Veterinary Surgeons

 

Tom Cave - 

BVSc MSc (clinical oncology) DSAM MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine

Tom graduated as a vet from the University of Bristol in 1996 and spent 4 years in private practice in the southwest gaining the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Medicine in 1999. He then moved to the University of Glasgow as a resident in clinical oncology and haematology where he became Senior Clinical Oncologist. In 2003 he returned to the southwest to provide a private oncology and internal medicine referral service. He was awarded the RCVS Diploma in Small Animal Medicine in 2004 and his MSc in Clinical Oncology from the Cancer Research UK Institute for Cancer Studies at Birmingham University in 2005. Tom has a particular interest in medical oncology and haematology but enjoys all aspects of canine and feline internal medicine.
Special interests and research areas: Medical oncology, Haematology (anaemia, clotting disorders), Feline dysautonomia. Selected publications

Prue Neath

BSc(Hons), BVetMed, DipACVS, DipECVS, MRCVS
RCVS, European & American Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Soft Tissue)

Prue graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 1993, and completed a surgery residency at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. She became a Diplomate of the American and European Surgical Colleges in 2000, and is currently a member of the RCVS Surgery Board and an examiner for the European Surgery College. Following five years running the Soft Tissue Surgery Unit at the Animal Health Trust, Prue worked in private referral practice in the Northwest from 2005-2009. She has a particular interest and expertise in Surgical Oncology, but enjoys all aspects of soft tissue surgery and is always happy to discuss problem cases or potential referrals.

 

Peri Lau-Gillard

DRMEDVET CERTVD MRCVS

Peri graduated in 1996 as a Veterinary Surgeon from the LWU in Munich, Germany. She completed her doctor thesis in 1999 whilst working part-time as a locum in small animal practice and also performing various castration projects abroad. Peri moved to the UK in 2000 and worked at two small animal practices in Nottingham as an assistant, before joining the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket in 2001 as a Scholar in Veterinary Dermatology. She completed the training program in 2004 and was also awarded the RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Dermatology that year. In 2005 Peri moved to the South West coast to start work at the University of Bristol as a Clinical Associate in Dermatology. Next to seeing clinical dermatological cases, Peri was involved in a variety of postgraduate and undergraduate teaching. During her time in Bristol she was also working alongside the well-known international dermatologist Dr Peter Hill and Miss Susan E Shaw, which enabled her to fulfil the requirement to take the examination to become a Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Dermatology. Peri joined our referral service in January 2011 and will sit for the ECVD exams in July of this year. In her spare time, Peri enjoys long walks and running with her three dogs Dylan, Buster and Milli, a good workout in the gym, ballroom classes with her husband and socialising with friends.

 

Ross Doust

BVSc CSAS DECVS MRCVS

Australasian and European Recognised Specialists in Small Animal Surgery, Ross graduated from Queensland University in 1991 and worked in primary care practice, until he moved to Glasgow University in 2000 as a resident in small animal surgery, where he gained the RCVS Cert SAS. He became a European Diplomate in Small Animal Surgery in 2004 and worked at the Animal Health Trust and at Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists, New York. In 2010, he was appointed senior lecturer in Small Animal Surgery at Melbourne University. Ross’ interests include orthopaedics and joint disease, spinal surgery, trauma management, and cardiothoracic and vascular surgery.

 

 

Natasha Hetzel

 

BSc(Hons) BVSc CertSAM MRCVS

 

Natasha qualified from the University of Bristol in 2005. She worked in a busy small animal practice in Maidenhead before completing a residency in Small Animal medicine and Critical Care at Bristol University in 2010. She stayed on as a locum in Internal Medicine until February 2011 when she took some time off to have a baby. Natasha gained the RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Medicine in 2009 and will sit the ECVIM Diploma examinations in 2012. Natasha joined Cave Veterinary Specialists in October 2011. She enjoys all aspects of internal medicine but has a particular interest in endocrinology, gastroenterology and feline medicine.

 

 

 

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Veterinary Nurses

 

Stuart Ford-Fennah

BSc(Hons) VNPA RVN MBVNA

Stuart is our Head Nurse and is going to be running our dedicated nursing team.

Stuart graduated from the university of Bristol with a degree in veterinary nursing and practice administration. Throughout university Stuart worked in a wide range of veterinary practices around the country from small mixed practices to large multidiscipline referral centres. Stuart then took a position in a veterinary hospital in the southwest where he developed a keen interest in Anaesthesia and Intensive care. Stuart also has made other achievements while in practice, and was asked to review textbooks and being involved in nursing care chapters for leading veterinary nursing text books. Stuart has also been involved in teaching at Bridgwater College where he taught Anaesthesia and medical nursing to the NVQ Level 3 students.

Stuart has strong values in veterinary nurses using their underpinning knowledge and ‘basic skills’ as these are vital to use alongside the modern high-tech equipment used in modern-day veterinary referral nursing. Stuart has strong views in treating patients as an individual and believes this is essential in achieving the treatment goals and providing exceptional veterinary nursing care to patients.

Away from work Stuart enjoys walking his Dog Hobbie and taking part in numerous outdoor activities including mountain biking and power kiting.

 

Josie Collins

RVN

Josie first started in veterinary practice in 2002 and qualified as a Animal Nursing Assistant in 2004; she then went on to qualify as a Veterinary Nurse in 2006.

During her time in veterinary practice, Josie has worked with predominately small animals, but has also worked with both equine and large animals. In 2008, Josie completed a City & Guilds Dog Grooming qualification at Kingston Maurwood College. Josie’s main interests in Veterinary Nursing include medical nursing and oncology. She also enjoys physiotherapy and has attended many practical and theory lesson to improve her skill and knowledge. Josie has been working with Tom since 2008 and she has developed a keen interest in the field of referral nursing.

Away from work Josie enjoys running and hopes to complete her first half marathon next year. At home Josie owns a 2 year old little Jack Russell called Cooper and a year old cat called Digby. Josie has grown up with and has owned many ponies/horses over the years and enjoys riding and competing in many spheres.

 

 

Emma Bennett

RVN

Emma qualified as a Veterinary Nurse at Farnborough college, Surrey in 2002. Emma has worked in small animal and mixed Veterinary practices around Surrey and Devon since 1999, obtaining experience in all aspects of nursing, and more recently training student nurses.

Most of Emma’s spare time is spent with her own animals, 2 rescue cats and 2 Hungarian Vizsla's. Emma enjoys dog walking and gundog training and has a particular interest in canine behaviour.

Emma has also enjoyed assisting in animal charities abroad where she has been involved in neutering stray cats and dogs, and teaching the local people animal husbandry in Thailand. Emma has also been out to a wild animal orphanage in Zimbabwe to assist with their work.

 

Amy Sessions

RVN

Amy qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in October 2009 from a small animal practice in Hampshire. She now lives with her partner and her German Shepherd called Skye in Somerset. Her professional interests are Radiography and intensive care nursing, she also achieved becoming Deputy Head Nurse at her previous practice. She likes taking on responsibility and is always looking for ways to develop her nursing skills. She enjoys socialising with her friends and going for walks across the muddy fields with the dogs!

 

 

Leigh Anne Buse

RVN

Leigh-Anne has been working as a veterinary nurse since 2006, qualifying as a small animal veterinary nurse in April 2008, after graduating from Hartpury College with a Bsc (Hons) in veterinary nursing science. Leigh-Anne has also completed her veterinary nursing assessor’s qualification in 2010.

Outside of work, Leigh-Anne’s interests include horse riding, swimming and reading, as well as caring for her own menagerie of animals at home, including a horse, dog, 3 cats, lots of guinea-pigs and an African leopard tortoise.

 

Laura Lander

RVN

My name is Laura Lander and I started working in Veterinary practice in 2001. I qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2004 whilst working in a practice in Wellington, Somerset. I have worked with both large and small animals and have been involved in out of hours emergency work. I enjoy all aspects of Veterinary Nursing, but do have a special interest in anaesthesia and surgical nursing. I currently only work two days a week as I have two young children who keep me very busy for the rest of the time. Any other time I have I really enjoy walking my 9 dogs, swimming, baking and the odd bit of gardening.

 

 

Gemma Doble 

BSc(Hons) RVN

Gemma qualified as a veterinary nurse in June 2010 from the University of Bristol with a degree in Veterinary nursing and practice administration. She lives on a dairy farm on the Blackdown Hills and outside of work her interests include being an active member of Young Farmers Club, cycling, cooking and socialising with friends. Gemma enjoys all aspects of veterinary nursing but has a special interest in medical nursing.

 

 

 

 

Debbie Howe

 

RVN A1

 

 

Debbie qualified as a vet nurse in 2005 and went on to gain her A1 assessor qualification in 2007. She was heavily involved with the training of student nurses in practice and also helped run an in-house training scheme. 

In 2010 she began studying for her RVC Graduate Diploma in Veterinary Nursing.

She has a particular interest in getting outdoors and enjoying the fresh air, mainly through walking or running. She has two horses called Roscoe and Matilda who she spends most of her time with.

Debbie is often found raising money for various charities, she is a member of the worldwide veterinary services and has done several neutering trips abroad, travelling to places from Portugal to Botswana to help local charities. Fundraising has also seen her doing various charity runs and even skydiving.

 

 

 

 

Louise Cobham

RVN

 

Louise has worked as a veterinary nurse in a small animal practice in south-east London for 6 years and qualified in July 2008 from Hadlow College in Kent.

Louise has swapped Greenwich Park for the Blackdown Hills where she enjoys walking her labrador Barney. She also has a rescue cat and tortoise to entertain at home. Tom the tortoise spends his days sunning himself in his pen in the grounds of the Cave practice.

 Louise is a trained marine medic and in 2009 spent two months working at the Highlands hospital near John O’Groats for the charity BDMLR

 

 

Gemma Leigh-Firbank

Animal Care Assistant

Gemma has recently joined the team here at Cave Veterinary Specialists as an Animal Care Assistant. She can be found most of the time in the ward area, helping the nurses to look after the inpatients and loves spending time with the animals. As well as attending to the walking and feeding of these animals, she has also proved herself to be full of TLC for our patients!

Gemma lives locally and has a lovely dog called Murphy who is a Collie Retriever cross.

 

Holly Richardson                                   

Animal Care Assistant

Holly is currently at sixth form college studying Spanish, Early History and English.At work she spends her time in the ward area where she helps care for the animals, she also helps to walk and feed them.Holly also has two dogs, one Labrador named Hebe and a Labradoodle named Templeton, along with two cats named Felix and Star.

Outside of college and work Holly likes reading, socialising with friends, going to concerts/festicals and going to the theatre/cinema. After college Holly hopes to take a year off to live in Spain and become fluent in Spanish. 

 

Zoe Stopford

Animal Care Assistant

Zoe has been working as an animal care assistant in the practice since September 2011. Before joining us she studied at the Duchy College in Cornwall to obtain national certificate  in horse management, the advanced national certificate in animal management and the advance national diploma in animal management.

After finishing her studies, she went travelling to Central America including Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica . During he time away she learn Spanish and took salsa lessons amongst other things, making this an unforgettable experience.

On returning to the UK she was pleased to be successful in her application for the animal care position at the hospital which she thoroughly enjoys and says’ she cannot imagine doing anything else’ .  

 

 

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Hospital Administration

 

Claire Cave

Financial Director/Partner

Claire Cave worked as a veterinary nurse in private practice in Warwickshire for 8 years before moving to Bristol University as the Hills Veterinary Nurse in Small Animal Intensive Care in 1998.
In 2000 she moved to Glasgow University where she ran the small animal intensive care unit at the veterinary school. In 2003 she returned to the southwest with Tom.
She has lectured in veterinary nursing at Bicton Agricultural College, Devon and is currently contributing to veterinary nursing texts. Tom and Claire’s son Will was born in 2003 and was followed in 2006 by their daughter Florence. In 2011 Tom and Claire completed their family we their second son Charlie Cave. 

 

 

Charlie Harris

Office manager

Charlie works in the office and oversees every aspect of office admin. Charlie started working with Tom and Claire in their home as their first employee and has enjoyed being part of the evolution of Cave Veterinary Specialists and development of our purpose built specialist facility.

Charlie is the first point of contact at the hospital , for Vets seeking advice or wishing to refer and for clients. Since joining Cave referrals Charlie has passed AMSPAR level 2 in Medical Terminology and is very able to efficiently convey information to and from vets, nurses and clients.

Charlies aim is to help relieve some of the pressure from owners by efficiently dealing with financial and clerical issues Charlie is also very approachable and is compassionate on any matter.

In her spare time Charlies enjoys growing her own vegetables, cooking, wine making, photography, riding her horse and her Harley Davidson. Charlie has two dogs, a horse, multiple fish tanks and one cat to rule them all.

 

Lin Paul

Lin Joined the front of house team at Cave Veterinary Specialists when we moved into the new hospital in November 2010. 

Lin has extensive experience in retail and ran her own retail business for over 25 years! Lin decided to go back to her roots as a receptionist, as she holds our strong values in customer care.

Over the years Lin has been a member of a local dog obedience training club where she has trained her Golden Retrievers Oliver and Kestrel to the Gold Standard of the Good Citizens scheme. Lin has also been a trainer within the club and has trained other budding owners and their much loved pets to this high standard. Lin’s other interests include gardening, where she has a large vegetable plot and a well maintained garden. Lin also has a keen interest in history and regularly visits historical venues and enjoys historical literature.

 

Helen Breakspear - Hughes

Helen joined Cave Veterinary Specialists in the role of Medical Secretary in January 2011. She holds the AMPSAR Diploma qualification for medical secretaries and has many years of experience in this field.

In her spare time, she enjoys pottering on her allotment, walking, cooking, reading, going to concerts/theatre and spending fun time with her family.

 

Jacky Ross

Jacky works in the office along with Charlie. Her responsibilities, amongst others, are insurance claims, booking appointments and reception cover.

In her spare time, Jacky enjoys dog walking and voluntary work for the RSPCA, and she also enjoys spending time at home with her cat Harvey.