Emergencies and out of hours
Unfortunately there are times when your pet will be sick or injured and will need emergency veterinary care – we ensure that you are never without access to a vet.
EMERGENCIES WITHIN NORMAL HOURS
As a valued Oakhill Vets client, you can attend any of our three branches and our staff will have access to your pet’s details, medical history and notes. All three branches are open 8am-7pm, Monday to Friday, with Lytham Road branch also open on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
If your pet has a problem during our normal surgery hours, please call us immediately. Let us know the issue is urgent and we will ensure that you are offered an appointment on a priority basis.
OUT OF HOURS EMERGENCY CARE
Pets can fall ill or have accidents at any time, which is why we’ve partnered with Vets Now, a dedicated emergency service, to ensure your pet receives expert care outside our regular hours.
Contact Vets Now Preston:
📞 01772 378764
📍 Myerscough House, Longsight Road, Clayton Le Dale, Blackburn, BB2 7JA
Who are Vets Now?
Vets Now is the pet equivalent of an accident and emergency service and the leading provider of pet emergency care in the UK.
The team at Vets Now are always there when we are closed, so you can rest assured that you and your pet will have a vet and nurse on hand, whether it’s three in the morning or half-way through Christmas.
How it works
When our practice closes in the evenings or weekends, Vets Now takes over. If you call us, you’ll either speak to a member of our team or hear a message with Vets Now’s contact details.
On calling Vets Now, you’ll speak with one of their dedicated call handlers who’ll provide you with all the information you require should you wish for your pet to see the veterinary team there. They’ll then inform the Preston clinic of your arrival and send you a text message with confirmation and directions for your visit.
Benefits of dedicated emergency services:
- Immediate care: Vets and nurses are on site around the clock, meaning that you will be seen as soon as you arrive by staff who are well rested and ready for work, no matter what the time.
- 24/7 safe access: Emergency centres are fully staffed, and well-lit throughout the night, making them safe and easily accessible. Because the staff are awake you can call at whatever time you need to, with no worries about disturbing anyone.
In the unfortunate event your pet requires emergency treatment, Vets Now will provide care and send us a detailed report the following working day. If further treatment is needed, your pet may be transferred back to us.
Transferring your pet:
Whenever possible, we encourage you to transfer your pet personally. This allows you to communicate directly with both the emergency vet and our team about ongoing care or additional testing. Pets will only be discharged if they are stable enough to travel.
Why do you not provide your own out-of-hours cover?
At Oakhill Vets, your pet’s wellbeing is our top priority. To deliver the highest standard of care, day or night, we’re also dedicated to looking after the wellbeing of our staff, ensuring they have a work-life balance and a manageable workload.
Due to an ongoing national shortage of vets, we currently cannot staff our own out-of-hours service without compromising the quality of care during normal hours. Partnering with Vets Now ensures your pet has access to exceptional round-the-clock care while allowing our team to remain well-rested and fully focused during regular hours.
We’re proud to work alongside Vets Now and believe this partnership provides the best care for your pets at all times.
If you have any questions about this service, please feel free to contact us.