The first stages of work for a new veterinary clinic in Greytown are now underway.
South Wairarapa Veterinary Services [SWVS] managing director Aidan Smith said the new clinic will allow SWVS to maintain a high standard of services in South Wairarapa.
“It will replace our ageing clinics in Martinborough and Featherston, which will close when the Greytown clinic opens,” he said.
Expected to be completed in April 2024, the new facility will be located at the south end of Greytown, behind Five Rivers Medical Centre.
There will be no change to SWVS clinics in Carterton and Masterton, which will continue operating as usual.
“SWVS directors thought long and hard about having to close the Martinborough and Featherston clinics, but unfortunately we cannot provide the consistent hours and high-quality service that we want to deliver in South Wairarapa if we are stretched too thinly,” Smith said.
The new clinic will have farm vets as well as providing more room for “farm specific products”, thanks to being slightly larger than SWVS’ Carterton clinic.
“All team members who have been working in Martinborough and Featherston will shift to the new clinic, so clients will see the same friendly faces when they bring their animal to see us and hear the same voices when they ring for farm supplies,” Smith said.
Meanwhile, SWVS has notified all clients from Martinborough and Featherston clinics to advise them that the new clinic will be opening and that their records will be available at each of the SWVS branches.
A spokesperson for SWVS said there will be no change to SWVS after-hours services, and Martinborough and Featherston clients will start to see more availability of short notice appointments when the new Greytown clinic opens.
“We will have more options to see emergencies during normal hours and fewer referrals to Carterton,” Smith said.
“Our night and weekend services will be run as they are now, through the Carterton clinic.”
