New service 'transforms' care options for pet owners

A SUCCESSFUL trial by The Pet Vet of its ‘first opinion plus’ service has led to its rollout across the company’s 12 surgeries.

The move is designed to align the provision with the needs of each local community and the skill sets and interests of each surgery’s clinical teams.

‘First opinion plus’, which was tested in Rotherham, offers an advanced care model that combines high quality first opinion services with specific clinical capabilities otherwise found in a referral centre or via a peripatetic vet.

This allows The Pet Vet to remain a trusted local general practice surgery while also accepting more complex cases, which include internal and external referrals.

At The Pet Vet Rotherham, the model has delivered exceptional results for its customers and their pets.

Over the past three years, the practice has introduced advanced soft tissue surgery; 128-slice CT scanning for high-resolution imaging; orthopaedics and spinal surgery; cardiac scanning, and ophthalmology.

'First opinion plus' enables surgeries to carry out more complex work

The group’s advanced services have been made possible through ongoing investment in equipment, facilities and the professional development of The Pet Vet’s clinical team.

Over the past 18 months, £280k has been invested in post-graduate qualifications for clinical colleagues and £130k in capital investments of equipment to support their advanced learning.

And The Pet Vet says the ‘first opinion plus’ model has expanded the group’s ability to serve more pets in their communities while also boosting recruitment and retention of clinical colleagues by offering clear, rewarding technical career pathways in addition to traditional leadership routes.

Additionally, vets at different surgeries with the same clinical interests form working groups to collaborate on the latest technology and research, setting the standards of clinical practice and ensuring consistency across the group.

Emily Chapman, area manager at The Pet Vet, says: “The implementation of the ‘first opinion plus’ model at The Pet Vet Rotherham has transformed our offering to customers and referring surgeries.

“We’ve taken that success and tailored it for each of our 12 surgeries, so every local community we serve benefits from the best of both worlds - trusted first opinion care and advanced services under one roof, as well as a stable and motivated team of colleagues that are supported in pursuing their clinical passions.”

By implementing first opinion plus across all surgeries, The Pet Vet has created a consistent standard of advanced capability while ensuring each site plays to the strengths of its own clinicians.

Pet owners will have access to a wider range of treatments locally, and referring practices will gain trusted partners who understand the realities of general practice while handling advanced cases with expertise and compassion.