Specialist Vets in Hillsborough

## Summary Cromlyn House Veterinary Hospital is an RCVS-registered small animal hospital (established in 2010) that covers routine care and surgery, with on-site out-of-hours support via MiNightVet for emergencies. The website describes in-house diagnostics (including an on-site lab, ultrasound and X‑ray) and a wide service range from dentistry and neutering to more advanced areas like keyhole surgery. From the latest reviews available to us, many owners describe clear explanations and ongoing management of complex, long-term conditions (including regular monthly check-ins for an older dog, and discussing treatment options and costs for a dog with a cancerous tail tumour). A minority report a very different experience—raising concerns about transparency, pain management, and decision-making around tests and anaesthesia—suggesting experiences may vary depending on the clinician involved. Concrete specifics mentioned: - Out-of-hours/emergency care on site (MiNightVet is named on the website; emergency appointments are described in reviews). - Dentistry under anaesthesia and pre-anaesthetic blood tests are directly referenced in a cat case (review). - Treatment options discussed “with cost” to support decision-making (review). - Regular, scheduled ongoing appointments used to manage chronic/complex problems (review). ## Services Based on the clinic website summary and the written reviews available to us, Cromlyn House Veterinary Hospital provides: - **Consultations** and routine check-ups, including **six‑month health checks** - **Vaccinations** and **microchipping** - **Neutering** - **Dentistry**, including dental procedures performed **under anaesthesia** (also referenced in a review) - **Surgery**, including **soft tissue surgery** and **keyhole surgery** (listed as specialties) - **Diagnostic tests & imaging**, with **on-site lab**, **ultrasound**, and **X‑ray** - **Nurse clinics** and **blood pressure checks** - Preventive care: **parasite control** - Practical services: **grooming & nail clipping**, **anal sac expression** - **Pet travel documentation** - **Puppy parties** - **Home visits** - Species treated (per website): **dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs** - **Emergency care**: the website states the clinic is open for emergencies with **on-site MiNightVet** providing dedicated out-of-hours consultations The structured clinic data also states it is a **Veterinary Nurse Training facility**. ## People Named team members mentioned in reviews include: - **Katherine/Kathryn (vet)** – Owners describe her assessing dogs during worried/urgent situations, and giving advice with “patience and understanding.” Another reviewer mentions routine reviews for a British Bulldog with Katherine. - **Sophie** – Mentioned in an emergency appointment where she “did everything possible” to make a pet comfortable. - **Joanne** – Thanked alongside Sophie for sensitive handling during an emergency visit. Several reviews also mention the wider team (reception, nurses, vets) being welcoming and attentive during appointments, including during repeat reviews and emergencies. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.4 stars from 143 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Emergency support and calm handling:** multiple owners describe being advised to come in when worried, being welcomed on arrival, and having pets made comfortable during emergency appointments. - **Ongoing care for complex/older pets:** one owner credits repeated support over years (including regular monthly appointments) with helping maintain an older dog’s mobility and stability. - **Decision-making and costs discussed:** one review describes exploring treatment options “with cost” so the owner could choose the best plan for their dog’s cancer diagnosis. - **Conflicting experiences around transparency and clinical approach:** a small number of reviews allege an over-focus on revenue and describe dissatisfaction with explanations and treatment planning (including concerns about the timing of anaesthesia relative to blood test results, and a perceived lack of pain-management discussion). One reviewer explicitly says care felt inconsistent depending on the vet.

## Summary Hillsborough Veterinary Referrals describes itself (via its website) as a **specialist-led, multidisciplinary small animal veterinary referral hospital**. In the latest reviews available to us, owners most often describe **referral-level surgery and case management**, including **BOAS surgery**, **orthopaedic surgery for a broken leg**, and a case involving **paralysis where a scan was done and immediate surgery was recommended**. Several reviews mention structured communication after procedures (for example, **phone calls multiple times per day during a 10‑day inpatient stay**, plus **texts/calls after discharge**), and practical admin support such as **help with insurance claims**. One repeat reviewer reports a very different experience—saying only euthanasia was offered and that their visit was later disputed—so experiences appear to vary. ## Services Based on the website summary and the latest written reviews available to us, services/capabilities mentioned include: - **Small animal referral hospital care** (website). - **BOAS surgery** (brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome) with follow-up appointment(s) (reviews). - **Orthopaedic case management for a broken leg**, including discussion of costs and an **overnight stay** with nursing care (reviews). - **Diagnostic scanning** mentioned as part of an assessment before urgent surgery (review). - **Surgery with inpatient hospitalisation** (one owner reports their dog was cared for for **10 days** after surgery) and post-op rechecks (review). - **Cardiac-related referral consultation** mentioned as a “heart issue,” with detailed explanation during the visit (review). ## People - **Rachel / Rachael (reception/admin)**: mentioned for **handling insurance details/claims** and helping owners feel calmer during anxious visits; one review also notes she helped the visit “go smoothly” and assisted with rebooking (reviews). - **Julie (vet)**: described as **explaining everything in great detail** and **listening** during a visit for a dog’s heart issue (review). - **Darren**: named as the clinician who performed **BOAS surgery**; an owner describes being **talked through what would happen** and why it could improve their dog’s quality of life (review). - **Aidan**: named for a **follow-up appointment** after BOAS surgery (review). - **Phil (surgeon)**: credited with examining a dog, doing a **scan**, recommending **immediate surgery**, and providing frequent updates during hospitalisation; the owner also mentions **two post-op checkups** and follow-up texts/calls after discharge (review). - **Andrew Burns**: named in an orthopaedic case (broken leg) for **detailed explanations including costs**, and going “above and beyond” (review). ## Reviews **4.9 stars from 113 reviews.** The themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - **Clear explanations and communication**: owners mention clinicians explaining plans in detail (including **costs** in one case) and listening to concerns. - **Post-operative updates and follow-up**: one owner reports **2–3 phone calls per day** during a **10‑day** stay, plus ongoing texts/calls and rechecks after discharge. - **Reception/admin support**: multiple reviews call out help with **insurance claims/details** and low-pressure rebooking. - **Specialist surgery experiences**: BOAS surgery and orthopaedic surgery are specifically described as going well. - **Conflicting experience reported**: one reviewer (posting the same complaint twice) says the clinic only offered euthanasia when they wanted treatment options, felt owner input wasn’t welcome, and alleges the clinic later said there were no records of their visit.