Emergency Vets in Rochester

## Summary Medway City Veterinary Centre is a small-animal practice established in 1988, with on-site imaging (X‑ray and ultrasound) and an in-house lab, plus RCVS General Practice status and Cat Friendly Clinic (Silver) accreditation. The clinic appears set up for both routine care (vaccinations, parasite control, nurse clinics) and a wider range of medical/surgical work, including soft-tissue surgery and referral services (cardiology, dermatology, internal medicine). From the latest reviews available to us, experiences are mixed: some owners describe urgent same-day help without calling ahead and strong post-op aftercare (including a puppy being settled with reception staff after an operation), while others report serious concerns about a vet being “vague” or not examining/testing adequately, and one mentions difficulty pre-booking appointments. ## Services Services and capabilities mentioned on the clinic website include: - **Routine care:** consultations, vaccinations, microchipping, parasite control, six‑month health checks - **Nurse-led care:** nurse clinics; blood pressure checks - **Dentistry** - **Surgery:** general surgery and **soft tissue surgery**; post-operative aftercare is specifically mentioned in reviews (a puppy recovering after an operation) - **Diagnostics:** diagnostic tests & imaging, **X‑ray**, **ultrasound**, and an **in-house laboratory** - **Grooming-related:** grooming & nail clipping; anal sac expression - **Home visits** - **Referral services (as listed):** cardiology, dermatology, internal medicine - **Emergency arrangements (as stated):** emergencies during normal opening hours are handled by contacting the practice; **out of hours, clients are directed to Pet Emergency Treatment Services Ltd.** Species listed on the website: dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, tortoises, and wild birds. ## Pricing - One reviewer reports being **charged £40 for a shampoo**, and says they later found the same product priced at **£13 online**; they also felt there was no guarantee it would work because the cause of the issue was not confirmed. - Another reviewer reports the situation ultimately **cost over £700**, but the detailed costs described relate to care received at an out-of-hours emergency provider after the initial visit. ## People - **Nathan (described by a reviewer as the “head vet”):** one reviewer alleges he did not perform tests or a physical exam (they specifically mention not checking gums) and felt their concerns were dismissed; this same reviewer later describes a serious diagnosis made elsewhere after an ultrasound. - **Reception team:** one reviewer describes “two lovely receptionists” who helped settle a restless puppy after an operation. - **Wider team:** multiple reviews describe staff as friendly and supportive during high-stress situations, including one account of the team taking a cat in immediately after the owner arrived without calling ahead, and another describing kindness around euthanasia (including sending a condolence card). ## Reviews **4.5 stars from 220 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Urgent help and rapid intake:** one owner says they arrived without calling and their cat was taken in straight away after a quick briefing, with the owner crediting the team with saving the cat. - **Aftercare and support during difficult moments:** examples include reception staff helping keep a post-op puppy settled, and a separate review mentioning compassion during euthanasia and a condolence card afterwards. - **Concerns about clinical thoroughness and communication (conflicting experiences):** multiple 1‑star reviews describe a vet being vague or not examining/testing (one mentions possible stroke signs; another alleges no tests were done before a later emergency diagnosis elsewhere). - **Appointment access and costs:** one reviewer says they couldn’t pre-book and had to call on the day; another complains about the cost of a shampoo compared with online pricing and not being told it was available off the shelf.