Unfortunately, due to a shortage of vets and vet nurses, it has become increasingly difficult for vet clinics to provide out-of-hours services, and many across the UK have cut back.

Some clinics have partnered with VetsNow Emergency Ltd, which offers 24/7 emergency care and advice to customers. According to their website, VetsNow offers a trusted service to more than 1,700 veterinary practices across the UK, including numerous clinics dedicated to out-of-hours care. Their website allows you to search by city, town, or postcode to find your nearest emergency vet.

Based on a search around Reigate, Surrey, the closest emergency vet care clinics, as per the VetsNow website, are listed below:

• Maven Veterinary Care clinic, based in Sutton, Surrey. You can contact them on 020 8337 2214 during open hours and on 020 8127 0393 for out-of-hours services.
• Alder Veterinary Practice, based in Guilford, Surrey. Their website states that they have fully staffed premises 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in partnership with VetsNow. For emergencies, call them on 01483 536 036.
• Willett House Vets clinic, based in Staines-upon-Thames. Their website confirms that they have fully staffed premises 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in partnership with VetsNow. For emergencies at any time of the day, they can be reached on 01784 452 048.

One clinic that still provides its own in-house emergency and out-of-hours services in Surrey is Priory Veterinary Surgeons Ltd. This practice has three locations in Surrey: Reigate, Redhill, and Tadworth. The Reigate clinic, which usually provides emergency care, is currently undergoing expansion, and as such, the out-of-hours care has been temporarily moved to their Tadworth branch.

The Priory Vets website states that they are available 24/7, 365 days a year, to provide advice and treatment in emergency situations. For emergencies, please call their 24/7 line on 01737 242 190, or visit their website for further information.

Another veterinary clinic offering emergency care is Medivet 24-hour Sutton. It offers emergency pet care 24 hours a day, year-round. Their website states that the practice has state-of-the-art facilities to support its 24-hour care, including an ultra-modern operating theatre, an isolation unit, ultrasound, digital X-ray and ECG units, and an in-house laboratory. Medivet Sutton can be reached on 020 3710 1434.

It’s common for cat guardians to know their emergency vet care details, either because their vet provided them or because they researched it themselves. If this isn’t the case and you want to establish a good option for you, please use the links above to visit each clinic’s website for further information.