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Original poster

Vet shortage?

74 replies

hedgehogger1 · 05/04/2022 19:35

Been trying to get my pet into to see the vet. I'd registered pets previously but they've never actually needed to go. Contacted the vets and they said they had no record of me and weren't accepting new patients. Called about 15 other vets and none are accepting new patients. Not sure what to do :(

OP posts:
BarrowInFurnessRailwayStation · 05/04/2022 21:45

OP could you ask on FB for your area? There'll be community pages you can ask on.

AwkwardPaws27 · 05/04/2022 21:47

When you call stress that you aren't registered with any vet and you have a pet in need of medical attention.
Vets near us aren't taking new clients who are registered with another practice but they should provide first aid and pain relief as a minimum for an animal that is not registered eith any vet and in need of care (RCVS code of conduct).

Do you need an exotics specialist (as a dog or cat would usually see a vet for annual vaccinations), as that might narrow the field a bit?

Unfortunately there are shortages; we waited nearly a month for an appointment with a specialist referral hospital when our dog became very ill last year, when usually we'd have been seen within days.

Vet shortage?
Theworldisfullofgs · 05/04/2022 21:48

There's a massive shortage in many fields. Brexit plus other things.
Not sure what to suggest. Ask to be put on a waiting list for your nearest practice and in the meantime go where you can?

Cantonet · 05/04/2022 21:56

On my daughters vet course there are very few men. Once careers become predominantly female its been shown that salaries drop and the work becomes undervalued.
Plus being female means your're far more likely to want children at some stage, work part time & take some time out etc.
Secondly Vet practices can now be set up by anyone, without any veterinary experience and run for profit.

AwkwardPaws27 · 05/04/2022 21:57

@mjf981

If there’s such demand, why is it still low paid? If they’re booked up weeks in advance surely the clinics are doing well?
The margins in veterinary practice are quite slim (I think the last SPVS survey result came out at an average of around 10%). Many practices are owned by chains now, with salaried vets and other staff. They aren't getting a share of the profits. Locums may be able to command higher day rates but salaried staff are unlikely to see a significant change unfortunately.
KitBot · 05/04/2022 22:01

@mjf981

If there’s such demand, why is it still low paid? If they’re booked up weeks in advance surely the clinics are doing well?
Because the profit margins in veterinary medicine aren't great. I'd love to be able to charge the same as a private GP consult (~£70-100) as I provide exactly the same service but I'd have no clients left if I did this (our consult fee is £30.50). I pay my staff as well as I can. Of every £1 you spend in my practice £0.45 goes on wages. Neutering surgeries and routine work are priced as reasonably as possible to ensure animal welfare needs can be upheld; yet day on day I have people moaning, shouting and generally being abusive about having to pay for my very skilled services. I've started being very selective about who we continue to provide services for. I have no time for people who are abusive. I'd rather not have their business.
roseopose · 05/04/2022 22:03

@awkwardpaws27 that's interesting, my local vet said they wouldn't see my pet in an emergency if not registered. I don't know what you're supposed to do if say your cat gets run over and there's nowhere you can take them. Its quite scary.

AwkwardPaws27 · 05/04/2022 22:07

I've started being very selective about who we continue to provide services for. I have no time for people who are abusive. I'd rather not have their business.

You sound like an awesome employer. Huge respect.
I burnt out of reception/reception manager work after persistent abuse from clients. When I expressed how I felt, I was told "it's the nature of the job".
I did manage to get one persistently abusive client deregistered, but for another reason, not for the abuse. I took every call from her personally as I wasn't having my team spoken to like that, it was vile.

KitBot · 05/04/2022 22:07

[quote roseopose]@awkwardpaws27 that's interesting, my local vet said they wouldn't see my pet in an emergency if not registered. I don't know what you're supposed to do if say your cat gets run over and there's nowhere you can take them. Its quite scary.[/quote]
Emergency first aid or euthanasia must be offered but not a full treatment plan/surgery etc. it is your responsibility as an owner to register your pet with a vet.

AwkwardPaws27 · 05/04/2022 22:11

[quote roseopose]@awkwardpaws27 that's interesting, my local vet said they wouldn't see my pet in an emergency if not registered. I don't know what you're supposed to do if say your cat gets run over and there's nowhere you can take them. Its quite scary.[/quote]
They can direct you to your own vets / your vets out of hours service if you are registered elsewhere, but if you aren't registered anywhere they should provide emergency care as a minimum.
They should also provide emergency care and pain relief if, for example, you found a stray or didn't know who owned an injured animal which needed immediate care for something serious like an RTA.

KitBot · 05/04/2022 22:11

@AwkwardPaws27 I've owned my practice for 9 years. I've sacked maybe 20 clients. About 13 of those in the last 2 years. Covid and lockdown has made some people bonkers. The sense of entitlement is insane. My tolerance for other people's shit shows is at an all time low.
Sorry that you felt you had to leave, apart from the abuse, mental and physical work load and lack of lunch breaks Grinit's a great profession. I'd not do anything else but I'd never encourage anyone to enter veterinary med.

AwkwardPaws27 · 05/04/2022 22:12

KitBot summarised that much better than me Smile

PriamFarrl · 05/04/2022 22:13

Thank you to the vets on this thread. My cat is a loved member of the family and we are lucky to have a helpful and accommodating vets really close by. (By accommodating I mean the put up with me worrying about her all the time).

Our vets has had to close one branch to keep the other two running. I notice a lot of our vets are Irish and I guess since leaving the EU coming to the uk isn’t as good a prospect.

KitBot · 05/04/2022 22:14

Ha coz kitbot works at the only practice in town that opens regularly on a Sunday so she spends a lot of her time explaining this to grumpy non-registered people Wink

AwkwardPaws27 · 05/04/2022 22:20

@KitBot

Ha coz kitbot works at the only practice in town that opens regularly on a Sunday so she spends a lot of her time explaining this to grumpy non-registered people Wink
Who don't want to pay the out of hours consult charge from their usual vets / their vets OOH provider Grin Yup, least favourite part of a Sunday shift. That or the "my dogs had this lump/cough/limp for 5 months but its an emergency and needs to be seen today".
modgepodge · 05/04/2022 22:21

My friend is a vet, she complains about all of the above. Part of the problem is everyone assumes they are very well paid and that veterinary treatment is very expensive, as people are used to the NHS which is free or subsidised. I had private medical treatment recently - just a minor procedure with local anaesthetic and the cost was hundreds, they charged £25 just to remove the stitches which took 5 minutes! By comparison vets fees are a bargain, but people still think they’re too much.

Too many people went and got lockdown pets. I’d takes 5 years to train extra vets. This will be an issue for a while I expect.

roseopose · 05/04/2022 22:24

@kitbot granted, but until very recently I couldn't find a vet in this county, or either of the next counties. I ask to go on a waiting list and have been told at multiple practices not to bother. Its not a situation I've ever come across or expected to really! I would never not be proactive registering my pets because I want to be able to get care for them if they need it.

KitBot · 05/04/2022 22:26

awkwardpaws my receptionists are ace. They are sooooo good at politely saying no, that is not how this is going to work. The constantly amaze me. I couldn't do reception if my life depended on it. I'd murder someone.
They are so polite and kind that the vast majority of people do as they are instructed without even a grumble.

Also everyone please when you ring the vet for an appointment
A) know what name and surname your pet is registered under
B) have half an idea of when (day and time) you would like your appointment for
C) appreciate that we are crazy busy at the moment and we know you are stressed but we are only human
Thanks, your vet

KitBot · 05/04/2022 22:34

[quote roseopose]@kitbot granted, but until very recently I couldn't find a vet in this county, or either of the next counties. I ask to go on a waiting list and have been told at multiple practices not to bother. Its not a situation I've ever come across or expected to really! I would never not be proactive registering my pets because I want to be able to get care for them if they need it. [/quote]
But there are only a finite amount of vets. We cannot magic up more of them. Was your pet not registered for routine vaccines or check ups?
My point is don't wait until it's an emergency. It's a crap situation but it's not a situation of the vets making. You will always be offered pain relief or euthanasia on welfare grounds but there is no obligation for a vet to provide on going treatment to a non registered pet. Owners need to take responsibility for their pets and that includes registering with a vet. Whichever way you spin this it isn't the vet's fault.
I'd bet my last pound that the vets you rang were already flat out, up to their eyeballs treating other pets. Who's sick pet were they supposed not to see? It's not like we are sitting in our ivory towers having grapes peeled for us.

roseopose · 05/04/2022 22:40

We moved 200 miles away..from where we were and always had been registered. I simply wanted to know what I could do with my pet in an emergency whilst I continued to attempt to register somewhere. Not sure why you're attacking me and making judgements.

Theunamedcat · 05/04/2022 22:41

On the university page I'm on a lot of potential vets and Dr's were rejected for there courses despite having the required grades intake has been "streamlined" some people had deffered offers some none its only going to get worse im afraid

KitBot · 05/04/2022 22:44

@roseopose

We moved 200 miles away..from where we were and always had been registered. I simply wanted to know what I could do with my pet in an emergency whilst I continued to attempt to register somewhere. Not sure why you're attacking me and making judgements.
I could ask why you are attacking my profession. Let's agree to disagree. I wasn't trying to judge or attack you. I was simply trying to explain things from a vets point of view. You don't agree. That's fine.
roseopose · 05/04/2022 22:49

Where have I attacked your profession?? By stating that not being able to find a vet isnt a situation I expected to be in? Its a shit situation for vets and clients. Not every pet owner is an irresponsible moron as you seem to believe.

KitBot · 05/04/2022 22:53

@roseopose

Where have I attacked your profession?? By stating that not being able to find a vet isnt a situation I expected to be in? Its a shit situation for vets and clients. Not every pet owner is an irresponsible moron as you seem to believe.
Please don't put words in my mouth or assume you know what I do or don't think. I'm off to bed because I have a full consult and surgical list tomorrow. Good luck finding a vet. Good luck to your new vet too.
roseopose · 05/04/2022 22:54

Hopefully it doesn't turn out to be you..talk about a god complex Grin

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