Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital

WARNING TO FELLOW PET OWNERS – REGARDING BOTH BEAUMONT AND GODDARD VETS I’m writing this post because I had awful experiences with Beaumont and Goddard vets, on many fronts, and had to put my cat down (which, had he been properly treated, he may be alive today). There were several breaches of the RCVS Code of Conduct and arguably legal offences committed, as both vets exhibited professional negligence. My cat was misdiagnosed on multiple occasions, by both vets, with a steatitis/fat pad injury (even though he was indoor cat, no obvious trauma, etc.). In fact, he had lymphangiosarcoma (a type of cancer). He was leaking fluid through his stomach skin and nipple. All symptoms pointed to lymphangiosarcoma. My cat had his first surgery in August (under assumption it was fat pad injury, as opposed to testing for cancer). His suture/skin got worse. Goddard insisted it was fat pad injury. I asked multiple times if it was cancer, but was dismissed. Finally, in October, a surgeon at Goddard told me he would test for cancer (which in fact he didn’t, he only tested for bacteria – which my cat ended up having Staph infection because Goddard refused to give him antibiotics). My cat was in pain and his skin rotting. When they realised they lied to/misled me about testing for cancer, they sent the skin from the August surgery in to be tested and sure enough, he had cancer. We did second surgery on him in October and sent that skin in. The cancer was too far gone, no clean margins. I put him down days later. Had we done a biopsy/syringe fluid in August to test for cancer + done aggressive surgery in August = he may be alive today. He was healthy 8 year old cat. WARNINGS: (1) always insist on a biopsy/syringe of fluid to test for cancer (I pleaded to test for cancer, but was ignored/dismissed); (2) do not let them try create/make you imagine ways in which an injury may have occurred – as opposed to doing proper diagnostic tests; (3) insist on a clear treatment plan, with gating criteria – which when not met, the vets SHOULD (a) refer you to experts e.g. Queen Mother Hospital and (b) “think outside the box” to properly diagnose and prevent pet/owner from pain and suffering; (4) get a print out of the vet notes after EACH visit (you have a right to “prompt” delivery – with both vets they wrote horrendous things in the note that they didn’t tell me about during my visits); (5) get diagnostics lab reports (Beaumont took 4 months to give me scans, after I put my cat down. Goddard dragged heels, I had to call the actual lab. This is violation of RCVS Code, see below); (6) insist on getting antibiotics for your pet even if they say that they don’t want to overdose (my cat got a Staph infection because Goddard refused to give him antibiotics for 6 weeks); (7) if your pet has surgery, insist on getting excised tissue tested for cancer/histopath; (8) if pet spends a night at the vet, the vet has greater level of responsibility, duty and obligation (Goddard didn’t give my cat his pain meds whilst in hospital and he was suffering – despite me packing his pain meds and writing instructions to give to him in a handover note); (9) do NOT use Hibi scrub or sudocrem on irritated skin (Goddard told me to and made it worse!); (10) get a copy of the vet’s Complaint Policy; and (11) make sure pet’s temperature is taken at EACH visit, track it and ensure no infection (I had to ask Goddard multiple times to take his temp!). IMPORTANT LINKS (need to google because can't post links): Amazing advice - google: I'm unhappy with my vets, what are my rights? Which? I found this link to be invaluable! Vet care is considered a service under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (see sections 49-56); and Animal Welfare Act 2006, sections 2-14. Google solicitors specialising in claims against veterinary surgeries and call them with your case (e.g. professionalnegligence-solicitors.co.uk). VCMS Mediation: vetmediation.co.uk. Prepare your “issues” and where vet breached the RCVS Code, Consumer Rights Act, Animal Welfare Act and what a “reasonably competent” vet would have done. RCVS Code of Conduct - google: RCVS code of professional conduct for veterinary surgeons. Click on the sub-links under “Professional Responsibilities”. Link to file an RCVS Complaint - google: animal owners RCVS concerns. Small Claims court - google: small claims court and money saving expert and citizens advice. You can make a claim for up to £10,000 for a fee of £410 (less if claim is lower). You don't have to pay for other side's legal expenses and max reimbursement cost for expert witness is £200. Read Less

I brought my dog at the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital they did not treat him properly and he consequently died. They put profit/money before the welfare of the animal. They also carry out animal experiments: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/animal_experiments_2020_2059#incoming-1739433 If you had a similar experience, or your pet suffered negligence please note that you are not alone, there are many pet owners fighting for justice for their pets, search on the net. Word of Advice: 1. ask for copies of the medical records - it is your right to see what they did to your pet 2. put a data subject access request - it is your right to know all the information they have about you. 3. put a freedom of information request, you will see how many pets died whilst in their care and how many complaints they have Read Less

You guys are just amazing! I'm so glad I found you! My rabbits could not be in better hands. All the team, students, vets and nurses are great, they treat your pet like a vip. They take so care of you as well, giving every kind of advice, calls every two hours in case of your pet needs to be admitted. They are I believe the only one experienced and knowledgeable about exotic animals. Just the best! Read Less

Great every time, I've got very nervous dog and they really go out of their way to make sure she's stressing as little as possible. Can't rate highly enough. Been going there for years even now I've moved out of the area I'm still coming back to Beaumont. Read Less

My parakeet Max is currently an inpatient an Beaumont Sainsbury after a nasty accident which has left her with a broken beak. I couldn’t even wait until she has been discharged to express my gratitude to this practice. As a GP myself I can understand how difficult it is to manage patient/family expectations, however the care Max has received at this practice and the level of communication we have had with the vets and nurses has been nothing short of outstanding. I would like to particularly mention Jo Hedley - her level of expertise is exceptional and she has been extremely patient and caring throughout Max’s stay. Nurse Suzie been excellent at communicating with us and keeping us up to date. All of the nurses on the ward have been so kind to Max and ensured she has had human interaction and social time which is so important for such a sociable animal. We really are very grateful. Read Less

Excellent service, highly professional vets and a warm welcome with good communication from the reception team. We like the fact that the Beaumont is a teaching facility too and that young vets have the chance to get hands on experience at the end of their study period. We have been with the Beaumont for more than ten years with two large dogs, with sometimes complex medical issues. With both dogs we were extremely happy with the care they received and we will certainly use them in the future Read Less

Very kind and respectful staff. The outcome of my visit there wasn't positive, and they were extremely supportive and gentle in caring for my feelings during a time of stress. Only reason why I am giving such a mild scoring is because I don't believe that the procedures they done were accurate after checking in with a vets afterwards. Read Less

We cannot thank the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital with its doctors, nurses, and staff enough for assisting and supporting us during a yearlong illness of our cat Emma. She has been sick for a long time with stage 2 kidney disease, intestinal problems, and urinary tract infections. Any other place would have given up on her a long time ago, but the doctors and nurses at the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital did all they could to ensure our cats wellbeing and quality of life. With all the issues Emma had, it was no longer feasible to have a cat sitter during the frequent times we had to travel. We always felt very comfortable leaving Emma in the hands of the staff at Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital, whether it was for a long weekend, or a multi-week absence. The staff always welcomed Emma as part of the family, treated her as such, and Emma was always in very good condition and happy when we picked her up. Our cat used to hate going to the vet, but at Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital, she was always happy. In our opinion, there is no other place that takes caring for an animal to this level. This continued to the day we had to put Emma to sleep, when Emer and her staff made us feel like family, always treated Emma in the gentlest ways, and accompanied us up to the last moment. We cannot express our thanks enough to the entire Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital team for taking such good care of our cat, and us. Thank you for everything. Read Less

Great service they saved my cat who had kidney stones which nearly killed him. You do generally get a different vet everytime you go as they have many vets employed there. My vet Anita was very good , and their nurses who attended to my boy who had to stay there for a few days were great. They rung me twice a day to report on how he was doing. I have in the past had a bad experience there with another vet who misdiagnosed my dog a few years ago when she was dying of kidney failure brushing it off as a virus and sending her home, so we did end up at another vet, and sadly she had to be euthanized. But after I requested he not see my other animals ever again, all the other vets I have seen have been great! Read Less

DO NOT USE THIS VET!!! All they do is want your money and do not care about the wellbeing of your pet. My dog was so poorly and they kept telling me he is fine! My dog died this week due to a brain tumour that was too big and dangerous to operate on. I’m not a veterinarian and I could tell you my dog had cancer and these so called qualified veterinarians couldn’t see from all the symptoms. They just kept giving me bills for medication and sent me home and told me to come back in a few days to get more money from me. My dog is dead because of this place. Staff are so rude in this place and receptionist need to learn to keep their mouth shut as they are not qualified to tell you medical problems because all they are doing is reading off a screen. I cannot express how much pain this vet has caused my family and mostly my dog. Clearly my dog was suffering and they told me he’s not. No sympathy from them whatsoever. Do not recommend this place. Stay clear Read Less

I brought my female rabbit here to be spayed recently and I'm so pleased I did. The vets and veterinary nurses are experienced and knowledgeable when it comes to rabbits (who are an exotic pet). I felt really comfortable leaving her in such capable hands and I think you get good value for money considering the aftercare she received post operation. Thanks very much team! Read Less

We took our staffie for an appointment with nurse Shakira after his castration. We thought it would be a very quick post-op check. Shakira was really thorough and as well as checking his operation wound, she took the time to talk about our dog’s diet, his limp and she checked his teeth. She also gave us advice about how best to manage our dog and our new baby. She also got a vet to prescribe some antibiotics for a new rash he had and give us the histology results from the operation. Shakira was really friendly, thorough and knowledgeable. Really excellent service. Many, many thanks! ☺ Read Less

The exotics department are amazing with my rabbits and very patient with me as a very anxious owner. Jo in particular has excellent expertise and is one of the only vets I trust with my rabbits. Reception staff and friendly and helpful and having a separate place for exotic pets is very beneficial. Thank you! Read Less

Update: As promised in the hospitals response below, I was called the following day and Alfie's carrier had been found. Thank you. On Tuesday 21'st April we brought our Gerbil Alfie to the hospital as he was incredibly sick. We've kept gerbils for many years, so knew his chances were slim but wanted to give him the best chance possible. After 24 hours of what I have no doubt was the best care he could have had, we sadly had to let him go. I called the Animal hospital on the Friday, to ask if they needed me to settle the bill on the phone, or if it could wait until the following Monday when I would be in to collect Alfies pet carrier. They said paying in person the following week was fine, and noted that I would be coming in. I made the 45 minute train journey to the hospital on the Monday and paid the bill, however when the receptionist went to get the carrier it was the wrong one. I spent a good 15 minutes with her trying to Google an image of it before being told she would keep looking and call me. I got home and called to see if she had found anything, no luck, but the receptionist was going to send an email around to all staff to look. I had an identical carrier at home so I emailed in a photo to help the search. I have since made two phone called and been promised calls back - nothing. I have also sent two emails without any response at all. Being out of pocket for the price of the carrier is not the end of the world. However I feel like we are being completely ignored now, and what has happened highlights a key issue with how small animals are booked in & their belongings tracked. Alfie meant the world to us. The loss of his personal carrier, and the way they have ignored us, has left us feeling that he was very insignificant to the hospital. For the record although gerbils are tiny, our bill to the hospital was 255.99. We'd also spent 90 for initial emergency care at our local vet. We'd spend all the money we have to help our pets, but I wanted to highlight this so people who don't own small animals know that care costs can be in the same range as for larger animals. I feel bad leaving such a low score, I'm sure Alfies veterinary care was five star, but I have to be honest about our experience. I'm hoping this will encourage someone in the hospital management to get in touch and have the opportunity to resolve this issue. Read Less

we were quoted 450 - 600 for a dental procedure for my cat, when we took him there they said oops sorry got the quote wrong its 1100.00!!!! Seriously!!! How can you 'misquote' that amount?? Apparently the vet who gave the initial quote has done this several times and they are having a meeting!! Shame it wasn't in writing, i would have held them to the initial quote- disgusting!!! Read Less

Just joined before Christmas and so glad I changed vets. All the staff were great,extremely understanding and reassuring. Excellent service and fair pricing. Would highly recommend them and so does MuggieRead Less

I had to book in for an emergency appointment with one of my degus, followed by a routine for all three of them. The staff, from the cheerful receptionists, the nurses, the vets AND the students have been nothing but absolutely wonderful. I would not hesitate to recommend them to anybody. My three were calmer and happier than I would ever have imagined, having never been out of the house before, let alone to be handled by strangers! Read Less

We took our ferret here on Tuesday after an accident. He had already been to see an emergency vets on saturday however after having him home for 2 days his breathing was getting worse (he had trauma around his lungs). The exotic vet Nadene an nurses took great care of him whilst he was there and allowed us to see him too. The vet also gave us regular updates on the phone which is reassuring. We really appreciate your efforts and would definitely return. Read Less

The best rabbit care care you could ever hope for. We've just moved from Camden to Peckham and we still take our two to Nadene and Jo at the Beaumont Sainsbury for vaccinations, check ups and emergencies - we can't imagine anywhere else coming close. Read Less

Took our puppy for his neutering - puppy on the mend and all seems to be working fine. Although communication was not always easy with the hospital and we had to reach out more than the other way round Read Less

We take our guinea pigs to the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital for general checkups, or treatment when they're unwell. Jo has been wonderful every time. Would happily recommend to any exotic / small pet owners. Read Less

Ok so day 2 of care for Freya, my 10 month old panther chameleon. Getting exemplary expert reptile care, explained fully, total dedication. It's 50/50 for my Freya but I know she's in the best hands there now. Thoroughly recommend Beaumont Sainsbury animal hospital. Read Less

Amazing people! We can't thank you enough for everything you've done to help Billiejean. She's proved to be a pretty tough cookie but without your care she certainly wouldn't have made it. We really are grateful! Read Less

unfortunately our beloved dog passed away after we left him in the hospital to do some routine tests regarding his ongoing heart issue. I don't know whose fault it was, maybe it was too stressful for his little heart to stay overnight in the hospital or those incredibly high doses of codeine caused a stroke... We were surprised how much codeine he got! When we left him he was lively and his playful, normal self, we collected a 'vegetable' so the stroke probably happened in the hospital. He died the next day... he didn't manage to even stand on his own after returning from the hospital, at the end he was bleeding from his rectum, vomiting blood and not responsive. We took him back to the hospital and they put him down... and we have never received an explanation what actually happened, it was also too painful for us to start any investigation. He was ill and 13 years old, but still we know it was a human mistake, of course nobody did it on purpose, but staff, and the vet could at least apologise, instead of being defensive and investigate it. They just said - we are so sorry, its probably his heart, we don't really understand what had happened, we appreciate you don't want to take it further... I have two cats we are still with the hospital as I don't really know where else to go. Our local vet is even worse, they were giving my dog strong steroids not even checking he got congenital heart malformation. Usually the hospital is very good and doctors are very good, our cardiologist was always brilliant. Probably we were just not lucky, that day, that doctor, one wrong decision , but still this shouldn't have happened :( soon 1 year anniversary Read Less

Sadly, we have had to say goodbye to an important part of our family ..as Randy (aged 18) became too unwell to carry on . The staff at the Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital handled the difficult situation with compassion and understanding and immense professionalism . We have just received a condolence card from the staff, which was gratefully received and so supportive, after all we all went through the event together. We have not yet received the bill and I feel grateful for their respect . A truly marvellous and trustworthy service . Read Less

I took my guinea pig in to have a mites injection, when speaking to the vet, he said he was worried about a few lumps my guinea pig had on her tummy, after telling him that a previous vet i had seen had already examined them and that they were just fatty lumps that older guinea pigs get, he then proceeded to worry me and tell me they needed to take a biopsy, i was told that the cost of the injection and the biopsy was 100 altogether, after leaving the animal hospital i checked my invoice to find that the cost of the medication i needed was only 10 and the biopsy was 50!! (40 for consultation) and when the biopsy results came back i was not suorised to find that the results were that they are fatty lumps, they then had the ordasity to call me again and ask me to do the test again for another 50 even tho she didnt need it. I was told that the price of the 2 injections to follow were cheaper then the first injection, the first injection being 10 they tried to charge me 49 and then i was told 16 over the phone and then again 27 on the day i went. They are disgraceful and dont have set prices, they added on fees without informing you and are inconsistant, even tho i live next door to the beaumont sainsburys animal hospital i will never go back there.Read Less

Both of my cats recently had surgery with the Beaumont. The team reacted quickly and skilfully to unforeseeable complications to ensure that both cats came through for a full recovery. They are both clearly very happy and were well looked after. This is an excellent vet practice from the reception staff and the nurses to the vets themselves. Read Less

Very capable and friendly vets who patched up my cat when he got hit by a car. They have good opening hours and it is possible to get same day appointments. The out of hours service is less great as your options are Potter's Bar, or a tiny vets 20 mins drive away but this is the price of being able to get an emergency appointment at 1 in the morning! The non-emergency service is also very good, and they seem to genuinely care for your animal's welfare. Read Less

Absolutely great vet, can't really fault it. They offer discount for those on benefits and fees are very reasonable. If you are a breeder, you don't get discount but you are very well looked after and not scorned by them. They have excellent facilities but downside is they dont have an after hours surgery service. There are three sections in the waiting room, Cats, Dogs and small animals. Customer service is very important to them and they are always smiling when you see them. At first, you will be seen by their vet med students who will give a general check up, then you wait for the vet to come and give you extra details. Students can sometimes give you upset looks if they feel strongly about not breeding dogs, but they wont tell you that to your face. The vets never have a problem with breeding as long as good breeding practices are held. Read Less