Wards Veterinary Centre in Elgin confirms out of hours service transferred to Inverness
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AN Elgin veterinary centre has confirmed that its out of hours service will be transferred to a practice in Inverness.
From the end of April, Wards Veterinary Centre clients will have to contact Highland Vet Emergencies, based in Highland Vet Referrals, to access emergency out of hours care for their pets.
Clients were notified of the change earlier this week with some raising concerns regarding the one hour journey they will now need to make to access the service.
One client, who wants to remain anonymous, said: “Much loved family pets could pass away en route or face an hours journey in pain and suffering before accessing treatment. Cruel in my opinion.
“Owners will have an agonising drive keeping an eye on the road and their suffering pets.
“Customers without transport will have no access to their out of hours service meaning pets are left without treatment until the surgery in Elgin is open.
“Yet again the people of Moray are being let down by local companies.”
Wards Veterinary Centre says the decision has been made to give clients a “sustainable” and “improved” out of hours service.
A spokesperson for Wards Veterinary Centre said: “Our out of hours care will be transferred to a new out of hours hub, Highland Vet Emergencies, which is based at Highland Vet Referrals.
“This veterinary hospital will be staffed throughout the night by a team of vets and nurses who are on hand to give necessary treatment and observations, providing an improved service to animals and their owners.
“It’s all about providing clients in and out of the area a sustainable out of hours service. By transferring to Highland Vet Emergencies we can do that.
“The positives are that people are going to have care throughout the night for seven days a week, a dedicated clinical team and Highland Vet Emergencies is based within a state of the art brand new veterinary hospital.
“We do appreciate that some people may have to travel a bit further but we believe that the approved service that we will be offering from Highland Vet Emergencies is the best decision for the welfare of the animals we treat.”
