Emergency Vets in Southend-On-Sea

## Summary Medivet 24 Hour Southend is part of the Medivet group and is set up as a 24-hour veterinary hospital, with facilities and staffing for urgent and intensive cases as well as routine care. The clinic advertises advanced diagnostics and surgery support (including CT imaging, an in-house lab, and an orthopaedic theatre) and is accredited as an ISFM Cat Friendly Clinic (Gold). From recent reviews, owners most often mention: - Being seen quickly for emergencies (e.g., a dog that had swallowed a dangerous foreign body was seen “straight away” and treated without “unnecessary costs/treatments”). - Rabbit care specifically being a reason people choose the practice (“rabbit savvy”), including phone advice and call-backs when busy. - Follow-up after difficult visits is inconsistent: one bereaved owner describes a call a few days later plus a handwritten card, while another reports a rabbit euthanasia visit felt rushed and they received no follow-up. ## Services Services and capabilities stated on the clinic website include: - **24-hour emergency care** and **24-hour intensive care** - **15-minute consultations** - Routine preventive care: **vaccinations**, **parasite care**, **microchipping** - Surgery: **pet neutering**, **laparoscopic spays/neutering**, **laser surgery**, **orthopaedic theatre** - Diagnostics: **CT imaging**, **X-rays**, **ultrasound**, **ECG**, **endoscopy** - **In-house laboratory** - **Dentistry** - **Nurse clinics** - **Vet blood supplies** Species listed on the website: **cats, dogs, rabbits, and small mammals**. Structured clinic data also lists the practice as a **Veterinary Nurse Training facility**. ## Pricing - Website states an **out-of-hours consult fee of £130**, and **no charge for assessment by phone**. - One reviewer set up an **annual plan at £14.50/month**, reported to include: vaccinations, microchipping, **two 6‑monthly health checks**, and **flea and worming medication for the year**. - One reviewer reports paying **£115** for a consultation plus ear treatments (swab and prescribed medication) and being quoted **£55** for a follow-up appointment when symptoms hadn’t improved. ## People - **Carmen** is specifically thanked in one emergency case review for help alongside the night team; the owner also notes the clinic handled insurer paperwork after payment, reducing stress. - Staff approach is described very differently depending on the situation: some owners describe being supported through pet loss with a follow-up call and handwritten card, while another describes a euthanasia appointment feeling impersonal and rushed. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.6 stars from 484 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Emergency responsiveness and pragmatism:** an urgent foreign-body ingestion case was seen immediately; the owner felt reassured and says unnecessary treatments/costs weren’t added. - **Rabbit care is a repeated draw:** reviewers describe the team as “rabbit savvy,” knowledgeable, and willing to give phone advice and call back with answers. - **Follow-up and bereavement support is mixed:** one owner reports a keepsake, follow-up call, and handwritten condolence card; another reports no alternatives offered besides euthanasia and no follow-up. - **Payments/insurance handling concerns:** multiple reviewers mention paying **upfront**, with insurance dealt with afterwards; this makes some owners anxious about affording emergencies. - **Consultation access varies:** one reviewer says they weren’t allowed into a dog’s check-up appointment on one occasion (reported as unusual compared with past visits). - **Treatment outcomes and recheck fees are a pain point for at least one owner:** one cat ear case worsened after treatment, and the owner objected to being charged again for follow-up.

## Summary Southend Victoria Vets4Pets is part of the Vets4Pets/Companion Care group (per the clinic website). Based on the website and recent reviews, it appears set up for routine preventative care (vaccinations, neutering) as well as in-practice procedures and follow-up checks (one owner describes an operation followed by several days of post-op check-ups). Multiple reviewers also describe being fitted in quickly when worried (a limping dog, a cat with a swollen eye), while a minority of reviews raise concerns about pricing transparency and handling of urgent cases. Concrete specifics mentioned: - Same-day/quick appointments were arranged by reception for acute issues (limping dog; injured/swollen eye). - An operation with several days of post-op checks is described for a senior dog with a bleeding foot/back-leg problem. - Blood testing is mentioned, with staff explaining options. - One reviewer alleges large price reductions after challenging invoices and says they could not obtain a cost breakdown; another alleges treatment was delayed until payment was made. ## Services From the website summary: - Vaccination services - Neutering From the latest reviews: - Assessment and treatment for limping/leg problems - Surgery/operation (followed by several days of post-operative checks) - Blood tests, with discussion of options - Assessment of eye swelling/soreness after a cat returned missing ## Pricing Specific amounts mentioned in reviews (these are individual experiences and not a published price list): - One reviewer alleges being quoted/charged **£1,700** for a procedure, then says the price dropped to **£1,200** and **£900** after challenge; they report paying **£800** elsewhere for what they describe as the same procedure. - The same reviewer reports another bill of **£600** that dropped to **£250** when challenged, and says they could not obtain an itemised breakdown. - Another reviewer reports paying **over £700** for hospitalisation/drip over several days in a poisoning case. ## People Named individuals mentioned in reviews: - **Peter** (vet): In one detailed account, the owner says Peter and colleagues explained “what and how” during an operation and recovery process, which helped them understand what was happening while their dog recovered. - **Lorraine** (team member; role not specified): Mentioned in connection with a cat’s blood test; the owner says Lorraine and the team were patient and took time to explain options. Team-level mentions from multiple reviews: - Reception staff are repeatedly credited with arranging prompt appointments even when the clinic was busy. - Several owners mention vets/nurses being helpful during procedures and follow-up checks, with explanations provided during treatment decisions. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.3 stars from 279 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - Multiple owners describe being given rapid appointments for urgent-looking issues (limping dog; cat with swollen eye; senior dog with bleeding foot). - Examples of clinical work mentioned include an operation with several days of post-op checks, and blood tests where options were explained. - Several reviews praise communication during care (explaining what was happening and what choices were available). - A minority raise serious concerns about cost and process: one alleges large price reductions after questioning charges and difficulty getting itemised invoices; another alleges care was delayed until payment was made in a poisoning emergency.