10th October 2023
Dear Valued Clients,
I hope this message finds you well, and I extend my heartfelt gratitude for entrusting your beloved pets to Yass Valley Veterinary throughout the years. It is with mixed emotions that I share some important updates regarding our clinic.
Over the past three decades, Yass Valley Veterinary has proudly stood as a beacon of exceptional care for the animals in our community. Our commitment to providing round-the-clock veterinary services, 365 days a year, has been unwavering. We've strived to offer nothing but the best for the pets and their owners who rely on us.
Regrettably, we find ourselves facing challenges that have affected the entire veterinary industry. In the last month, we've experienced the departure of two experienced veterinarians, partly due to the demands of our after-hours and on-call duties. In the face of these challenges, we've encountered some staffing hurdles trying to replace two other veterinarians who left in April.
Furthermore, some of our team members are facing personal issues that may affect their ability to fulfill after-hours responsibilities.
Consequently, we are currently operating with reduced staffing levels. To protect the mental and physical well-being of our remaining veterinarians and to maintain the positive culture at Yass Valley Veterinary, we have had to make some necessary adjustments.
In times of emergency, animals may need to be triaged, and non-urgent and routine appointments might need to be rescheduled or postponed with short notice.
Our Immediate temporary adjustments need to be:
Fewer available appointments on Saturday mornings.
- So please ensure you’ve secured your future appointments. No after-hours services for companion animal emergencies after 10 pm and before 8 am.
- Occasional unavailability of after-hours service during the week and sometimes on weekends and public holidays.
Changes to our after-hours practices:
- We request you check your animals before 9 pm to ensure they can receive care before 10 pm.
Our Medechat triaging service will continue to provide advice and guide you to appropriate care.
- For small animals needing after-hours assistance after 10 pm and before 8am, we recommend:
- Animal Referral Hospital in Pialligo (02) 6280 6344
- Canberra Emergency Veterinary Service in Gungahlin (02) 6225 7257.
We deeply appreciate your understanding and patience during these challenging times. Our dedicated staff will always go above and beyond to provide the level of care that you have come to expect from Yass Valley Veterinary.
We understand how cherished your animals are to you, but please remember that in our treatment rooms and in the field, our team may be attending to animals facing far more critical conditions. It is imperative that we maintain a supportive environment for our staff as their mental health is our top priority. We will have a zero-tolerance policy for any difficult or abusive behaviour.
We are actively working to mitigate this situation and are actively seeking new veterinarians through various avenues. Please know that we remain committed to finding the right professionals to join our team and support our loyal community.
For now, we want to express our gratitude for your continued trust and support. Yass Valley Veterinary remains dedicated to providing the highest standard of care for your beloved pets, and we will keep you informed as our team returns to full capacity.
With sincere appreciation,
Dr Stuart Veterinarian
Principal
Yass Valley Veterinary
