08/05/2026
Port Macquarie does not currently have an after-hours referral centre, as the region is not considered large enough to sustainably support one. A key limitation is staffing - many practices are already struggling to maintain adequate team coverage during daytime hours, let alone for a dedicated overnight service to sustainably support a fully staffed, specialist-led 24/7 referral hospital.
A true 24-hour referral centre isn’t just “a clinic that stays open overnight.” It requires:
• A consistent, high caseload (emergencies + referrals) every night
• Specialist vets (surgery, medicine, ECC) and experienced nurses
• Multiple vets on shift overnight, not just one on-call
• Financial viability to support all of the above
That combination is where regional areas struggle.
As such, many of the veterinary hospitals in Port Macquarie and surrounding areas, share the after hours commitments, to ensure their teams are not at risk of burn out. The reality is, an after-hours referral centre would be welcomed by many veterinarians in our region.
Several clinics in our area utilise a triage service, Vetchat, which assesses incoming calls and ensures that urgent cases are escalated to the on-call vet, while non-urgent concerns are appropriately managed. This helps protect our vets from unnecessary overnight disruptions and allows them to focus on critical cases.
At times, delays can occur when multiple emergencies present simultaneously. These can include toxicities, emergency caesarean sections, trauma cases, complex medical cases, or exploratory surgeries. In these situations, additional team members are often called in to assist, but there may still be unavoidable wait times while cases are being triaged and prioritised.
We are currently upgrading our phone system to provide a more streamlined experience, including direct connection to Vetchat when appropriate.
We understand that delays or limitations in service can be distressing, and we sincerely apologise for any frustration this may cause. It can be difficult to see commentary on social media without the full context of what veterinary teams are managing behind the scenes at any given time.
As an industry, we are doing everything we can to maintain an after-hours service in our region - because the alternative is no service at all, which would have far greater consequences for our community and their pets.
