of the 3 partners have stayed on, the other left, many of the original vets gave stayed on, the service continues to be of an excellent standard and in many ways has improved, the facilities are improving, staffing levels have improved, the opening hours are more user friendly and they are genuinely open 24 hours a day. A month ago When Jake needed emergency surgery at 4am for a ruptured splenic tumour, he was treated by a dedicated night Vet who was fresh on shift with the support of a Vet Nurse also rota'd to work the night shift. Within 10 minutes of me getting him there he'd had blood tests and an ultrasound and was in surgery within 25 minutes. Under the old regime, Jake would likely have been treated by a Vet who had been out lambing all night, with a Vet Nurse dragged from her bed to assist, I have no doubt that had there been any delay he would have died but he didn't and I can only praise them for the care he received. He was surrounded by Vet Nurses and was treated like royalty, I made an impromptu visit the evening after his surgery and improved staffing levels meant he had a nurse sat in his cage with him, just holding his paw and fondling his ears, I was not concerned to leave him overnight because the practice is staffed 24 hours a day so patients are very well attended to overnight. I've only had positive experiences but perhaps have just been lucky with the ethics of the remaining partners still very much in evidence at this practice.