QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN CHOOSING A VET
DO YOU OWN A PET?
Surprisingly, not all vets keep a pet of their own. But at Croft Vets all our staff are pet owners, which means that we understand from a personal point of view how best to care for yours.
DO YOU DO MUCH OF THIS KIND OF WORK?
Many vets working in mixed practices will be required to cope with a wide variety of different work involving farm animals, horses and small animals. At Croft Vets we make no such compromise. All our resources - our time, our facilities and our expertise - are dedicated exclusively to pet healthcare.
ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
All veterinary surgeons must qualify from an approved university but Croft Vets also invest substantially in continuing professional development. That means we can be sure all our veterinary and nursing staff are always up to speed with the latest developments in veterinary science, and you can be confident that this veterinary practice is one of the best and most up-to-date in the country.
WHAT IF MY PET BECOMES SERIOUSLY ILL?
At Croft Vets your pet will be cared for by some of the best qualified and most experienced veterinary staff in Britain. They also have at their disposal a state-of-the-art diagnostic laboratory, complete with X-ray, ultrasound and a host of other superb facilities so at Croft we can diagnose the problem with the minimum of delay, and give your pet the treatment it needs as soon as possible
WHEN ARE YOU OPEN?
All our surgeries are open between 9.00 am and 6.00 pm Monday to Friday. In addition, for the convenience of clients who can't make it during normal hours, we operate regular weekend surgeries as well as a late surgery at Blyth from 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm on weekdays. For your convenience and to minimise waiting time, we operate an appointment system - though obviously any urgent or emergency case can be seen straight away.
WHAT ABOUT NIGHTS AND WEEKENDS?
Like all vets, we are obliged to provide emergency cover 24 hours a day 365 days a year. However, at Croft we take our responsibilities a step further. Because many out-of-hours calls tend, by definition, to be quite serious, we have a trained nurse as well as a vet available at all times to make sure we can give your pet the best of care at any hour of the day or night
WHAT IF MY PET NEEDS AN OPERATION?
Croft Vets have surgical facilities and staff second to none. We are the only practice in the North of England with a recognised specialist surgeon supported by a team of highly trained surgical nurses, so whether it's a minor wound repair or major fracture surgery, you can rest assured that your pet's well-being will be in the safest possible hands.
WILL MY PET GET PROPER NURSING CARE AT CROFT?
All branches of Croft Vets benefit from the 24 hour veterinary and nursing cover provided at the Blyth Hospital. There is a nurse on the premises at all times who can administer nursing care to your pet at any hour of the day or night. In addition there is a qualified Veterinary Nurse (as well as the veterinary surgeon on duty) should any more complex treatments be needed. Many practices rely on young, unqualified helpers to assist with nursing and patient care and sometimes they are not available at all times. In contrast, at Croft Vets we have been training nurses to the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Nursing Scheme for 15 years and have produced many qualified Veterinary Nurses. We are one of the biggest employers of qualified Veterinary Nurses in the country and we are committed to fostering excellent standards of nursing care.
DO YOU HAVE A PREVENTIVE HEALTH PROGRAMME?
Croft Vets have helped to lead the way in preventive healthcare in the region. Our Veterinary Nurses run clinics for clients who need advice on any aspect of pet care. We have introduced the concept of Veterinary Nurses administering annual "Well Pet" booster vaccinations and we run Neutering Clinics to make these essential preventive measures more accessible, and more affordable.
ARE YOU AWARE HOW UNSYMPATHETIC A BUSY RECEPTIONIST CAN SEEM TO BE?
Yes, we certainly are. So at Croft Vets we have a policy of employing mature, professional and - above all - caring receptionists with the experience and intelligence to understand your enquiry properly and to respond helpfully. We like to think we can measure how welcoming our receptionists are by the number of clients who like to drop in just for a chat. We love to see them - especially at quiet times!