Our experience with this vet has been extremely disappointing and has left us with serious concerns about the care and costs involved.
We were charged almost £1,500 for the treatment and care of our cat. At the initial consultation, I specifically asked whether antibiotics were needed and was told that they would be harmful to our cat. We were therefore surprised when, after another day of care and testing costing us over £700, antibiotics were eventually prescribed.
Our cat then recovered well within a few days of starting the antibiotics. This has left us questioning why antibiotics were not considered earlier and whether some of the additional tests, treatment and hospitalisation were actually necessary.
We have raised a formal complaint with CVS and, so far, have not received a clear explanation supported by clinical evidence as to why antibiotics were initially ruled out and subsequently prescribed.
We completely understand that veterinary treatment can be expensive and that investigations are sometimes necessary. Our concern is the apparent lack of a clear explanation for the treatment decisions and the very high costs that resulted.
We are now taking the matter to veterinary mediation because we feel the circumstances deserve an independent review.
Based on our own experience, we would strongly recommend asking detailed questions about the necessity, alternatives and costs of any proposed tests or additional treatment before proceeding.
Just to add your response didnt clarify why you refused to prescribe antibiotics at the initial consultation but instead proceeded with over £1000 of tests and hospitalisation to then prescribe antibiotics without a conclusive diagnosis. Judging by other reviews and public feedback this is common practice by cliff lane vets
I haven't been with Riversbrook Vets for around a year now. But I still felt it would be appropriate to share my experience, to save someone else the bad experience. My advice to you would be to NOT join this vets.
Not once did I feel like there was a genuine care for my dog, and the only thing they wanted was more money. My dog had ongoing issues, and the amount of times I would pay a consultation fee, they would offer next to no advice, no medicine, and would tell me " to give it a few days and come back ". I'd wait a couple of days, the issue would continue, and they would say to see the dog again, I'd have to pay ANOTHER consultation fee. For the exact same issue, they had reviewed, 1-2 days prior. This happened on numerous occasions till I eventually couldn't take it any longer and left. I never left feeling like I was any further forward, I never felt like they had any form of genuine care to help my dog. It was always, all of the time, about getting the most money out of you as they could. This is my personal opinion and experience. The vets need to improve. This behaviour was more so at the Cliff Lane Practice. I found some of the receptionists to be quite rude too. Very blunt, and didn't seem like they could be bothered to listen to my concerns, I always felt rushed and dismissed.
One appointment in particular, bear in mind I am paying £60 for, the vet had to leave the room at least 5 times to ask someone else for advice as she didn't know the answers to my questions. These were very basic questions that I'd expect a vet to know. My entire time at Cliff Lane was very stressful and very expensive.
I have since changed to Orwell Vets and I am astounded at the difference in service. Orwell have helped my dog more in the last year for the same issues, then Cliff Lane did in all the years I was there. Orwell genuinely cares about my dog, and managed to fix some of her ongoing issues within the first couple of visits! The receptionists are so friendly, the vets are impeccable and knowledgeable. They never try to get more money from me, they try so hard to keep costs down where possible.
My advice would be to sign up to Orwell, where you and your pet will be guaranteed to receive the best care in the most affordable manner.
Please don’t go here! I took my cat here, and the person who looked after my cat was extremely rude. He shouted at my cat and spoke to me very disrespectfully, even saying things like “please take her off my table” in a very rude manner.
He couldn’t even properly administer the injection and ended up hurting my cat quite badly. He also kept trying to charge me extra for things. Honestly, I felt like I had more knowledge than the person treating my cat, and I had to correct him on several things.
The prices are also extremely expensive. I paid £150 for two vaccinations, whereas another vet quoted me around £90. I had no idea it would cost this much. I tried to pick closest vet to near my house
I will get my cat’s second vaccination done here because I’ve already started the process, but after that I will be removing my registration with them. I absolutely do not recommend this place.
Look after our cat very well!
On the day 8am queue for appointments. My mother is a disabled pensioner, so when her dog needs to see the vet I help. But now you cant make an early appointment in advance, but have to call at 8am, on the day!!! I asked what day did they have an early appointment to be told, a couple days later but then said for the 9.30 I wanted would also be call at 8am. People have busy lives so I cant clear a morning just hoping to get an appointment. Why on earth if you have a clear time slot cant you just book it as before. And to say use the Internet my mum is 82, she doesn't have the Internet. It's ridiculous and we'll have to move vets.
I did call after posting this to confirm the transfer of my mothers dog to another vet. Had a very similar conversation about could have asked for another day. To which I said again, I had asked for a morning when I didnt need to call but wasn't given the choice. Loving the new vet, had same day appointment but do appreciate, time may tell.
Have to add that the new vet said in Bonnie's notes, she probably had a water infection, high protein and crystals in her urine. We were disgusted to hear this as we were never told. Had paid for Bonnie to have the test! But never told she had an infection. It was the reason we went in. And the new vet was also shocked that your vet wanted to amputate bonnies tail when she had a cyst on it. Lucky for her it burst and with home care she was and is completely fine.
Very disappointed when a consultation resulted in complete wrong diagnosis costing in excess of £100 when calling to tell vet the problem i diagnosed myself was unable to get necessary medication without further consultation and cost as a pensioner and at this time of year was unable to continue with necessary treatment making my cats recovery longer.
You have to call on the day you want an appointment & queue up on the phone like calling a local GP surgery. What a ridiculous process, its bad enough calling a doctor on the day, now this is a thing?! Not impressed!
