Vet referrals and payment plans?

[JorisBonson]

Had anyone ever been referred to a specialist that offers payment plans / finance?

DCat has elbow dysplasia which has been managed well with pain meds up until now.

It will cost c £5,000 and our insurance won't even cover half. The only one I can find on Google to offer is the supervet!

If anyone in the SE / Kent has any recommendations it would be appreciated before I explore other avenues.

The Royal Veterinary College takes referrals for small animals , not sure whether they do payment plans . A friend of ours had his dog treated at the one at South Mimms , but they also have a place in London I think . Can your actual vet not suggest someone local .

@Floralnomad they've been less and helpful to be honest and left it to us to find someone and then they will pass the paperwork on (I posted a lot about them at the time, they refused an x-ray for months). Wanted to change vets but need to sort this first and most places local weren't taking new patients because of covid.

I'll look at RBC, cheers.

The late Maia went to The Willows in Solihull. They were brilliant. Not sure if they offer a payment plan. But I'm sure they would offer something.

Personally I wouldn't let the Supervet anywhere near my girls. Some of his treatments are very experimental and have high failure rates.

The RVC Queen Mother hospital is just off the M25 right by South Mimms services so accessible from Kent.
We were referred to Davies with our old cat (our vet felt they would be better in her case than RVC and also that RVC may repeat tests rather than take our vets info) They were excellent. They are slightly off the beaten track on the Beds/Herts border near Hitchin. Not too much further than RVC.
I don't know about payment plans though. Your vets don't sound very helpful! I thought all vets would know where to refer to..... Ours did have communication with Davies after as our cat was a complex one and sang their praises.

It would be exceptionally unusual for a referral centre to take a payment plan it would be more usual for the client to take out a loan to fund the treatment.
I can't think of a single referral centre in my area that would even consider a payment plan, but they would give me an estimate range for the client to take a loan for that amount.
I would also struggle to have that conversation with a referral centre as it puts our mutual working relationship under strain. I feel awkward asking, they feel awkward saying no. They provide us with free advice so we can help clients who can not afford their fees and this really covers their duty of care.

In Kent Barton Veterinary Hospital have a visiting orthopaedic specialist.
There is Coast Veterinary Referrals in Eastbourne. They only do orthopaedic work.
There is North Downs in Surrey. Terry Emerson is one of the orthopaedics team he is fab, he was doing his residency whilst I was a final year student.
Then in Hampshire my personal choice Anderson Moores Veterinary specialists Andy Moores and Janes Grierson run the orthopaedic team there both great really experienced surgeons - they offer certain fixed prices procedures for uninsured clients, but this needs to be paid at the time.

I should add Anderson Moores is one of if no the top centre for canine elbow disease in the U.K. Both Andy and James are exceptional experienced in elbow replacements in dogs.

Thanks everyone, I'll do some research.

@Lonecatwithkitten yes me too! I'm absolutely dreading it. But needs must. DH is going to try to do a lot of overtime over the next few months to bridge the gap somewhat.

@Toddlerteaplease you're not the first person I've heard that from!

DCat came in soaking and muddy this morning with yet another mouse which he's let go in the kitchen, so he's obviously not feeling that bad today 🙄😂

Not entirely the same, but my late Saffy had a case of luxating patella in both rear legs which required surgery - our vet at the time did it, but I now think he is working in Oxford. Wolfgang Dohne - think he's now at Cowley Road. Couldnt recommend him enough: www.fecava.org/details/wolfgang-dohne/

Thank you @Evvyjb

I used Dick White referrals in Huntingdon when my cat needed similar treatment. That was a fair few years ago so certainly worth checking out if they do finance. They were fabulous!

And it was definitely less than 5k! Significantly so if I remember correctly

A friend was a veterinary nurse at the Supervet & she left as was unimpressed at the often experimental and potentially risky treatments that were being carried out under the guise of being 'ground-breaking'.

@Jocasta2018

A friend was a veterinary nurse at the Supervet & she left as was unimpressed at the often experimental and potentially risky treatments that were being carried out under the guise of being 'ground-breaking'.

That's really scary!!