Popular Leicester vets announces shock closure

A popular Leicester veterinary practice has announced it is to close. Broughton Veterinary Group, previously known as King Richard Veterinary Centre and Best Friends Veterinary Group, told customers in an email today that it would be shutting for good next month.

The practice, which has a 4.6 out of five rating on Google, is facing "ongoing team member shortages at the branch and nationwide recruitment struggles", a spokesperson for Broughton Vetinary Group said in the email. A vets has been based at the site for decades, and joined the Broughton group in 2022.

A long-standing customer said of the news: "I'm really shocked. I've been a customer there for absolutely ages. Years. Decades! All my pets have been registered there. The reception staff are lovely and they have a new vet, who is just brilliant. I'm so upset for the staff, and for people like me who have trusted them with generations of their animals. I feel a bit let down by the company that runs it, to be honest. It's been there forever."

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Another customer said: "I'm really sad it's shutting, and a bit shocked, really. There are always people in the waiting room. A few of my pets have been put to sleep there over the years, and I always think about them when I'm in there. The staff are great. It's just really sad."

He added: "The staff must have known this announcement was coming, but they've been as positive and friendly as ever when I've had to take my pet in in recent days. Even today when I rang them, they were were upbeat. I've never once had bad customer service from them, which I can't say for other places I've had dealings with. I feel really sorry for them."

The company said in its email: "To our valued clients. We are writing to let you know that on 21st June 2024, our Leicester branch will unfortunately be closing.

"This has not been an easy decision to make, but due to ongoing team member shortages at the branch and nationwide recruitment struggles we feel that we are no longer able to continue providing the high levels of veterinary care that you and your pets deserve. If you are in the catchment area for our Lutterworth or Broughton Astley branches and would like to transfer your pets' care to one of these sites, you are welcome to join our waiting list.

"These branches aren’t taking on new clients at the moment, but will do so as soon as their teams are able to accommodate this. If you would like to transfer your pet’s care to another veterinary practice, we will of course be happy to send your pets' details to wherever you choose to register with next." It added: "For your reference, your nearest VetPartners practice is Ash Tree Vets in Kibworth, which is just a 30-minute drive away from our Leicester branch."

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