We offer our own out of hours service, with our own vets, until 7pm.
After this, our out of hours will be transferred to Vets Now....
Within normal hours Emergency Treatment
If your pet has a problem during our normal surgery hours, please telephone the practice immediately and we will ensure that you are offered an appointment on a priority basis. Please make it clear to us that the matter is not routine and we will do our best to attend to you as soon as possible.
Out of Hours Emergency Treatment
Outside of our normal opening times when you phone the practice you will hear a recorded message giving details of our out of hours service.
You may be transferred to either our practice duty vet or Vets Now, our designated emergency service.
If your pet requires an emergency appointment, you may be directed to attend one of our branch surgeries at Southport or Rufford, or the most appropriate Vets Now clinic to your location
Rufford Vets uses Vets Now Emergency Vets. Our nearest clinics are: Vets Now Preston, Myerscough Veterinary Group, Longsight Rd, Blackburn BB2 7JA (01772 378 764), Vets Now Liverpool, Woolfall Heath Ave, Liverpool, L36 3YD. (0151 480 2040 ) and Vets Now Hospital Manchester, 98 Bury Old Rd, Whitefield, Manchester M45 6TQ (0161) 222 6101
We know your pet can become ill or suffer accidents at any time. To make sure you have access to high quality care at night, weekends and bank holidays, we have chosen to partner with Vets Now, the leading provider of Out of Hours care.
The team at Vets Now are always there when we are closed, so you can rest assured that you and your pet will have a vet and nurse on hand, whether it's four in the morning or half-way through Christmas. The dedicated Vets Now call handlers will provide you with all of the information you require should you wish for your pet to see the veterinary team based in your local clinic. They’ll then inform the clinic of your arrival and promptly send you a text message with confirmation and directions for your visit. Please don't hesitate to call them if you are at all concerned.
Vets Now take over from us when we are closed. If you call us first, we will have an answer machine message directing you to our out of hours service, which will either be at a Rufford Veterinary Group branch surgery or a Vets Now clinic.
Both Veterinary and Human Medical fields are increasingly using dedicated emergency services. This brings many advantages to our clients:
Emergency centres have staff (vets and nurses) on site around the clock. This means that you will be seen as soon as you arrive by staff who are well rested and ready for work no matter what the time.
Because the staff are awake you can call at whatever time you need to without embarrassment. Emergency centres stay staffed and well lit throughout the night, making them safe and easily accessible.
In the unfortunate event that your pet needs to be seen at Vets Now they will carry out emergency treatment. On the next working day we will be sent all of the details of any treatment your pet required and if possible your pet will be transferred back to us for ongoing care. It is best if you are able to transfer your pet so that you have a chance to speak to both the emergency vet and us directly about ongoing treatment or further tests that may be required. Pets will only be discharged if they are deemed safe to travel.