The UK owner of a Donegal veterinary practice has closed a Letterkenny veterinary hospital “temporarily”.
Donegal Animal Hospital joined the UK–based Independent Vetcare (IVC) company in January 2019, with the running of the practice remaining with its previous owner, Gerald Roarty.
The practice hit the headlines earlier this year when it quoted a charge of €500 for out-of-hours veterinary call-outs.
Staff at the hospital were told on Thursday that the veterinary hospital was closing “temporarily”.
A spokesperson for IVC told the Irish Farmers Journal that the closure was due to “staffing difficulties and other regulatory issues”.
She added that the staff remained on full pay and that the company was “reaching out to see the opportunities for other clinics and practices to help with animal care”.
Time frame
She was unable to give an expected time frame for the temporary closure but added that IVC was working hard to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
When asked about the regulatory issues, the spokesperson said IVC was investigating but she could not go into further details.
“It is very inconvenient but we are working with other practices to provide veterinary care to mitigate the inconvenience,” she said.
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The UK owner of a Donegal veterinary practice has closed a Letterkenny veterinary hospital “temporarily”.
Donegal Animal Hospital joined the UK–based Independent Vetcare (IVC) company in January 2019, with the running of the practice remaining with its previous owner, Gerald Roarty.
The practice hit the headlines earlier this year when it quoted a charge of €500 for out-of-hours veterinary call-outs.
Staff at the hospital were told on Thursday that the veterinary hospital was closing “temporarily”.
A spokesperson for IVC told the Irish Farmers Journal that the closure was due to “staffing difficulties and other regulatory issues”.
She added that the staff remained on full pay and that the company was “reaching out to see the opportunities for other clinics and practices to help with animal care”.
Time frame
She was unable to give an expected time frame for the temporary closure but added that IVC was working hard to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
When asked about the regulatory issues, the spokesperson said IVC was investigating but she could not go into further details.
“It is very inconvenient but we are working with other practices to provide veterinary care to mitigate the inconvenience,” she said.
Read more
Listen: €500 for out-of-hours vet visit in Donegal
Irish vet businesses next in corporate trail
Veterinary Council can't control ownership of vet practices
Letter: shortage of vets in Donegal
Vet shortage: 'There could be no one to calve cows in 10 years’ time'
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