Emergency Vets in St Helens

## Summary Bold Veterinary Clinic Ltd. describes itself as a family-run, independent practice that’s been caring for pets for over 30 years. Based on the website, it’s set up for routine care (vaccinations, microchipping) as well as diagnostic and surgical work, with on-site X‑rays, ultrasound, an in-house laboratory, and dental facilities. Recent reviews add concrete examples of what owners actually used them for: next-day assessment and treatment for a rabbit’s cheek lump that was diagnosed as an abscess, a puppy’s second vaccination visit with microchip details corrected, and supportive end-of-life care for a dog (a reviewer specifically mentions “Kelsey” making a difficult visit easier). ## Services Services and capabilities mentioned across the clinic’s website and recent reviews include: - **Emergency care**: the clinic states it provides emergency services and advises calling immediately in an emergency. - **Vaccinations** (review example: puppy’s second vaccinations). - **Microchipping** (review example: microchip mix-up identified and rectified). - **Acupuncture** (listed on the website; also noted as a specialty). - **Animal Health Certificates** (listed on the website). - **Diagnostics and facilities** (from the website): **X‑rays**, **ultrasound**, **in-house laboratory**, **surgery/anaesthesia**, **dental facilities**, kennels, and multiple consulting rooms. - **Species seen** (from the website): cats, dogs, and small animals; reviews specifically mention **rabbits** being treated (including for an abscess). ## People - **Kelsey**: mentioned by name in a review for providing empathy and support during a dog’s euthanasia appointment, which the owner said made the experience easier for their family. - **Vets and nursing staff (unnamed)**: reviewers repeatedly describe gentle handling (including with an anxious puppy) and clear reassurance; one rabbit owner highlighted “handling, care and treatment” during an abscess visit. ## Reviews **4.7 stars from 473 reviews.** The clinic’s latest reviews focus on practical experiences such as quick appointments, gentle handling, and support during difficult visits. **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Speed of access for problems:** one owner reports getting a **next-day appointment** for a rabbit with a cheek lump, later identified as an abscess. - **Handling and reassurance:** multiple owners mention pets being handled gently and staff providing reassurance; an anxious puppy was “seen quickly” and settled with attention. - **End-of-life support:** a reviewer describing euthanasia for a dog explicitly notes staff empathy, naming **Kelsey**. - **Cost described as reasonable:** several reviewers call pricing “reasonable” or “competitive,” but no specific fees are quoted.

## Summary Medivet St. Helens is part of the Medivet veterinary group and is led (per the clinic website) by partner and Veterinary Surgeon **Tom Evans**. The practice appears set up for routine care plus in‑house diagnostics: it advertises **15‑minute consultations**, an **in‑house laboratory**, **X‑rays**, and **ultrasound**. Recent reviews highlight a few specific, practical experiences: **spay surgery** care “from start to finish,” support for an older cat diagnosed with **thyroid problems**, and sensitive handling of **end‑of‑life euthanasia** decisions. Owners also mention organised **puppy social sessions (“puppy party”)** with training tips and socialisation opportunities. ## Services From the clinic website and the latest reviews, services and capabilities mentioned include: - **Vaccinations** - **Parasite care** - **Neutering** (including owner-reported **spaying**) - **Microchipping** - **Dentistry** - **Nurse clinics** (the clinic is also listed as a **Veterinary Nurse Training** facility) - **Home visits** - **Animal Health Certificate** (for pet travel) - Diagnostics and imaging: **in‑house laboratory**, **X‑rays**, **ultrasound** - **Out-of-hours care**: the website states this is provided by **Medivet 24 Hour Alder (West Derby)** Species listed on the website: **cats, dogs, rabbits**. ## People - **Tom Evans (Veterinary Surgeon, partner)** is named on the clinic website as leading the practice. - Reviews frequently mention the wider team (vets, reception, and staff) for concrete actions such as: - Helping owners through **euthanasia appointments**, described as making a difficult day easier and giving an “honest assessment.” - Supporting ongoing care for multiple pets, including older cats with health issues (one review specifically mentions a **thyroid diagnosis**). - Running a **puppy party**: reviewers praise the “ladies that host the puppy party” for giving **training tips**, **socialisation opportunities**, and a **goodie bag**. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.5 stars from 262 reviews.** “Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.” - **Staff interaction and handling**: multiple reviewers describe staff and reception as welcoming and attentive, with pets being kept at ease during visits. - **Surgery and procedures**: one owner reports a smooth experience with a dog’s **spay surgery**, praising care across the whole process. - **Diagnosis and ongoing medical support**: one review mentions an older cat being assessed and found to have **thyroid problems**, with the team described as helpful throughout. - **End-of-life care**: several reviewers reference **euthanasia** for seriously ill pets, describing supportive guidance and a focus on preventing suffering. - **Puppy socialisation/training**: the practice’s **puppy party** is specifically credited with training advice, structured social time, and take-home products.

## Summary Rutland Veterinary Hospital and Referral Centre is an **RCVS-accredited veterinary hospital** offering **24/7 emergency care with team members onsite at all hours**, alongside routine and **referral-level** work (including **advanced diagnostics**, **surgery**, and **hydrotherapy/rehabilitation**). No corporate group ownership is stated in the available information. From the latest reviews, owners most often describe: - **Fast access in emergencies** (one reviewer says they were **seen within an hour** after calling about an emergency). - **Clear explanations and shared decision-making**, including discussions around **spay and vaccine timing** and a **diet regime** for an older dog. - **Administrative support during difficult cases**, including a review mentioning help that “**took the stress of the insurance claim**” off their shoulders. There’s also a clear **mixed experience at reception**: several reviews praise reception helpfulness, but one describes an unpleasant encounter with a named staff member and feeling unwelcome—especially with larger dogs. ## Services Based on the website and reviews, the hospital offers: - **24/7 emergency service** with staff onsite overnight - **Routine veterinary care** (reviews reference **vaccinations** and **spay timing** discussions) - **Referral-level care** and **advanced diagnostics** (stated on the website) - **Surgery** (stated on the website) - **Hydrotherapy and rehabilitation** (stated on the website) - Care for **dogs, cats, and rabbits** (stated on the website) - A **kitten pack** (mentioned by a reviewer, described as good value; inclusions not stated) - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (listed in the provided clinic data) ## People Named team members mentioned in reviews include: - **Ted** (described as “the vet I saw”): praised for being **patient** with an owner attending with **three dogs**. - **Stuart**: thanked for **support and guidance** during a worrying situation, described as reassuring. - **Charlie & Ellie**: credited with being **informative** and “amazing” handling an emergency visit. - **Dr. Bart Ropelewski**: described as **compassionate** and **honest** during end-of-life care, giving the family time and support to make decisions; the reviewer also mentions the wider specialist team helping with an **insurance claim**. - **Gill** (described as admin/reception): one reviewer reports a **bad attitude** and feeling **spoken down to**, in contrast to praise for other reception staff “going over and above.” ## Reviews **4.1 stars from 564 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - **Emergency responsiveness:** being booked in quickly (one reviewer says **within an hour**) and receiving clear advice over the phone. - **Communication that supports decisions:** owners mention getting the information needed to decide on care, including **spay/vaccine timing** and **diet changes**. - **Handling emotionally difficult situations:** one detailed review praises **compassionate end-of-life care**, with time, space, and support to decide what was right. - **Admin experience is inconsistent:** multiple reviews describe friendly, helpful front-desk support, while one reports a specific negative interaction and feeling unwelcome. - **Cost comes up:** at least one reviewer describes the care as **expensive**, despite also saying they felt their dog was in good hands.