AVOID this business!
My experience with this veterinary practice fell significantly below the standard one. This vet is part of the CVS UK Ltd group. They don’t wish to mediate!!!
Communication was poor, there appeared to be a general lack of warmth from some staff—particularly towards cats. During my cat drop-off for a potential tooth extraction, the practice’s systems were not even switched on, which meant I was asked a series of questions that should have been readily accessible in her medical records. I was offered a blood test (at an additional cost), which I agreed to, unaware that one had already been carried out just two weeks prior. Had their systems been used, this would have been evident!
With regards to a dispense of medication - no one checked the contents of the bag at the time of collection—despite me specifically calling ahead to request pain relief. It was handed over without any verification or quality control which led to me being given flea and worm killer, not the pain relief. This kind of oversight could cause major issues for clients with limited transport or mobility, and it’s disappointing that such a basic safety process isn’t in place at a long-established practice. It could ENDANGER an animal!
I was also deeply concerned with the way my initial complaint was handled. Although it was made privately, it received a public response from Philip which I felt was unprofessional. When escalated, I was surprised to be referred to by my job title—an unnecessary and irrelevant detail that added to my dissatisfaction.
Eventually, the director Tina became involved as a final point of contact. While I appreciated her intervention, the tone of our interactions felt more business-oriented than focused on genuine client care—something I’ve now come to expect within the CVS UK Ltd group. Despite acknowledging the failings, they have refused to issue any form of refund and still intend to charge the full amount. As a result, I am now disputing the transaction via my credit card provider. Should any monies be recovered, I will be donating the full amount to a local cat charity (one unaffiliated with CVS UK Ltd).
The practice promotes itself as having Silver Cat Friendly status, yet my experience didn’t reflect this. While a curtain and a towel sprayed with calming pheromones may tick a box on paper, it did not demonstrate any meaningful cat-centred care in practice. I have submitted evidence and concerns to the accreditation body behind this recognition, who are now investigating the matter.
I have since moved my cat’s care to a practice in Dunscroft, and the difference has been remarkable. During our first visit, the vet spent nearly 20 minutes reviewing Dottie’s health records with us at no extra cost. This put us at ease, particularly around a heart murmur that had previously been presented as serious by Evolution, but was now described as so mild it would barely register a score of one.
Following my explicit request for Dottie’s records to be closed and for all communication to cease, I was disappointed to receive an unsolicited email from the practice regarding her vaccinations and an invitation to book her in. This communication was not only distressing but may also constitute a breach of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).
Under Article 17 (Right to Erasure) and Article 21 (Right to Object) of the UK GDPR, individuals have the right to request the deletion of their personal data and to object to its further processing, including direct communication. Continuing to contact me after a clear instruction to cease all correspondence is unacceptable and raises serious concerns about the practice’s compliance with data protection legislation.