Specialist Vets in Tyne and Wear

## Summary King’s Road Veterinary Practice Ltd is an independent practice founded in 2012, led by practice owner and Head Veterinary Surgeon Wendy Rowntree. The website highlights nurse clinics plus health packages (Very Important Paws Health Package, Over 8’s MOT Club, and a Healthy Puppy & Kitten Bundle), and states the practice offers out-of-hours emergency assistance. Recent reviews include concrete examples of care such as an allergy injection visit where treatment options were discussed (including help for fireworks-related stress), and a post-op update sent via WhatsApp with a recovery photo after a mouth operation. Pricing and value are a mixed picture in reviews: some describe “reasonable” prices and a monthly VIP plan, while others report unexpected fees (including £60 for brief phone advice) and higher-priced medicines/tests. ## Services - **Out-of-hours emergency assistance** (stated on the clinic website). - **Nurse clinics** (website). - **Health packages/bundles** (website): - Very Important Paws Health Package - Over 8’s MOT Club - Healthy Puppy & Kitten Bundle - **Allergy treatment**: allergy injection mentioned in a review. - **Support for noise phobias/anxiety**: advice on options to help with fireworks stress mentioned in a review. - **Surgery mentioned in reviews**: - Mouth operation with post-op recovery update sent via WhatsApp (review). - Eye operation (review describes complications requiring further operations). - **Diagnostics mentioned in reviews**: - Urine test done on-site (review; cost and turnaround time were commented on). ## Pricing - **£900**: one reviewer reports being charged “nearly £900” connected to an eye operation and subsequent corrective procedures. - **£60**: one reviewer reports being charged £60 for brief phone advice after a dog ingested blood pressure tablets, and says the cost was not explained upfront. - **£12 vs £50**: one reviewer says they were told a cheaper antibiotic wasn’t available, paying £50 instead of £12. - **~£50**: one reviewer reports being charged around £50 for an on-site urine test. - **Discount**: one reviewer states NHS workers receive a discount with ID. - **VIP plan**: reviews mention a VIP plan paid monthly; the website also references a “Very Important Paws” health package (no prices or inclusions provided in the inputs). ## People - **Wendy Rowntree** (Practice Owner, Head Veterinary Surgeon): named on the website as leading the practice. - **Laura** (vet): a reviewer identifies her as “Pippy’s vet” and describes compassionate support during end-of-life care, including agreeing on a plan to take the pet home after a painkilling injection. ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.8 stars from 545 reviews.** **Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.** - **Follow-up and communication:** one owner reports receiving a WhatsApp recovery message with a photo after a mouth operation. - **Advice beyond the immediate problem:** one review describes an allergy injection appointment where other treatment options were discussed, including strategies for fireworks-related stress. - **Compassionate end-of-life support:** a reviewer highlights a vet (Laura) helping plan comfort care when further treatment wasn’t possible. - **Cost concerns and perceived transparency issues (mixed experiences):** - unexpected £60 fee reported for brief phone advice about tablet ingestion - higher-than-expected medication/test costs reported (antibiotic priced at £50; urine test around £50) - another reviewer, by contrast, calls prices “reasonable” and mentions an NHS discount - **Clinical outcome concerns:** one 1-star review alleges complications after an eye operation, saying additional operations were needed to correct the issue.

## Summary Westway Veterinary Centres Ltd is part of the Westway Vets group (established in 1975) and is supported by a Tier 3 RCVS hospital. The clinic highlights a **separate dedicated feline unit** and **Gold standard Cat Friendly Clinic** status, suggesting it’s set up with cat-specific handling and facilities in mind. From recent owner feedback, day-to-day care seems focused on making visits manageable for anxious pets (for example, taking time to help a **timid puppy settle before vaccination** and moving efficiently through appointments for a **nervous large-breed dog** to avoid escalating stress). Reviews also mention **compassionate support on a “very sad day”** and staff being willing to give **advice over the phone**. ## Services - **Cat-focused facilities and standards** - Separate dedicated feline unit (website) - Gold standard Cat Friendly Clinic status (website) - **Routine preventative care** - Vaccinations are explicitly mentioned (review) - **Support for nervous/anxious pets** - Socialisation classes for nervous pets are mentioned by an owner (review) - Staff taking extra time before/after a vaccine to avoid a negative experience for a young puppy (review) - **Clinical assessment and treatment** - Owners describe vets providing analysis and treatment for presenting issues in cats (review) - **Telephone advice** - Owners report staff are willing to help with advice over the phone (review) - **Veterinary Nurse Training** - Listed as a Veterinary Nurse Training facility (clinic data) ## People - **Hannah (vet)**: Mentioned for “analysis and treatment” that owners felt was consistently accurate for their cats, with strong confidence in her decision-making (review). - **Charlotte**: Credited with “outstanding care” over the past year for a dog (review). - **Sophie**: Mentioned alongside the nursing team for compassion during an end-of-life situation (review). - **Nursing/reception team**: Repeatedly described as helping nervous pets settle (including sitting with a timid puppy and offering treats), and helping reduce stress for anxious dogs by keeping the visit efficient (reviews). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.7 stars from 148 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - Efforts to reduce fear and stress in-clinic: extra settling time, treats, and handling approaches tailored to nervous dogs/puppies. - Strong experiences with individual clinicians (notably Hannah; also Charlotte) for ongoing care and problem-solving. - Compassion and support during difficult visits, including end-of-life care. - Practical helpfulness outside appointments, including willingness to give advice over the phone.

## Summary Doorstep Vet is a mobile veterinary service (home visits) that emphasises longer appointments and continuity of care from a small team. Based on the website and recent reviews, they appear set up for pets that find clinic visits stressful and for owners who want more time to talk through options. Owners repeatedly mention home visits for routine care (vaccinations and check-ups), ongoing management for longer-term conditions (including diabetes monitoring with regular check-ins), and end-of-life care carried out at home. Several reviews also describe follow-up actions such as next-day checks with blood test results and a vet phoning after speaking to a medication company to discuss how to use diabetic medication. ## Services - Mobile/home-visit veterinary appointments (multiple reviews describe vets and nurses coming to the home). - Vaccinations and routine health checks (explicitly mentioned for a dog). - Blood tests and follow-up with results (blood tests used to identify diabetes in a cat; another review mentions next-day return with blood test results). - Longer-term condition management and monitoring (diabetes support with medication, diet changes, and monthly check-ins; weight-loss programme with progress monitoring). - End-of-life care at home (one review describes a home visit for euthanasia and the process being kept stress-free for the dog). - Same-day help for an acute issue is described by one owner (team “were there the same day” when a dog hurt himself). - Online prescription ordering (website). - Home delivery for medications (website). - Pet portal access (website). ## People - **Jo (vet)**: Mentioned for examining a nervous dog while another team member fed treats; also phoned an owner after speaking to a medication company to discuss the best way to use diabetic medication. - **Gabby (assistant)** and **Angela (assistant)**: Named in a review describing a vaccination/check-up visit for a dog anxious about vets, and support with a weight-loss programme. - **Charlie (team member)**: Mentioned feeding treats during an exam to help a nervous dog cope. ## Reviews **5 stars from 160 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Home visits are repeatedly described as making appointments “stress-free” for anxious or timid pets (treats used during exams; owners mention avoiding travel and other dogs). - Communication and shared decision-making: owners say options are explained, with transparency around choices and prices. - Ongoing support is a common thread in longer-term cases: diabetes identified via blood tests, then managed with medication, diet changes, and regular check-ins; another owner mentions progress monitoring on a weight-loss programme. - Follow-up is specifically mentioned (next-day check with blood test results; phone call after liaising with a medication company). - Compassion around end-of-life care at home is highlighted, with owners describing the process as made easier and calm for the pet.

## Summary Gilmoor Vets is a veterinary practice that also operates as a **veterinary nurse training facility**. From the latest reviews, it appears set up for routine ongoing care and supportive handling of anxious or elderly pets: owners repeatedly mention **annual vaccinations**, **regular nail trims**, and staff using **treats and calm handling** to help dogs stay relaxed. Reviews also describe **privacy and support during end-of-life visits** (being taken to a separate room away from others). One reviewer reports a serious admin issue: **waiting two months for a response about inaccurate record-keeping** despite being promised call-backs. ## Services - **Veterinary nurse training facility** (stated in clinic data). - **Vaccinations** (annual vaccine mentioned). - **Nail trimming** (regular nail trims mentioned; carried out by nurses and also described during a vaccine visit). - **Care for elderly dogs** (owners describe consultations for an “old girl” and anxiety around senior-pet visits). - **End-of-life support** (a review describes being given a private room away from other people during a pet’s final visit). - **Appointments at another practice when preferred slots aren’t available** (one review says staff try to book clients into another vets if they can’t get the requested time/day). ## People - **Keith Stewart (vet)**: mentioned by a long-term client who says they return to him for an elderly dog because he is “very thorough and very honest,” and that they left feeling more positive about managing senior years. - **Joanne**: credited by a long-term client with helping both a dog and a younger family member feel comfortable attending visits, contributing to a more positive experience. - **Nursing team**: repeatedly mentioned for **regular nail trims** and for being gentle, which owners feel helped their dog become more at ease with coming in. - **Reception team**: described as including pets in interactions (asking permission before offering treats) and staying calm about accidents (cleaning up without “stress and tutting”). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.8 stars from 97 reviews.** Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us. - Dogs being **put at ease** is a repeated theme (treats offered, “made a fuss,” relaxed handling during injections and nail trims). - **Long-term continuity** comes up often (multiple reviewers mention using the practice for many years, including 13–15+ years). - Several reviews highlight vets being **thorough and informative**, including working with owners and answering concerns. - **End-of-life compassion and privacy** is specifically mentioned (being taken to a separate room away from others). - A clear negative outlier: one reviewer alleges **inaccurate records** and says they have waited **two months** for a complaint response despite promises of call-backs.

## Summary SimplyCats Vet Clinic is an independent, feline-only veterinary practice founded in 2009, and it states it holds the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) “gold standard” accreditation. The clinic appears set up specifically to reduce stress for cats, with a cat-only environment and longer consultations, and it says it provides “all services under one roof.” Reviews strongly reflect the cat-only setup (owners explicitly mention the absence of dogs reducing stress), and include examples of follow-up communication (a vet phoning and talking through kittens’ health for around 20 minutes). There’s also at least one recent negative review saying care feels worse since a named vet (Michelle) left, which conflicts with other reviews describing reassuring, kind support from another named vet (Sarah). ## Services - Cat-only veterinary care (the clinic presents itself as feline-exclusive, focused on feline medicine). - Longer consultations (stated on the clinic website). - “All services under one roof” (stated on the clinic website, without specific procedures listed). - End-of-life support is described in a review, including making a cat comfortable “in the last few months of her life” and during a final visit. - Follow-up/telephone advice is referenced in a review (a vet called and discussed two kittens’ health and questions for ~20 minutes). - Emergency veterinary services are listed in the structured clinic data (no further detail provided on how this is delivered). ## People - **Sarah (vet)**: mentioned by name as “always reassuring and kind” (review describes her manner rather than specific treatments). - **Michelle (vet)**: described in one review as “the nicest and most dedicated vet” who helped save a cat’s life when “another vet tried to push us to euthanise him”; the same reviewer says they stopped returning after she left and feels the remaining team doesn’t provide the same level of care. - **Lucie/Lucy (vet)**: one review thanks Lucie for taking great care of a cat (Izzy) during end-of-life care; another review describes “Lucy” calling and chatting for ~20 minutes after a 6‑month review, answering questions and discussing the kittens’ wellbeing. - **Caroline and Deb**: thanked in a review for helping “sort everything else out” and making things easier when the owner was upset (administrative/support role implied but not explicitly stated). ## Reviews **Google rating: 4.8 stars from 98 reviews.** **“Themes below are drawn from the latest written reviews available to us.”** - Owners repeatedly mention the **cats-only environment** as a practical benefit (no dogs “woofing” to stress cats). - **Communication and reassurance**: examples include a vet phoning an owner after a review and talking for around 20 minutes, and another review describing the team making end-of-life visits as comfortable as possible. - **Mixed signals on continuity of care**: one reviewer says the clinic changed for the worse after a named vet (Michelle) left, while other reviews (including recent ones) still describe the vets as excellent and reassuring. - **Price expectations**: one owner says it “wasn’t as expensive or difficult as I had imagined,” while another says it’s “no cheaper than” large vet groups (no specific prices given).