Your referral appointment
Because we will be asking detailed questions about your pet’s history, we prefer that you bring your pet to your appointment (rather than a relative, friend or neighbour etc). We need to deal with the person who has responsibility for decision-making, not only regarding treatment for your pet but also with respect to financial considerations.
If your pet is admitted to the hospital on the day of the appointment, we will also require signed consent for any procedures which have been decided upon. It is very important that you have a full understanding of your pet’s condition and what the implications of any proposed investigations and treatment may be. If you have any doubts at any stage, please do not hesitate to ask for further explanation/information.
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment time to enable your pet to be registered before seeing the veterinary surgeon. Our receptionists and animal care assistants will be pleased to give you any help that you or your pet need on your arrival and complimentary refreshments are available in the waiting area.
Please notify the practice as soon as possible if you are unable to keep your appointment or you are held up in traffic.
Our referral veterinary surgeon will take time to obtain a detailed history of your pet’s medical background during your appointment, as well as the current problem. A thorough clinical examination of your pet will then be performed and any findings and provisional diagnoses will be fully discussed with you at the time. Your pet may then go home after the consultation with suggested management or treatment, but it is also quite possible that further tests or procedures e.g. blood tests, imaging (X-rays or scans) and/or surgery may be required.
We will do our best to perform investigations on the same day as your consultation, with surgery being carried out the following day, if required (if this is in the best interests of your pet and in line with your wishes), however, there is no guarantee that it will be possible to keep to this timeframe. It may be that your pet may be hospitalised for further diagnostic and possible surgical procedures to be carried out over the next few days, depending upon circumstances. It is also possible that your pet may need to go home after the consultation (possibly on treatment) and return for diagnostic or surgical procedures at a later, mutually convenient date. This depends upon the nature of the case and the current workload.
Like a large human hospital, Southfields Veterinary Specialists provides an Accident and Emergency service, and it is important to appreciate that urgent cases must take priority when we are organising patient care.
Our reception staff will be happy to help if you are at all unsure about what to do regarding your pet’s referral to us, so please do not hesitate to telephone.
Your vet should be able to supply you with a client information sheet that has a map on the back. Alternatively, you may wish to view and download a map from our location page.