Another tragedy.....averted

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Thomas Johnson — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:26:10 GMT

In my first year after qualifying I was called out by a client whose bitch was having whelping difficulties, I arranged to meet them at the surgery and was about to set off when I was called by an owner whose cat sounded like it had a saddle thrombus, in pain and dragging hind feet, hadn't been out so trauma unlikely. They weren't a client of the practice, or of any other, they lived near the other branch of the practice. I explained that I was on my way to the practice to another emergency, but would be able to see them straight away as well if they would drive the 8 miles, they refused, I said I would see them at the branch near them, but it might be in a couple of hours time, they then said they wouldn't move the cat and wanted a house visit, I told them I wouldn't as we had better facilities at the surgery (and what I didn't say was I was reluctant to go to the house of people I'd never met at 3am). They were very unhappy with that, I told them that the only other option would be to try another practice (there were 2 others in the town). I never heard back from them and when I explained to my boss what I'd said the following morning she said the practice would defend me if they made a complaint. The whelping bitch had a healthy litter of pups with the help of a couple of oxytocin injections.

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 14:57:56 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Wow, that beats my record.

[/quote]

I always say it was won 2, drawn 2, lost 2: two I quit on, two I got sacked from, one draw was a 2 week locum, the other...well I'm still here after 30 years -although I did buy the practiice after 4! In fact the locum was my first job the day after I left college, the guy threw my his keys and said see you in 2 weeks - imagine that happening today!, fortunately for him I was very self confident (you'd never have guessed would you?) and with good reason in all honesty, because I'd had a fantastic vet I saw practice with as a student and let me do everything so all credit to him rather than myself.

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Ian Mostyn — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 13:34:05 GMT

The oddest two clients I ever had were a lady who rang up at midnight ish and after talking to her for few minutes, I met her at the surgery 15 minutes later. When I got there, greeted her by name and started to open up, the first thing she said was "And who are you?". I had only vaccinated her dog 1 month before, knew her name and was opening up the surgery. Who did she think I was?

The second one happened to the lady who took our OOH calls before passing them onto a vet. On a night when she wasn't on duty she got a call at 2am - "Who is this?" came a man's voice. "Well you called me" was the reply. Turns out he was going through his girlfriends phone bill and didn't recognise a number so decided to ring it up in the middle of the night. Guess he must have forgotten about the trip to the vet.

Ian

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Derek Lyon — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 10:47:16 GMT

One night on duty in bed asleep and phone goes at 10pm...ill dog. Said would see them at the surgery some 3 miles away in 10 minutes but would be OOH fee.....Owner said could not afford but said will see anyway. Went and dealt with dog. 3 hours later a guy rings up from a town some 25 miles away with sick snake..same conversation ref OOH and fee...he said could not afford as on dole..I asked how did you afford snake?....answer..with my dole pay out!!...I said see you in about 90minutes at surgery...Oh...can't do that he said I'm off to Blackpool! Head back on pillow and during that night another 2 similar calls all of which I offered to see immediately and charge OOH fee..both said could not afford..still saw and treated..never did pay..but at least I felt I had done my duty. The first client was seen following evening as follow up and had found some money from a friend to pay me..and she did. Surgery started at 8am next morning so had a very disturbed night's sleep. Good job did not have a farm call that night for a reed out etc

Guess what....The following day I said to my wife I'm going to retire...and I did some 5 years later! Happy days. I always offered to see clients no matter what time..!

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Busybee — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 09:50:03 GMT

I always seem to get owners panicking that their dog has a tick and must be seen immediately (including the early hours).

The last woman had heard that putting alcohol on the tick will make it drop off and then asked me if *brand name* whisky would be all right to use! If you like!

A quick quote of the cost of an OOH consultation normally keeps them quiet....

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Clive Ansell — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 08:36:47 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]

Reminds me of the animal-lovers who berated cruel farmers for not bringing their animals indoors during the solar eclipse....... suppose they looked at the sun?

[/quote]

It is perfectly safe if they wear appropriate eye protection.

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 19:12:05 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]Mind you I got through 6 jobs in the first 12 months after qualifying - anyone see a pattern developing here?[/quote]

Wow, that beats my record.

[quote user="Laurence Webb"]Congratulations to your nurse. I'm sorry someone spoilt her day but that's the curse of being someone who cares. Good on her.[/quote]

This is true. Nurse opens door in the smallhours to someone who mobile-phoned from the doorstep. Dog clearly in severe respiratory distress, blue, about to nuff it in fact. Nurse does not p*** about but grabs tubes, oxygen and what-have-you and revives dog. When a certain amount of stability is restored, she says "Now, I'm going to phone the vet to come down. He will examine the dog fully and see what's to be done". Owner:"You mean you're not a vet?". Nurse: "No, I'm just a nurse". Owner (in outraged tones)" Oh! Oh! I'm going somewhere that cares!!" Owner then scoops dog up and stomps off into the night. The next thing we hear is from the neighbouring practice, requesting a history because Mrs. X has just turned up there........eight hours later.

[quote user="Gerry Henry"] Tuesday, sunny, gentle breeze, dog standing in back of BMW convertible (roof down) parked outside practice waiting for owner to come out of local shop. Owner gets into car, just about to drive off when local busy body sticks her mug over the windscreen and berates him for his irresponsibility, leaving a dog in a car unattended on such a hot day! Some of them really don't get it.[/quote]

Reminds me of the animal-lovers who berated cruel farmers for not bringing their animals indoors during the solar eclipse....... suppose they looked at the sun?

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Mark Hedberg — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 15:08:06 GMT

Also fair point. :) To be scrupulously honest, it would utterly depend on how bright eyed and bushy tailed I felt at 4am; I'd like to think I'd have seen them but a coldly honest view of what I'm like at 4am might just have me doing something similar to giving them an AM appointment and back to sleep. :p

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Clive Ansell — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 14:54:49 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

I had exactly the same thing in 2001. Woman phoned Sunday morning 0400 asking me to empty Billy's anal glands, I said no as not an emergency, but I will see you later (only 5 hrs) at 0900 when I will be running a one hour Sunday surgery. She couldn't wait and contacted another vet who turned out and EAG' s at just after 0400 (yes, that is another vet seeing someone elses client OOH!, but thats another debate though).

Boss gave a b******ing and told me I should have seen her. i just asked him for his mobile and said next time I'll give you a ring and you can pop out and EAG at 0400 - didn't go down too well!

[/quote]

Well, if he was so anxious to spend his money, seems someone was happy to take it. Totally another debate, but ooh fees at 4am are averaging between £100-200; so if he's willing to lay it out, I'm sure there's a vet somewhere who'll do it. Money talks, as it usually does. :p

[/quote]

Yes you are probably right, as it was I was a salaried assistant and would have got sweet FA for turning out at 4am. On the other hand, if someone had said there is £250 directly into you sky rocket for EAG at 4am, I would have done it perhaps ??

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Mark Hedberg — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:31:03 GMT

[quote user="Clive Ansell"]

I had exactly the same thing in 2001. Woman phoned sunday morning 0400 asking me to empty Billy's anal glands, I said no as not an emergency, but I will see you later (only 5 hrs) at 0900 when I will be running a one hour sunday surgery. She couldn't wait and contacted another vet who turned out and EAG' s at just after 0400 (yes, that is another vet seeing someone elses client OOH!, but thats another debate though).

Boss gave a b******ing and told me I should have seen her. i just asked him for his mobile and said next time I'll give you a ring and you can pop out and eag at 0400 - didn't go down too well!

[/quote]

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Bob Russell — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 10:57:39 GMT

I had a tannoy message at B&Q in Bournemouth to contact customer services immediately and was told off in no uncertain manner because my dogs had been left in the car while I shopped. I did equally forcefully point out that it was autumn and fairly chilly. It was also pi**ing with rain!! It seems they were worried because the windows were steamed up!

Needless to say the dogs were happily sleeping when we checked on them.

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Martin Atkinson — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 09:23:50 GMT

OK beat this one then: client phoned middle of the night and wanted me to go round and dig up her dog which had been buried in her garden since it was PTS 6 months previously because she'd dreamed ants were nesting in its head and because of this its spirit could leave and go to heaven. I controlled mixed emotions of both laughter and annoyance and ventured that the dog's spirit would have left as soon as it threw off its mortal coil and now it was pushing up daisies the spirit world was clearly in harmony if the ants found it a comfortable place to set up home. We've all had the unreasonable non-emergency client perceived emergency calls at ungodly hours, I recall telling one boss where he could stick his job if he expected me to get out of bed in the middle of the night to empty some anal glands. Mind you I got through 6 jobs in the first 12 months after qualifying - anyone see a pattern developing here?

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Laurence Webb — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 00:20:25 GMT

Congratulations to your nurse. I'm sorry someone spoilt her day but that's the curse of being someone who cares. Good on her.

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Wren — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:48:07 GMT

[quote user="Gerry Henry"]

OK, I swear this is true. Tuesday, sunny, gentle breeze, dog standing in back of BMW convertible (roof down) parked outside practice waiting for owner to come out of local shop. Owner gets into car, just about to drive off when local busy body sticks her mug over the windscreen and berates him for his irresponsibility, leaving a dog in a car unattended on such a hot day! Some of them really don't get it.

[/quote]

OK, so it's not quite a BMW but this is how our dogs travel on hot days:

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Gerry Henry — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 23:03:50 GMT

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Clive Ansell — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:06:45 GMT

Boss gave a b******ing and told me I should have seen her. i just asked him for his mobile and said next time I'll give you a ring and you can pop out and eag at 0400 - didn't go down too well!

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Wren — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:38:27 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Chilton"]

The owners were very happy to begin with then had an argument with reception then me because my name did not appear on the clinical notes (just 'locum vet' instead) and accused me of not enjoying my job and were just generally grumbling!!!

[/quote]

I once had quite a spectacular amount of trouble over a complaint after I expressed a mild reluctance to do a routine anal gland expression on a Sunday morning at 1am. The clients said they had a right to 24hr treatment. I was also accused by them of 'not enjoying my job'. The boss made me ring them up and apologise!!!!

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Niall Taylor — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:53:51 GMT

[quote user="Hannah Chilton"]then had an argument with reception then me because my name did not appear on the clinical notes (just 'locum vet' instead) and accused me of not enjoying my job [/quote]

?????

Some people defy explanation - people like that must have deep problems, count yourself lucky you actually have a life!

Niall

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

HMC — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:44:24 GMT

Please pass on all our 'well dones'. I echo the comment about spectacular highs and lows.

A situation not nearly as dramatic happened to me: a cat was brought in whilst I was out; the o signed the euth consent form and left the cat with us. I examined the cat . The cat was middle aged (8?) and looked very happy and bright but supposedly had an abdominal mass and was dying of cancer according to the previous vets. He was vomiting daily/EOD. I called the owner and just suggested, knowing that finances were a dire issue, that it would be a shame to euth without trying pred (a comment I have heard on this forum!!).

Cat is now fine with no vomiting. The owners were very happy to begin with then had an argument with reception then me because my name did not appear on the clinical notes (just 'locum vet' instead) and accused me of not enjoying my job and were just generally grumbling!!!

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:38:59 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

If the client was out of order perhaps time to give them marching orders. We have a legal responsibility as employers to protect staff from abuse!

[/quote]

I deal with clients who are rude to my staff like I would with my daughters' boyfriends: 'you mess with my girls and I'll mess with you'. They are told if they want to be offensive to someone be offensive with me and apologise or walk and never return. Another reason why I don't have any clients.

PS I would have smashed the window first and asked questions later.

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Bob Russell — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:00:06 GMT

This is a profession of spectacular highs and equally spectacular lows. This is one of the reasons mental health issues are such a problem. Quite right, bask in the glory of saving a life and leave the ratty client to deal with his/her own problems.

If the client was out of order perhaps time to give them marching orders. We have a legal responsibility as employers to protect staff from abuse!

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Gina Dungworth — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:29:52 GMT

Brilliant action by her. Shame about that later client though :-(

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Kate Richardson — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:31:02 GMT

Tell her to focus on the positives and forget the negatives of the day- the client who upset her doesn't deserve another second of her thoughts. Well done from me, she is a star!

Re: Another tragedy.....averted

Dagmar Steele — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 08:49:29 GMT

well done! (Could have been me - I tend to have mood swings like that and one very nasty remark can easily ruin my whole day, might be a question of self-esteem...)

Anyway, she saved that poor dogs life and that was just brilliant!