Mercer and Hughes Veterinary Hospital

26/08/2024

Our phone lines haven’t gone over to our Bank Holiday emergency line correctly. If you have an emergency please call 01376 617173

16/08/2024

**IMPORTANT**

Due to staffing levels, tomorrow, saturday 17th, our Saffron Walden branch will be open from 8:30am until 2pm for consults ONLY. We will not be able to perform any procedures or admit any patients for overnight care on site however, we are able to utilise our sister hospital in Bury for this if required. If you feel your pet needs to be seen please call us and we will advise what is best on a case by case basis.

We thank you for your understanding through this difficult decision we have had to make.

10/07/2024

Senior female black and white cat found in Manuden, Bishop Stortford - no ID chip or collar. Very friendly cat. Please contact the Saffron Walden surgery if you think she may be yours.

27/06/2024

We have had a cat brought into our Stansted surgery that has now been transferred to our Saffron Walden Surgery. We are in need to find the owners.

Male, Neutered,Tabby, NOT microchipped.

Found in the Chapel Hill, Stansted.

Please call our Saffron Walden or Stansted Surgery if you think this cat could be yours.

17/06/2024

We have had a cat (not microchipped)brought into our STANSTED surgery. The cat was hit by a car, he is in a stable condition but we would like to find the owners ASAP.

The cat was found in St Marys Drive, Stansted. Female, Black cat. If you think this is your cat please call us at Stansted on 01279813780.

23/05/2024

Dont forget it will be compulsory for all cats in England to be microchipped and registered with your correct contact details from 10th June.

Are you concerned your details might not be up to date? Make an appointment to see a nurse so they scan your cat and check. If they are not up to date we can give you details on what to do.

09/05/2024

We have had a Tortoise brought into our Bocking, Braintree Surgery. The Tortoise was found in the Shalford Area, male and not microchipped. If you are missing your 🐢 then please do give our Bocking surgery a call on 01376 743893.

17/04/2024

If any of our lovely clients have any old towels they need to get rid of we would be very grateful to accept them at our Saffron Walden surgery. Thank you ☺️

25/03/2024

13/03/2024

To all our wonderful clients, upon review of our weekend service offering, we have decided to change our weekend opening hours across our Mercer and Hughes practices.

This will be made to ensure that we can offer enhanced inpatient care and enhance our service offering over the weekend.

With effect from Saturday 6th April 2024, we will no longer be offering appointments on Saturdays at our Great Dunmow, Bocking & Stansted practices.

We will continue to offer appointments and a wider range of services at our Saffron Walden practice.

On Sundays, we will no longer be offering appointments at Saffron Walden. Instead, our vets and nurses will concentrate on caring for hospitalised patients on Sundays.

If you have a pre booked appointment in one of our branches on a Saturday or on a Sunday, one of our colleagues will shortly be reaching out to rearrange and we apologies for any disruption.

Please rest assured that our team remain fully committed to the care of your pets.

In the event of an emergency outside of our standard opening times, you can continue to call any of our practices where you will be directed to our out of hours provider, Vets Now, or call them direct on 01376 530 759.

We also have a full 24 hour service at our sister practice in Swayne and Partners, Bury St Edmunds. They can be reached on 01284701444, the clinic address is Western Way, Bury Saint Edmunds, IP33 3SP. The team at Swayne and Partners will have access to your clinical history, we recommend calling Bury outside of our opening hours, particularly if your pet has an ongoing illness.

We thank you for your continued support and understanding
The Mercer & Hughes Team

13/03/2024

Don’t forget to get your cats microchipped by 10th June when it becomes a mandatory requirement. Call us to make an appointment 🐈‍⬛

01/03/2024

Due to unforseen circumstances we are having to close the surgery on Sunday (3rd March) for any emergencies please call Vets Now on 01376 619435.

29/02/2024

We have very sadly had an entire ginger male tabby cat brought in to our Saffron Walden branch who had been found after being hit by a car near Little Chesterford. He doesn’t have a microchip. If you think he could have been yours please give us a call on 01799 522082.

31/01/2024

✨IMPORTANT UPDATE AND CHANGES TO MEDICATION PRESCRIPTIONS ✨

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is the governing body for all vet practices in the UK. They provide guidelines for all vets and nurses to follow. The RCVS has recently updated its guidance on prescribing medication, especially antibiotics and
anti-parasite treatment.

These changes have been put in place to ensure responsible antibiotic and antiparasitic use, to reduce resistance and reduce environmental contamination. This issue affects animal and human health.

💊ANTIBIOTICS

Your vet can only prescribe antibiotic treatment during an appointment where they have examined your pet. They cannot prescribe over the phone or in person without your pet present. This includes antibiotic tablets, liquids, ear drops, eye drops and creams.

🪲ANTI-PARASITICS

For all year-round flea, tick and worm treatment your vet must write the specific product and dose on your pets file at the time of a physical examination e.g. at vaccination or other consultation. If there is no record on your pets file, we will ask you to please come in for a consultation and physical examination at a reduced consult fee before any more flea and worming and be dispensed for your pet.

🥰 We appreciate your patience and kindness towards our team while we adapt our protocols to the new RCVS legislation, and apologise for any inconvenience. These guidelines carry legal weight so our vets are required to follow them.


📧If you have any feedback please contact the RCVS https://animalowners.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/

The full RCVS guidance can be found here https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/under-care-new-guidance/

ONGOING LONG-TERM MEDICATIONS / REPEATPRESCRIPTIONS

🩺As previously, we need to clinically assess your pet every 3-6 months to be able to continue to dispense long term medications. This includes medication such as Thyrnorn, Apoquel, Vetoryl,Epiphen and includes written prescriptions.

🩺This discussion with your vet will include a physical examination of your pet. We may suggest appropriate additional blood or urine tests / blood pressure testing for ongoing monitoring depending on your pet's condition. We also offer written prescriptions for 3 months or 6 months worth of medication - please speak to your vet for more information.

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17/12/2023

**Our phones are down**
In case of an emergency please contact our out of hours emergency provider, Vets Now on 01376 619435. Thank you.

15/12/2023

Bocking, Braintree Surgery
Our phones are intermittently working please call 01799522082 in emergency

03/11/2023

Monday 6th November- Please keep in mind on the above date we will not be having normal appointments due to a new computer system being installed! Our doors and phones will still be open at all branches with vets on site for emergencies only. Please bare with us while we navigate our way around the new system! Thank you!

02/11/2023

IMPORTANT- Please be aware our Bocking branch will be closed this weekend! Our other surgeries will be open as normal so if you need us please call another branch. Thank you!

24/10/2023

Our Saffron Walden Hospital staff came in to a lovely spooky surprise today - we feel super lucky to have such wonderful clients 🎃 👻 🥰

20/10/2023

🌟We are now offering Keyhole Spays🌟

We’re thrilled to announce that, as part of our ongoing commitment to deliver gold standard care for your beloved pets, we’re now offering Keyhole Spays 🐾

A Keyhole Spay is a minimally invasive alternative to a standard spay, allowing your pet to recover faster and sparing them the need for a long rest period.

Here’s why choosing a Keyhole Spay is a wise decision for both you and your pet:

• 🕒 Faster Recovery with less rest needed
• ✂️ Smaller wounds
• 💕 Less post-operative pain

🐶 Ready to book or interested in learning more? Don’t hesitate to ask a member of our team or by calling us on 01799522082

01/10/2023

From handling incoming calls to seamlessly coordinating appointments, diligently managing repeat prescriptions, and providing compassionate care to our clients and their beloved pets, our reception team goes above and beyond. Join us in celebrating our team today ❤

21/09/2023

REUNITED We have had a tabby and white cat handed in to our Stansted branch. He is a neutered male with no collar and no microchip very friendly found on station road.
If you think he may be yours please call the Stansted surgery on 01279 813780.

13/09/2023

WE ARE HIRING!

We are currently looking for a new receptionist to join our team. You will need to be organised, happy with computers and welcoming!
The daily duties include answering phones, help organising the day to day, booking appointments, answering queries and working as a team to make sure everyone’s day runs smoothly!
The hours are below and all are at our Stansted branch:
Tuesday- 8:15- 2:00
Wednesday- 2:00-7:00
1 in 4 Saturdays- 8:15-12:15

If you are interested please email your CV to our head receptionist Abi on [email protected]

10/09/2023

Please take care out there, it’s a hot one! 🥵