Hawke’s Bay vets celebrate the opening of a new after-hours clinic for pets

Hawke’s Bay vets are describing the new urgent care and after-hours clinic now open overnight for animal patients as a game-changer.

Hawke’s Bay Urgent Care and After Hours Veterinary Clinic on Grays Rd in Hastings officially opened to animals from 6pm on Monday, and celebrated with a ribbon-cutting and exclusive look at the facility on Friday.

Companion animal group leader for Vet Services Caroline Robertson said the clinic would address long after-hours and emotional burnout so vets could turn up fresh to work.

She said working on call over a weekend was “hard yakka” and in recent times there had been cases of vets in Hawke’s Bay working all 60 hours of the weekend from Friday evening to Monday morning.

Robertson said prior to the dedicated clinic, vets travelled from their homes when called in for an after-hours emergency.

Caroline Robertson (from left), Catherine Wedd, Brendan James and Sandra Hazlehurst at the opening of the vet clinic. Photo / Michaela Gower

The new clinic has a dedicated vet and nurse on site between 6pm and 8am.

“In an emergency, they will be waiting for you, you won’t have to wait for us,” Robertson said.

She said vets were available for medical assessments until 10pm and would conduct surgeries until 4am.

“Even if it’s not an emergency but you are worried about your pet, you can come in and we can elevate whatever discomfort is being caused and put your mind at rest.”

The change has been criticised by some pet owners in Central Hawke’s Bay, who say it leaves them without a local option and therefore a longer drive to the facility in an emergency situation with their animals.

General manager for Vet Services in Hawke’s Bay Brendan James said the building would enable the pet community to have access to the best 24/7 care for their animals.

“This building and the business that will operate from here is a huge step towards helping the veterinary profession be sustainable.”

Catherine Wedd (left) and Sandra Hazlehurst cut the ribbon and officially opened the Hawke's Bay Urgent Care and After Hours Veterinary Clinic. Photo / Michaela Gower

He said the facility and dedicated team would take urgent after-hours and emergency care to “another level”.

James said the service offered at the clinic was twofold, as it would provide care and reassurance for pets and their owners and give the vet profession the ability to “clock off when the day clinics are closed”.

“It’s been well documented in the vet profession how taxing being on call and after hours is, it’s the single biggest issue that causes vets to get out of the profession.”

At the opening on Friday, Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst and Tukituki MP Catherine Wedd cut the red ribbon.

Wedd said there was a real demand for the opening of the after-hours clinic, which meant pet owners like herself would get the support needed.

“Anything can happen at any time and that can often be in the early hours of the morning, or late and night, so to have 24-hour service is really important.”

Michaela Gower joined Hawke’s Bay Today in 2023 and is based out of the Hastings newsroom. She covers Dannevirke, Hawke’s Bay and Central Hawke’s Bay news and loves sharing stories about farming and rural communities.