Welfare Clinics

Our Welfare Clinics are available to help those who are in receipt of named benefits and cannot afford private veterinary fees. We are here to help people so that their pets do not suffer. We can help with minor injuries, medications, flea and worm treatments and can also provide help with neutering and first vaccinations for kittens and puppies up to 14 months of age.

Our Ipswich Welfare Clinic is located at 35a St. Georges Street, Ipswich, IP1 3NF and the telephone number is: 01473 231972

On Tuesdays and Fridays Only – the Ipswich Clinic is open from 11.30am – 1pm, and the phone is answered between 10.30am-1.30pm.

Please scroll down under the map for further information.

The Welfare Clinic at Cedarwood Vets is located at Combs House, Stowmarket Business Park, Needham Rd, Stowmarket IP14 2AH.

Please click here to see how to get help from our Welfare Clinic at Cedarwood Vets

Opening Times

Welfare Clinic Ipswich: sessions are held on a Tuesday and Friday each week and start at 12 noon and run through to 1pm.  No appointment is necessary, you can just turn up with your pet from 11.30am onwards. We operate on a first come, first served basis. Please note, there is NO PARKING at the Clinic; the nearest car park is Crown Street.

Welfare Clinic at Cedarwood Vets, Stowmarket: open Monday to Friday from 8.30am-6pm and until 12 noon on Saturdays.   Appointments can be made on any day, subject to availability.

About the Welfare Clinics

** Please Note** If you are breeding for monetary gain or any of your animals have repeated litters, we reserve our right not to see any of your animals and recommend you should attend a private vet. Whilst we are here to ensure animals get the best care possible, we are a charity and valuable funds could be used to help other animals not associated with financial gain.

At the Ipswich Clinic, we do not have surgical facilities or a laboratory and therefore cannot carry out operations, blood tests or x-rays, etc. on site. However, we do work very closely with veterinary practices in Ipswich and the surrounding area and we can provide vouchers to help towards the cost of some treatments.  We cannot assist with the cost of exploratory work (x-rays, blood tests etc.) or routine dental work.

Please note that the following provisions will be in place at the Ipswich Welfare Clinic to keep the Clinic running smoothly and our staff and customers safe:

• We will open the doors at approximately 11.30am; you must have arrived by 1pm in order to see a vet.
• The telephone is answered from 10.30am to 1.30pm.
• You may be asked to wear a face covering during your consultation with the vet, unless medically exempt.
• Please try to limit attendance to one person per pet. We have a small waiting area and it can get very busy.
• Please bear in mind if the weather is bad there is a limited sheltered waiting area.
• Our vet reserves the right to see clients in a specified area outside the Clinic, this is both for the safety of our staff and clients.
• Pets on long term medications can order repeat prescriptions providing their pet has been seen by the vet within the last 6 months, these can then be collected from the Clinic between 12 – 1pm on Tuesday and Friday.
• If your pet has not seen a vet in the last 6 months and you need medical treatment, you will need to bring your pet to the clinic for a health check and examination.
• Wherever possible we encourage card/contactless payment.

Consultation Fees: Please click here for details of our current fees for both clinics (updated Nov 2023).

Payments: We accept cash and card payments.

Proof of benefit and identification: Please bring this with you each time you attend with your pet.

Out of hours contact:

If you need urgent veterinary assistance outside of our opening hours, please contact a local veterinary practice. If you are not registered with a veterinary practice, you may wish to contact one of the following practices:  The Barn Vets in Ipswich – 01473 730213, Cedarwood Veterinary Practice in Stowmarket – 01449 676966, Bury St Edmunds Veterinary Centre – 01284 630650 to see if they can assist. If you have a general enquiry about our clinic services, please email clinic@rspca-suffolkcentral.org.uk  and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

Please note: At the Ipswich Welfare Clinic we do not have car park facilities available to the public. St Georges Street and other surrounding streets are largely residents’ only parking. The nearest public carpark is in Crown Street.