Emergency Vets in Wickford

## Summary South Beech Veterinary Surgery is a small-animal practice established in 1973 and listed as an **RCVS General Practice**. It treats dogs, cats and small pets (including rabbits and guinea pigs), with **in-house diagnostics** such as an **in-house lab, ultrasound and X‑ray**. The clinic states that **out-of-hours emergency consultations are provided by Earls Hall Veterinary Group**. From the latest reviews available, owners often mention **same-day appointments for sick pets**, and **clear, unrushed explanations** around procedures (including discharge discussions). Reviews also include specific positives about **neutering and hernia repair**, alongside criticisms about **pricing for annual boosters** and one account of a **disputed surgical decision** (not removing problematic dew claws at the time of spay, leading to a second operation elsewhere). ## Services Based on the clinic website and reviews, services mentioned include: - **Consultations** (including same-day appointments mentioned in reviews for an unwell cat) - **Vaccinations** (annual booster mentioned in reviews) - **Neutering/spaying** (praised in a review; another review describes concerns about a spay-related decision) - **Soft-tissue surgery** (hernia repair mentioned in a review; “Surgery” listed on the website) - **Dentistry** - **Diagnostic tests & imaging** (website lists diagnostics; facilities include **X‑ray** and **ultrasound**) - **Microchipping** - **Nurse clinics** - **Parasite control** - **Acupuncture** - **Blood pressure checks** - **Grooming & nail clipping** - **Six-month health checks** - **Anal sac expression** - **Pet travel documentation (GB)** - **Home visits** - **Emergencies & out-of-hours**: emergency support during normal hours (via the practice); out-of-hours emergency consultations provided by **Earls Hall Veterinary Group** (per the website) ## Pricing - One reviewer reports an **annual booster vaccination cost of £92**, stating this was **without kennel cough**. - One reviewer reports needing to pay **£330** for a second procedure (dew claw removal under anaesthesia) after they say it wasn’t done at the time of spay. ## People - **Lulu (vet)** is named in one review; the owner says she was “brilliant” with their dog. - Multiple reviews comment on the wider team’s role in care delivery, including **reception** and a **discharge nurse**, with one neutering/hernia-repair review noting the procedure was **carefully explained** and “nothing was rushed.” ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.6 stars from 156 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Clear explanations and communication around procedures:** a neutering + hernia repair review describes careful explanation and an unrushed process, including discharge support. - **Access and appointment handling:** one owner mentions **disabled access** being helpful; another describes getting **same-day appointments** when their cat was sick. - **Handling nervous pets:** one review specifically mentions good handling of a **very anxious cat**. - **Cost concerns:** one long-term client reports being “horrified” by the price of an **annual booster (£92, excluding kennel cough)** and says they plan to switch. - **Clinical decision dispute:** one owner describes asking for **removal of curled, problematic dew claws during a spay**, saying the vet refused and that their dog later needed a second operation elsewhere; this is presented as poor advice/care by the reviewer.