What type of cases can be referred to the medicine team?

We are able to offer specialist level investigations and treatments for disorders of the gastrointestinal, hepatic, pancreatic, respiratory, renal, urinary, endocrine, and haemolymphatic systems, but many of our patients arrive with ADR (ain’t doing right)!

Out-of-hours service and emergency referrals

There is always a medicine clinician on duty to manage in-patients and provide support for on-going cases. The duty clinician is also available for advice to vets and to see emergency referrals if appropriate. We have a fax form for non-urgent advice calls to vets.  Urgent advice requests are returned by the first available clinician. We always try and accommodate daytime and out-of-hours emergencies but on occasions when we feel we have insufficient resources to give the level of care necessary we may have to recommend an alternative centre or a delay in the referral.

Communication

Communication is a key element in managing our cases. Owners of hospitalised pets will usually be updated twice daily. We endeavour to get an interim or discharge report to the referring vet as soon after the pet has been discharged as possible. We will fax updates to referring vets for our longer stay patients. Referring vets should always feel that they can telephone for updates on cases if necessary.