VETERINERIAN ADVICE
ADVICE ON CHOOSING A VET IN THE UK Navigating the veterinary medical sector, whilst leading an extremely highpaced international lifestyle, can be a labyrinthine process! It’s therefore worth doing some research before making the ‘big move’ to make sure you’re comfortable with the process of finding the right veterinarian, and practice (a.k.a. surgery, clinic), for you and your pet’s exacting requirements.
WHERE DO YOU START? Personal Recommendation
Personal recommendations, in preference to online reviews, can be a really useful way to finding a reputable vet in your local area. It’s definitely worth exploring fellow expat’s experiences with various practices, including location and accessibility, Out-Of-Hours provision (24-hour emergency care) and also a practice’s general bedside manner. You may yearn for a more personalised family doctor environment where everyone knows your (and pet’s) name (enter Cheers Theme tune). On the other hand, you may wish for a no-frills, one-stop-shop experience because going to the vet is just another task to tick off a never-ending list of things to do…time is of the essence! Nevertheless, there’s no shortage of choice when it comes to vets and a good personal recommendation goes a long way in whittling down those numbers!
Distance
It’s a good idea to choose a practice close to your home which is easily accessible. Not only should it be convenient, but if there’s an emergency it’s also good to know that you can get your pet to the vet as soon as possible. Have a think about where the practice is located in relation to your home, if it’s near any public transport links or, if you drive, does it have a car park or public parking nearby?
Out Of Hours (OOH) Cover
Whatever the size of the premises, veterinary surgeons are required to offer 24-hour emergency cover for their clients every day of the week. They can do this in several ways; a practice may provide this themselves, or some practices get together locally to provide this service, which may mean that you have to travel to a different practice in a emergency. WWW.THEAMERICANHOUR.COM
Other practices choose to use a dedicated out-of-hours service (similar to what we’re familiar with from our own GPs).
Bedside Manner, Trust And Communication:
All animal lovers want to know that their pets are in good hands. Do all the staff treat you and your pet sympathetically, empathetically and seem genuinely interested? Trust is the absolute cornerstone of the pet owner and veterinary relationship. Trust is defined as ‘assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.’ Trust does not usually result from just a single interaction, but rather a cumulation of experiences built over time where opportunities of trustworthiness can be tested. In veterinary medicine, our clients expect that we, as patient caregivers, will advocate and protect the pet’s best interests whilst simultaneously enhancing their quality of life. In this relationship, the pet owner is the trusting party and must have confidence that we, as vets, will act in their pet’s best interest. This intrinsic trust in vets is expressed in the discretionary latitude pet owners give their veterinarian when allowing permission to do what’s necessary in an attempt to benefit their pet’s long-term well-being. In the world of veterinary medicine, trust results from a number of interconnected interactions including the pet owner’s perception of their veterinarian’s technical competency, interpersonal attributes and communication skills, aligned values, as well as the pet owner’s impression of how a professional system works. This is especially true for an expatriate trying to navigate new ‘cultural codes’ in a different country! Trust is vital for a healthy GP veterinarian - pet owner/pet - Specialist veterinarian relationship. (‘Triad of Care’). It is an indispensable virtue of a good physician. Without this virtue, the relationship disintegrates. With trust, we as vets enhance our ability to assure worried pet owners and heal beloved pets.
Communication: A Means Of Developing Trust
If trust is a defining element in any interpersonal relationship, then
communication is the most effective and efficient means of engendering trust. Communication is a skill which is based on the art of empathetic listening. Communication is how we behave, the way we listen, the manner in which we deliver on what we say, how we treat others, and how others perceive our message(s) we’re trying to deliver. It is the way we relate to the pet, the pet owner/family and household staff. All the ways we communicate have a tremendous impact on developing, building, and reinforcing trust. One of the greatest challenges our profession is facing is trying to balance the post-Covid-19 surge in veterinary demand with a pressing recruitment and retention crisis. This will eventually have a knock-on effect with veterinary teams trying to desperately deliver high quality care and also preserving the time to foster the many interpersonal relationships we have with their clients. Communication and trust is a bilateral experience and therefore equally important for clients to also demonstrate empathy towards our hard working profession especially. when things don’t go to plan!
And Lastly…Price
The prices that veterinary practices charge can vary depending on their location, the facilities they offer and their overheads. Staff should be able to give you typical costs for routine treatments and don’t forget to ask exactly what’s included when you’re given a quote. If your pet is having surgery, find out whether there will be further charges for post-op check-ups. It’s definitely worth getting reputable pet insurance – you’ll be breathing a sigh of relief when you’re faced with a bumper vet bill. Some charities, like The Blue Cross, provide veterinary treatment to people on benefits for a donation or at a reduced fee. Contact your nearest charity for advice.
How Do Vet Practices Work?
GP Veterinary practices and hospitals in the UK, companion animal practices can be classified as independently-owned, corporate-owned (e.g. CVS, Medivet, Vet Partners, Linnaeus-Mars, IVC-Evidensia) yet still retain the name of the local practice, and a charity (e.g. RSPCA, PDSA, Blue Cross). WWW.AMERICANINBRITAIN.CO.UK
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