What we have to offer at Oak Tree
Veterinary Centre
and why we think cutting the cost of Veterinary Practice does mean cutting corners |
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Consider This |
Why it's important |
Before you consider another practice, ask yourself these questions |
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| Enough Staff |
At Oak Tree, there are two vets, two qualified nurses, a third nurse shortly to qualify
and an experienced
veterinary receptionist, all based at our main site. We have enough people to
cope with major surgery and deal with routine work and enquiries simultaneously. |
With only one nurse available (even if qualified) that nurse cannot answer the door and the phone at the same time as watch over your pet. Will your pet receive the undivided attention and monitoring he or she needs? | |
| Qualified Staff |
All of our nurses are RCVS qualified veterinary nurses and are professionals in
their own right. |
Ask whether the nurse(s) are qualified or just a willing
hand in a green tunic! |
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| Commitment to Further Education |
Alistair has further qualifications in small animal orthopaedics and veterinary
radiology.
Andrew has developed a special interest in small mammals oncology (the treatment of cancer) and cytology. Both vets attend annual national multi day conferences and shorter meetings to keep up to date with developments in all areas of our practice and both exceed the recommended further study requirements. The nurses attend ongoing professional development too. |
Ask what recent conferences and courses have been attended. |
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| Commitment to Growth of New Services. |
At Oak Tree, we are constantly looking for new services to be available to you,
on site, at the Centre, meaning that your pet can benefit from these
developments without you having to travel to a Vet School. A good example is our
Pentax Video Endoscopy set of four scopes, allowing minimally invasive
endoscopy, rather than open surgery. We have recently added diagnostic
ultrasound with a brand new machine in January 2006
In 2007, we commenced a major expansion to offer hydrotherapy and physiotherapy facilities as well as expanded clinical and consulting rooms. The new facilities will open soon. |
Ask what services are available and what's new and changing. | |
| Full Service Practice | Apart from the obvious "one stop" care convenience for you and the familiar surroundings for your pet, a full service facility, together with the two commitments above, allows us to attract the best calibre of staff, as they are satisfied, professionally and and grow with the practice. | Ask yourself whether a person working in a restricted
service practice will be motivated to keep up to date with all the aspects
of modern small animal medicine and surgery when all he or she does is
vaccinations and neutering.
Ask yourself whether abnormal clinical findings will be fully discussed at vaccination when the practice has no interest in managing them, or ability to do so.
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| Respecting Animal Welfare |
We have an open staff culture of championing the welfare of our patients
together with the encouragement of all staff to raise questions if they have any
concerns or suggestions. We take your trust very seriously and shoulder that
responsibility with diligence. Rough handling and overzealous discipline is
simply not tolerated. |
This is a judgement that you will have to make. Do you think
the support staff are in a position to speak out if concerns are present?
Do you trust them with your friend? |
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| Dedicated Theatre | A clean, purpose designed and fitted out room kept solely for operations. Preparation of patients such as cleaning, clipping and surgical preparation is done in our separate dedicated preparation room so that the surgical environment is as clean as possible. | The "theatre" may in fact just be the consulting
room after "a wipe of the table". Clipping and preparation may
well also be done on the "operating table". |
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| A Wide Range of Equipment |
We have been building our range of equipment for nearly twenty years now. There
is no substitute for having the right tool for the job. |
Ask to be shown the range of equipment and instruments
actually on site. A poor selection of instruments and equipment may well
prejudice your pet's prospects. |
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| Space | Shortly, we shall have expanded to 3000 square feet and have plenty room for even the largest of giant breeds with comfortable heated kennelling in the heart of the practice including walk in kennels for long stay or giant breeds. | Ask to be shown where your pet will spend the day | |
| Client Convenience |
We have safe private parking right at the door, willing assistance where
requested and are wheelchair friendly. |
Are you taking pot luck with the availability and security
of on road parking? Are there enough staff and a willingness to help you
with mobility, your pet or purchases? |
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| Available Every Day of the Week |
We attend our facility every day of the week as indicated in our client booklet
and on our website www.oaktreevet.co.uk.
We are not constrained by planning restrictions from seeing you at a weekend. |
Ask what would happen if your pet was seen on Saturday
morning and requires a progress check on Sunday. |
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We think your pet is too valuable to compromise on any of the above just to save a pound or two. |
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