Referral – Owner Information
What is a veterinary referral?
Many of us will have been referred to a consultant by our GP when we have more complex health issues. Veterinary medicine is similar to human medicine, in that there are occasions when your own vet may need to refer your pet to someone with more expertise in a particular area.
Roundhouse Referrals accept referrals from vets in primary care/first opinion practice – and we also run our own first opinion practices as part of The Pets’n’Vets Family which run from our seven sites within Glasgow and the surrounding area. (For further details visit www.petsnvets.org)
What happens if my pet has been referred?
Your vet will contact us with details of your pet’s medical condition and their recommendation for referral. Copies of your pet’s clinical history, and your contact details will then be sent onto ourselves.
If it is an emergency appointment your vet may give you copies of your pet’s history and any X-rays to bring with you to your appointment.
Our staff will contact you to arrange the referral appointment time, but if there are any queries or concerns you can always contact us on 0141 649 1316.
What do I need to bring with me?
Please bring any medications your pet is taking, any letters, clinical history, test results or X-rays that your vet may have given you.
If your pet is insured please bring a copy of the insurance claim form, signed and completed by the holder of the insurance and the original full insurance policy. If your pet is not insured, please bring a means of payment: this is required at the time of consultation.
What happens when I arrive?
Our referral clinician will examine your pet, review any previous treatments given by your own veterinary surgeon, explain what tests are recommended and give you an estimate of the likely costs involved before any treatment is given.
The referral clinician may advise that your pet needs to be admitted as an inpatient for diagnostic tests, treatments or surgery. This may be performed the same day, or the following day.
What happens if my pet is admitted for tests and treatment?
The Roundhouse Veterinary Hospital is open 7 days a week: Monday to Friday 8am-10pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am-5pm, and has 24 hour on-site veterinary nursing care.
If your pet needs to stay with us for any length of time you will be updated daily with your pet’s progress and also kept informed of ongoing costs of treatment.
The referral clinician will discuss any test results or surgery with you and formulate your pet’s treatment plan.
The Referral Clinician will discuss your pet’s treatment with you and advise you whether any further tests, follow-up appointments or medications are required.
Will my own vet be updated?
Yes. We will communicate all results and your pet’s treatment plan to your own vet, prior to your pet being discharged from the Hospital. We will ensure that your own vet is aware of the treatment plan, all relevant clinical information, and details of medications your pet has been prescribed following discharge from our care.
Can I go back to my own vet for treatments after I have seen you?
This depends on each individual case - your pet may be able to have follow-up care provided by your own veterinary surgeon and we can discuss this with you.
In some cases your pet may need to return to see our referral clinicians for further diagnostic work or treatments.
Our referral clinicians will keep you and your vet fully informed throughout the referral process, and ensure the care advised is what is best for both you, and your pet.