RSPCA’s Finsbury Park Animal Hospital

What are PDSA’s eligibility criteria? Am I eligible for PDSA services?

RSPCA clients who have ​been seen​ at RSPCA Finsbury Park Animal Hospital ​since September 1 2020​​, ​will be eligible for PDSA’s services, unless circumstances such as income, benefits or address have changed since you first registered with the RSPCA.

Owners in receipt of means-tested Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support, or Universal Credit with Housing Element, will be able to receive free treatment for one pet. Additional pets can register for our low-cost service.  Clients who receive a wide range of other benefits will be able to access our low-cost service for their pets. See our webpage for more information – www.pdsa.org.uk/ourservices

Which PDSA Pet Hospital will I be seen at? 

See below for a postcode breakdown of which hospitals will cover which areas:

• E4 – Clients in this postcode will ​be seen at​ Ilford PDSA Pet Clinic
• N6, N8, W9, W10 - Clients in these postcodes will ​be seen at​​​ Hendon PDSA Pet Hospital
• EN1, EN2, EN3, EN4, N9, N13, N14, N17, N18 N21, and N22 - Clients in these postcodes will ​be seen at​ our new ​​Edmonton Green PDSA Pet Clinic for consultations and basic services. For complex treatments they will be directed to our Hendon PDSA Pet Hospital.  The Edmonton Green PDSA Clinic is a former RSPCA site which is being refurbished and will be run by PDSA.

Our catchment areas are designed to keep journey times to a minimum, while also ensuring our sites have the capacity to meet the demand in those areas.   

Will I have to pay for PDSA services?

Owners in receipt of means-tested Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support, or Universal Credit with Housing Element, will be able to receive free treatment for one pet. Additional pets can register for our low-cost service.  Clients who receive a wide range of other benefits will be able to access our low-cost service for their pets.

For a list of which benefits qualify for which type of services, see our webpage www.pdsa.org.uk/ourservices

As a charity we don’t receive any government funding and rely on the generosity of animal lovers to fund our vital veterinary services, so we can continue to be here when you need us most. Whilst we are glad you are able to access our services for free or at low cost, if you can contribute what you can towards your pet’s treatment it would be greatly appreciated. It really does make a difference.

Will this affect the quality of the service my pet receives?

We aim to deliver the highest possible standards of care and service to all our clients. We’d like to reassure you that your pets’ health won’t be affected by this change.

How many pets will I be able to register with PDSA?

There’s no limit to the number of pets you can register with PDSA. Owners in receipt of means-tested Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support, or Universal Credit with Housing Element, will be able to receive free treatment for one pet. Additional pets can register for our low-cost service.

Clients who receive a wide range of other benefits (full list at www.pdsa.org.uk/ourservices) will be able to register as many pets as they like for our low-cost service. Pets can be registered with PDSA whenever they need treatment.

What sort of pets does PDSA treat? Are there any pets PDSA won’t treat?

We offer treatment for a variety of small pets. Our vets care for household pets like cats, dogs, rabbits and other ‘small furries’. We aren’t able to provide care for exotic or specialist species, such as reptiles or wildlife.

What types of treatment does PDSA offer? Can I get the same treatments as I get at RSPCA?

We provide a wide range of treatments at PDSA, including emergency care, diagnostic tests, repeat prescriptions and preventive care (such as vaccinations, flea/worming and neutering).

However, we are a charity and have to ensure our limited funds are used to help as many pets as possible. Therefore, we don’t cover some types of treatment, including prosthetics, and care related to breeding of pets.

For further information on what we can and can’t treat, visit here www.pdsa.org.uk/treat

​​Some of our Pet Hospitals can sometimes be affected by the ongoing vet shortages, so may be unable to offer preventive treatments at certain times. When you register, your local PDSA service will be able to advise you on their current levels of service.

Why am I being asked to access PDSA services instead of being treated at Finsbury Park Animal Hospital?

This is the latest stage of an exciting partnership between PDSA and RSPCA, which will help both pet owners and animals most in need. The collaboration safeguards affordable vet care for thousands of pet owners in need and ensures pets and animals can get the right help as quickly as possible.

The partnership allows both charities to focus on what they do best. The RSPCA will focus their expert veterinary services on supporting their frontline officers and treating more animals rescued from cruelty and neglect. As the vet charity for pets in need, for PDSA this means providing free and low cost veterinary care to hundreds of thousands of pet owners every year, who are struggling to afford vital treatment for much-loved members of their family.

Does PDSA require my pet to be neutered and/or vaccinated?

PDSA doesn’t require pets to be neutered or vaccinated to receive veterinary care at any of our Pet Hospitals. We do highly recommend that pets are neutered as it prevents unwanted litters and can also prevent some quite serious health conditions. We also recommend pets are vaccinated as this helps to protect them against life threatening illnesses.

What if my pet has an emergency out of hours?

Both the RSPCA and PDSA have out-of-hours care arrangements in place. If your pet has an emergency, call RSPCA Finsbury Park Animal Hospital as usual for now.  From March 4 2024, once the changes take place, emergency out of hours care can be accessed through PDSA. If you need to access PDSA services out of hours it's important you

• Call first:
  • Hendon PDSA Pet Hospital on 020 8203 2090
  • Ilford PDSA Pet Clinic on 020 8550 6644
  • Edmonton Green PDSA Pet Clinic on 020 8137 8544
• Follow the message for emergencies
• PDSA will ask you some quick emergency questions about your pet’s condition
• You’ll then be advised on the best option for your pet and what happens next

Things to remember:

• Your pet’s welfare is always our top priority, so in an emergency always call first
• If it’s out-of-hours, you may be asked to take your pet to a different location than your usual vet
• To receive on-going treatment you will need a full registration and proof of eligibility

Will PDSA continue to treat XL Bullies?

PDSA treats all breeds at our Pet Hospitals. To read more on the recent ban and ​​what this means, visit here.

How is my personal information being used by PDSA?

As part of these changes to service, PDSA has entered into a formal data sharing agreement with RSPCA for the purpose of maintaining a charitable veterinary service for affected clients. This data sharing agreement only relates to registered clients at the Finsbury Park Animal Hospital. The information includes basic contact information and associated clinical histories of registered pets. Both PDSA and RSPCA have a legitimate interest in entering into this data sharing agreement.

RSPCA will be transferring your personal information and your pet’s clinical history to PDSA, to ensure we can continue to provide a high standard of care for you and your pets. For more information on how PDSA will use your data, please read our www.pdsa.org.uk/privacypolicy or contact us directly.

I’m a client at RSPCA Finsbury Park but I’ve moved and am now in a different postcode. Can I be seen by PDSA too?

To find out if you are eligible for PDSA help, please call ​us ​on 0800 731 2502.

More information

If you have any further questions please visit the webpage www.pdsa.org.uk/finsburypark or contact either charity using the details below.

• For any PDSA related enquiries, please contact 0800 731 2502, email veterinary.services.enquiries@pdsa.org.uk or through Sign Live or Relay UK.
• For RSPCA, please contact queries@rspca.org.uk