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Reception
 Receptionists will welcome you to The Veterinary Hospital from 08:00 am to 08:00 pm Monday to Friday and 09:00 am to 06:30 pm on Saturday. The remaining hours are covered by duty nurses. We hope that you find our reception staff warm and friendly but also professional in their work. There are 3 full time and 2 part time receptionists, with at least 2 working at any one time. Two of our receptionists are qualified Veterinary Nurses and all of the others have long experience of veterinary practice. Certainly all are animal lovers/owners, and will always be interested in your pet's progress - from the fluffy new kitten to the doddery old dog!
Please do chat with the reception staff – they have a wealth of knowledge and experience between them (Mo and Sally together clocking up almost 40 years!) and can usually help with any problems that you may be having. Amongst other things, they have knowledge of the most appropriate flea and worm preparations available for your pet. A great deal of food sales pass through the reception department and they are trained in the application/advantages of lifestyle diets and will find a qualified VHA to talk to you if appropriate. They often answer questions about how to find a boarding kennels or which pet insurance policy is the most suitable. They have been asked almost every question imaginable over the years and will definitely be able to give sound advice and/or direct you to the most suitable person, so please don’t ever underestimate their skills or think of them as “just a receptionist”!
Receptionists are primarily responsible for organising the working day of the veterinary surgeons, by arranging convenient appointments for clients and booking animals for in-patient procedures. When done correctly this should ensure that the day runs smoothly for everybody. Emergencies are always prioritised, so occasionally other work does have to be delayed or even rescheduled. We are grateful to clients who are usually very patient when this happens. Receptionists also arrange domiciliary work and make sure that vets can get to the busy Veterinary Centres around Plymouth.
A lot of reception work is done on the telephone. We have 6 incoming lines to the hospital and often they are all in use! Reception do their best to connect you with the member of staff that you wish to speak with, but please remember that much of the work that vets and nurses do cannot be interrupted. As you leave the building, it is reception who will make your next appointment and sort all financial transactions. They also usually like to hear how your pet has got on in the consulting room. They may even have a treat for him or her, if allowed!
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