***UPDATE: PLEASE NOTE THAT SINCE OCTOBER 2023 WE HAVE 3 FULL TIME VETS AND ARE ABLE TO REGISTER NEW CLIENTS AGAIN!***

***UPDATE: PLEASE NOTE THAT WE HAVE NOW REOPENED OUR BOOKS TO NEW CLIENT REGISTRATIONS IN ANTICIPATION OF TWO NEW EXPERIENCED VETS JOINING OUR TEAM IN OCTOBER!!***

There is currently a severe shortage of veterinary surgeons in the United Kingdom, which has been exacerbated by the significant increase in pet ownership during Covid. This is pushing up the number of clients each vet is seeing every year.

At Roker Park, we aim to provide 15-20minute appointment slots.  In this time we need to find out how your pet has been and what signs are currently being shown; perform an appropriate clinical examination; sometimes take samples for further analysis; and discuss with you what could be the problem and what the next investigative or treatment steps are.  We then have to document all of this in our clinical notes for future reference.

We are currently at the point where our vets cannot see any more clients every year and still maintain a 15-20minute appointment slot.  By continuing to register unlimited numbers of new clients we risk compromising on the quality of care we provide, while putting unnecessary additional stress on the staff that are trying to do their best for each individual patient.

We also need to be aware that other practices are under the same pressure as us.  By closing our books to new client registrations completely, there is a risk that clients moving to the area or people getting their first pet that are unable to find a practice able to care for their pet.

We have therefore taken the difficult decision to partially close our books to new clients.  We therefore cannot register any new clients that are already registered at another local practice, or who have left us to join another local practice.  These pets are already under the care of a veterinary surgeon. 

In order to minimise any animal welfare compromise, we will still register clients that are not registered elsewhere and have got a new pet or those clients that have moved into the area and are not registered with a local veterinary practice.  Apologies for any inconvenience and many thanks again for your support and understanding.