White Cross Vets Northampton
Gary Box
White Cross Vets, near Weston Favell Shopping Centre in Northampton is somewhere I’ve visited a number of times with clients pets. The following is my review of White Cross Vets. I should point out that these are merely my views and the some of the criteria I use in assessing a vet might be different or not relevant to your needs.
White Cross Vets – Their History
White Cross Vets has a long history dating back to 1937 when Christine Woods first opened in Leeds. She was joined by Mary Dalby a couple of years later and they traded using the name Woods & Dalby.
The name didn’t change to White Cross Vets until the late 1980’s. The growth in the number of practices starred in the late 1990’s and has continued. At the time of writing this review they had 19 practices situated in the North of England and the Midlands. Indeed the Northampton branch is their most southerly branch.
The Northampton branch joined the group in 2011. I assume this to mean that it was an independent vet prior to this and became part of the White Cross group at this time.
White Cross Vets – The Positives
Whilst my own dog isn’t registered with White Cross Vets I have had some experience with them in the course of running my business. I’ve always found the staff to be professional, caring and friendly. If first impressions are important, anyone entering the Northampton branch can’t help but notice the levels of hygiene and cleanliness.
Another thing I like about White Cross Vets Northampton is the free parking. If you have a large sick dog who is unable to walk, being able to park so closely is a huge benefit.
Since I’m not a customer myself I can’t comment on how their prices compare with other local vets. I’ve noticed prices for things like neutering can vary a great deal between vets. Therefore feel free to comment on how you have found their pricing if you are a customer. On the subject of pricing I should point out their Complete Wellness Plan. For a monthly fee it provides free vet care for the typical routine visits. The dog plan is £19.50 per month and it includes the following:
- Unlimited vet consultations
- Annual routine vaccinations
- Kennel cough vaccination
- Annual physical examination
- Preventative flea treatments
- Preventative worm treatments
- Unlimited nail clippings
- Unlimited anal gland expressions
On top of this the plan gives you discounts on other products and services including:
- 50% off cost of neutering
- 20% off dental procedures
- 25% off Hills pet food
- 25% off toys and treats
Whether the plan is good value will largely depend on how many or how often you generally make use of the above services.
White Cross Vets – The Negatives
So are there any downsides to being a customer of White Cross Vets? Well from my point of view, not really. If I was being picky you could argue that their opening hours might not suit those who work long hours. From Monday to Friday they are open from 8:30am until 7:00pm. Depending on what time you finish work and your commute home, you might find it hard to meet their likely last appointment times. On Saturday they are open from 8:30am until 5:00pm. They are closed Sunday.
These opening hours are probably more than adequate for the average pet owner but there are some who will prefer registering with a 24 hour vet.
In summary there is a lot to like about White Cross Vets Northampton. Looking at other reviews it seems customers are mostly very pleased with the service they provide.