Welcome to our practice website

Practice Update 25^th September 2021

At Acorn House Veterinary Hospital we have been operating close to capacity in terms of appointment availability and hospital space. As of 25^th September we are now in a position to take on a limited number of new client registrations.

New clients that would like to register with the practice are asked to complete the “new client registration” form on the practice website. The practice will send a welcome pack and confirmation email within 2 working days of receipt of the registration form, to confirm that the registration is active. From this point onwards, clients can make appointments at the practice using either the online booking system, or by telephoning Reception. Please note the following restrictions on new registrations:

We are currently accepting new registrations for dogs, cats and rabbits only
We are currently restricting new registrations to those living within our main catchment area. This includes:
1. All MK40, MK41 postcodes
2. MK43 postcodes north of the A428 (Biddenham, Bromham, Clapham, Milton Ernest, Radwell, Odell, Harrold, Carlton, Chellington, Stevington, Pavenham, Felmersham, Oakley, Radwell) plus Stagsden
3. MK44 postcodes north of the A421(Bolnhurst, Thurleigh, Keysoe, Riseley, Bletsoe, Ravensden, Wilden, Sharnbrook)

Clients that are already registered with us and have been active clients in the past 2 years may continue to register new pets outside of these restrictions by telephoning Reception.

Clients that are not registered with any veterinary practice, but that have a pet with an urgent medical need should contact their closest veterinary practice as all veterinary surgeries will provide immediate first aid in an emergency situation regardless of registration restrictions.

Animal Health Certificates for travel abroad will not be available until 4^th October 2021.

Opening hours

Opening hours are 8am to 8pm weekdays and 8am to 4:30pm on Saturdays. Our on-site out of hours emergency service will operate as normal outside of these times.

Booking an appointment

Please call Reception during normal opening hours to make an appointment or use the online booking service via the website. All appointments must be booked in advance – please don’t just turn up!

There is currently very high demand for appointments. Please let us know if you book an appointment and then find that you are unable to attend.

Telephone/ video consultations are available at the same price as an on-site consultation and can be booked by calling Reception if preferred.

When booking your appointment you will be asked whether your preference would be to accompany your pet into the consultation room or remain in the car park whilst your dog is taken inside. Please be aware that we will not always be able to allow you into the consulting room on the day, because some members of our team have not yet been double-vaccinated and are not permitted to work in this way. We do ask that you do not book an appointment if you are not prepared to be flexible – the indoor option can only be a preference, and cannot be confirmed until the start of the appointment.

Attending an appointment

Clients attending a pre-booked appointment will be greeted in the car park by a member of staff who will perform the “check in” so that there is no need to enter the building at this point. If the member of staff is temporarily unavailable, please approach the “Enquiries” portacabin in the car park or telephone the surgery from the car park to let us know that you have arrived. Please wait in the car park. Make sure that you have your phone with you, it is very important that you keep the line free for the vet to ring you at the start of the appointment.

If you have chosen to accompany your pet into the consulting room, the vet will call you when they are ready for the appointment to start. They will ask you to make your way indoors and will tell you which consulting room to attend. Please be ready to make your way into the consulting room as soon as you are asked, to maximise the appointment time available for you, the vet and your pet to have together. A maximum of two clients may accompany a pet into the consulting room and face coverings should be worn.

If you have chosen not to accompany your pet into the consulting room or we have told you that this is not an option on this occasion, we will continue with the same system that we have been using throughout the pandemic. The vet will call you to discuss the problems that you have noticed with your pet. The vet will bring your pet inside the building whilst you wait outside. They will call you after the examination to discuss their findings and any treatment recommended.

After the consultation you will be invited to enter the Reception area to collect medication, make any future appointments, and to make payment. Reception has been adapted for social distancing (one-way system, 2m queueing markers, plastic screening, hand sanitiser). Please note that only one client per pet should enter Reception, and a face covering must be worn. If you would prefer not to enter the Reception area, please telephone the Reception desk from the car park and payment can be taken over the telephone and medication brought out to the car park instead.

Ordering medication

Repeat medication can be ordered using our online click and collect service, by emailing info@acornhousevets.co.uk or by telephoning Reception. Please allow 48 hours (72 hours over a weekend) before travelling to the practice to collect this medication.

Collecting medication

Please let the staff member in the car park know that you would like to collect medication and they will direct you to the queue system inside Reception. Reception has been adapted for social distancing (one-way system, 2M queuing markers, plastic screening, hand sanitizer). Please note that only one client per pet should enter Reception, and a face covering must be worn. Medication can be collected and paid for at Reception. If you would prefer not to enter the Reception area, please telephone the Reception desk from the car park and payment can be taken over the telephone and medication brought out to the car park instead.

Clients that are self isolating

If you have COVID symptoms or have otherwise been asked to self-isolate, please do not attend the practice. Ask a friend or neighbour to bring your pet / collect medication for you, or telephone the practice to arrange a video consultation instead.

Procedures available

All procedures are available, with the exception of Animal Health Certificates for travel. We expect to reintroduce this service in October.

Vaccinations

All puppy, kitten, rabbit and adult dog/cat vaccinations may be booked in as normal.

Neutering

Cat, dog, rabbit and small pet neuterings are all available. Please call Reception to discuss and book.

Home visits

House visits are available, providing that no members of the household have COVID symptoms or have been advised to self-isolate. Visits are subject to availability and will not always be possible as we need to ensure that sufficient staff remain on site to provide essential services. In general, visits should be booked with as much advance notice as possible, and are usually offered between 11:30am and 4pm.

Nurse clinics

Nurse clinics are available for post operative checks, 6 month health checks, nail clips, anal gland emptying and medication administration. Please book by calling Reception or using the online booking system.

Euthanasia appointments

Euthanasia appointments for dogs can take place in the practice garden or in the consultation room. The consultation room is the only option for euthanasia appointments for cats. A maximum of two clients may be present at an indoor euthanasia appointment.

For those clients that are self-isolating, shielding or prefer not to be present during euthanasia, we will of course be able to perform the euthanasia without the client present. We will always ensure that patients are reassured and supported by our team of vets and nurses before and during the procedure so that their passing is peaceful.

New registrations

We are unable to register new clients until further notice. Existing clients may register new pets if they have been active clients at Acorn House within the past 2 years.

Thank you

The staff at Acorn House have worked very hard to continue to provide veterinary care for their patients during the constantly-evolving COVID lockdown. We are extremely grateful to our lovely clients who have worked with us to make the various restrictions and changes work over the past few months and thank you for your continued support and understanding.

EMERGENCY CARE

24 hour
care

365 days
a year

Own team of vets and nurses