We are happy to make house calls as well as farm visits, but appreciate notification before 10am whenever possible. Please give as much information as possible about the case so that we can bring any special equipment or medicines. If it is possible to transport the patient to the surgery, we can offer more immediate and complete care than in the home.

Heathfield reception is open from 8:30 am to 7 pm on weekdays, 8:30 to 11am on Saturdays, for all routine calls and enquiries and to book appointments. Outside of these hours we provide a 24 hour emergency service on the same number, 01435 864422.

Each weekday we have consulting sessions from 9 to 11.30 in the morning, then from 2 to 7pm. In addition, we also consult at our branch surgery in Burwash between 5 and 5.45pm.

We also offer nurse clinics for minor procedures such as suture removal, dressing changes and ear cleaning. Our pet health counsellor also offers regular sessions for advice on all aspects of pet care.

To minimise your waiting time we run an appointment system. If it is impossible for you to attend any of these surgeries, you may come along to Heathfield during the Saturday morning session but please be warned that you may have to wait for some time, dependent upon demand.

While we do not operate a list system like some doctors, we feel that continuity in the care of our patients is important. When you make an appointment, please remind the receptionist if it is for an ongoing case, or if for some other reason you prefer to see one vet in particular. Apart from holiday or study periods, each vet is normally available for at least one of the appointment surgeries each weekday. Evenings and weekends are covered on a rota system.

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible so that it can be offered to someone else. Except in emergencies, clients who arrive without an appointment will be seen only if a space becomes available - it is not fair to delay those who have already booked. For the same reason, please remember that each appointment is for one pet only, so if you want the whole family to be seen at the same time, notify the receptionist when booking.

It helps us if the person best suited to describe the problem attends the consultation. Children are welcome to come along with you, but for legal reasons we cannot prescribe treatment unless an adult owner is present.

Although we try to provide a friendly environment for animals at the surgery, understandably some are apprehensive, so, for safety reasons, we ask that your pet is under control both in the car park and waiting room. This means a collar and lead for dogs and a secure container for cats and other pets. We would obviously prefer to know in advance if your pet might be difficult to handle - in some cases, mild sedation may make surgery attendance less traumatic for all concerned.