Out of Hours
Vale Vets
The Animal Hospital
Portishead
Tel: 01275 847400
Staff are on the premises 24 hours a day, 365 days a year 24/7
At Vale Vets we have experienced staff on the premises around the clock every day of the year. This enables us to deal with surgical and medical emergencies that arise during the night, as well as continued monitoring and care of hospitalised and ill patients.
Throughout the night, your pet will be regularly examined to ensure any changes are noted and required treatments given. We can keep you informed of your pet's progress throughout the night as well, if you so wish.
In addition to medications, we are also aware of the role that company and TLC play in recovery, and so your pet will also receive these in large doses, too!
Questions and Answers
Q - How do I contact you in an emergency?
A - Simply call our staff on 01275 847400. Your details will be taken and one of our vets will call you straight back. For security during the night, entry is not allowed without having telephoned in advance.
Q - Can I just telephone for advice?
A - Of course we will be happy to help with any urgent enquiries. For routine appointments and general enquiries, however, we kindly ask that you call during normal opening hours (8:00am-7:30pm Mon-Fri; 8:30am-4:30pm Sat).
Q - Who will be treating and looking after my pet?
A - Our night staff are dedicated night nurses and vets who also form part of our well respected day team. All of our night vets are experienced surgeons, should your pet need an operation or urgent procedure during the night.
Q - Can the vet come out on a home visit out of hours?
A - It is very difficult for our vets and nurses to leave the premises at night as not only do they have patients to attend to in the hospital, but they also have to be present for other emergencies. In addition, treatment of a pet is much more successful at the surgery where we have access to all our medicines and equipment.
Q - If admitted, when will my pet come home?
A - Your pet will be discharged as soon as it is safe to do so. We do not want your pet to be hospitalised for any longer than you do.
Q - If my pet stays in hospital, is it possible for me to visit?
A - Yes, of course you can. Visiting your pet aids their recovery and hence we strongly encourage it. We recommend that a visit appointment is made with the vet overseeing your pet's care, so that you can receive an update in person relating to your pet's progress. This also ensures that all owners are not visiting at the same time, which can be stressful for the patients. If you wish, it should be possible to spend some time alone with your pet before or after your appointment with the vet. Due to limited staff availability and likely emergencies, generally visiting is not usually possible out of hours.
Q - How do I pay and what is the cost?
A - An out of hours’ surcharge will be charged but fees depend on the level of care that your pet requires. A critically ill patient will obviously require a higher level of monitoring and treatment than a more stable patient, and costs will reflect this. An estimate of cost will be provided on admit, and further bill updates will be discussed on a daily basis. Costly procedures and treatments will not be performed without your consent. Please note that full payment is required at the time of your pet's discharge, or time of treatment if the animal is not admitted.
We accept all debit and credit card payments, as well as cash.
Emergency treatment out of hours is often covered by pet insurance policies.