Expert Richard Hooker joins host Liz Cox for an in-depth discussion on the critical role of preventative health in veterinary care. Richard explores how proactive care begins even before getting a pet, giving advice on preventing disease and encouraging responsible pet ownership.

Richard Hooker

Richard qualified as a Veterinary Surgeon in 1994 and then worked in a range of clinical roles before becoming Director of Vet Services at the PDSA. In his role as Country Medical Director at IVCE his main areas of work include setting clinical standards, business support and development, and managing IVC Evidensia’s relationship with the RCVS and other Professional bodies. As part of the Operations team, he is also involved in the wider group strategy bringing our Veterinary Team clinical inputs and insights into the direction and decision-making of the group.

Liz Cox

Liz is the Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, a critical part of the delivery of modern veterinary service and the development of our professional nursing team and complementary care providers such as our teams providing physio and hydrotherapy. Liz is a founding member of the IVC Evidensia Nurse Committee, has presented at major Veterinary Congresses and holds senior office on the RCVS Nurse Council. She has a passion for Nurse Development and training and has worked in a full range of practices from single-site to hospital practices and as a locum for Bristol Veterinary School.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Veterinary nurse host Liz Cox and Head Nurse Rebecca Draper discuss the pivotal role vet nurses play in dentistry. Rebecca explains how nurses can significantly impact all aspects from the initial consult to the dental procedure and the ongoing patient care. Together they discuss dental staging and how this way of working can reap huge benefits in practice to the team, the patient and to pet owners. Rebecca offers advice to nurses looking to develop their skills in dentistry.

Our Guest: Rebecca Draper

Rebecca qualified as an RVN in 2016, then went on to complete a certificate in dentistry in 2021. She is currently a head nurse at Abington Park, an IVC Evidensia multi-discipline, 1st opinion and referral hospital. This year she joined the IVCE Referral Clinical board. Rebecca has been instrumental in providing training for vet and nurse teams within IVCE and has been a contributor to our periodontal disease care framework.

Our Host: Liz Cox

Liz is the Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, a critical part of the delivery of a modern veterinary service and the development of our professional nursing team and complementary care providers such as our teams providing physio and hydrotherapy. Liz is a founding member of the IVC Evidensia Nurse Committee, has presented at major Veterinary Congresses and holds senior office on the RCVS Nurse Council. She has a passion for Nurse Development and training and has worked in a full range of practices from single-site to hospital practices and as a locum for Bristol Veterinary School.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Christmas is fast approaching, and as all vet professionals know, with it comes a range of potential risks to our pets.

Host Daniella and ECC expert Shannon Thorrell discuss the most common emergencies seen during the festive period. From chocolate and mince pies to button batteries, they explore effective strategies for diagnosing, treating, and preventing these risks.

Shannon shares her expert approach to managing toxicities, as well as practical advice for veterinary teams to stay prepared for the busy season ahead.

Shannon Thorrell:

Since 2017 Shannon has been a Veterinary Surgeon at Vets Now, becoming Principal Veterinary Surgeon in 2019. In 2022 she became an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care. She is currently undertaking the BSAVA PgCert in Diagnostic Imaging.

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Vets Now chocolate calculator: https://dog-chocolate-calculator.vets-now.com/ 

The Animal Poisons Line: https://www.animalpoisonline.co.uk

In this equine focused episode, our sports medicine experts James Bailey and Federica Cantatore discuss the application of technology in the lameness exam. Our guests reflect on the evolution of gait analysis systems from their lab roots to versatile, in-field tools. They consider the importance of case selection, where gait analysis systems are likely to add value and touch on their use in the pre-purchase exam. They highlight the limitations of the systems as well as their benefits such as the ability to provide objective data, overcome expectation bias and other subjective influences. 

Our Host

Adam is a EBVS and RCVS Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine having successfully becoming an ECEIM Diplomat in 2021. He has spent the majority of his early career in clinical academic practice, having several roles at the University of Nottingham. More recently Adam has ventured into private practice having worked at both Donnington Grove and Oakham Veterinary Hospital as an equine internal medicine clinician over the past 18 months. Adam currently splits his time between his clinical role at Oakham Veterinary Hospital and as Equine Development Lead within the L&D team at IVC Evidensia. 

Our Guests

James Bailey

James graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, staying on to work with their musculoskeletal research group, further developing his expertise in objective gait analysis for the accurate and quantifiable assessment of lameness in horses. He has worked in 100% equine practice locally developing expertise in sports medicine and rehabilitation. He has worked with competition horses of all levels and regularly provided veterinary care at the regions FEI competitions.

James has numerous clinical publications and has presented his work at the International Conference in Equine Locomotion. He is currently working on a Horse Trust funded research project to improve management of acute and chronic pain in horses as part of The University of Nottingham’s Equine Pain Research Group.

Federica Cantatore

Federica graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine of Turin (Italy) in 2014. Immediately after, she moved to United Kingdom to perform a rotational internship at Pool House Equine Clinic. After completing the internship, she remained in the hospital as junior clinician with particular interest in lameness cases. Federica has passed her Diploma examinations and is now a boarded diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR).

In 2017 she started an alternate residency pathway between University of Veterinary Medicine of Turin and Pool House Equine Clinic. In 2022, she obtained a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (Equine Lameness Diagnosis and Therapeutics) with University of Liverpool and the following year, the Diploma on the American College of Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Links:

Pool House Equine Clinic pages: https://www.poolhouseequine.co.uk/referrals

Oakham Veterinary hospital pages: www.oakhamvethospital.co.uk/referral/equine-referrals/referral-information

Equine Gait Analysis Society: https://www.egas.academy/egas-course

BEVA: https://www.beva.org.uk/CPD-and-careers

Host Daniella speaks to the team involved in developing IVC Evidensia's newly launched Care Frameworks. The team describe what a Care Framework is, how and why these have been developed and how can they help us in practice.

These evidence-based resources target specific clinical conditions to address gaps in care, making use of recent research and expert opinion to boost the veterinary team's confidence in treating complex conditions.

Laura Playforth

Laura is IVC Evidensia’s Group Quality Improvement Director and is responsible for driving our culture of continually improving the care we deliver across the company.

Stuart Garde

Stuart is UK Head of Vet Development for IVCE and chairs the QI Steering Committee. 

Lesley Moore

Lesley is our Quality Improvement Co-ordinator and has been heavily involved in creating the care frameworks.

Rebecca Draper

Rebecca is a Head nurse at Abington Park and has been developing the periodontal disease care framework.

Sarah Cooper

Sarah is the Clinical Director at a first opinion IVCE practice Highcliffe vets who has already been using care frame works in the clinical setting.

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

IVCE Colleagues can access the Care Frameworks via the QI Hub on the Intranet.

Arlene Connor interviews Andrew Whitfield-Roberts about Safari Consulting in veterinary practices. This innovative model involves Registered Veterinary Nurses taking a more active role in consultations and client interactions. By supporting nurses to handle routine check-ups and booster appointments, clinics can reduce the workload on veterinary surgeons and improve overall efficiency. Arlene and Andrew share the emotional benefits for clients, and how it can lead to better client satisfaction and care.

Arlene Connor

Arlene qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2003 and subsequently worked in a small animal practice in central Scotland. She joined Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Glasgow in 2013 as a surgery nurse, before becoming Clinical Nursing Manager in 2014. In 2017, Arlene took on the role of Head of Clinical Operations for Vets Now’s Referral Hospital sites across the UK, which saw her represent Referrals within VetsNow as a member of the Veterinary and Nursing Standards group and at the company’s Clinical Strategy Board. In 2021 Arlene moved over to IVC Evidensia as the National Lead of Referral Nursing, within the newly created Referral Division, taking the lead on the UK’s Referral Nurse Strategy. In addition, with the rest of the National Clinical Lead team, Arlene is responsible for the clinical and professional standards within the hospital and is part of the team responsible for opening new IVC Evidensia Referral Hospitals in the U.K. At home, Arlene lives with her husband, and two small children, Harris the dog and George the cat.

Andrew Whitfield-Roberts

Andrew started nursing in 2008 in Shropshire, He studied at Rodbaston College and after passing his VCA and ANA awards he qualified in 2015 as an RVN. He moved to the Liverpool area and 7 years became a Head Nurse and Practice Manager. He has a passion for sharing and teaching about nursing skills and pushing the promotion of Male veterinary nurses. Areas of interest included neonatal care, wound management and consulting. Currently, he is the Head Nurse at White Cross Vets - St Helens. Andrew holds a BSVA Merit Award in wound management, Cert NCS(RVN Cons) and is currently studying for CertNCS(VPM)

Daniella Dos Santos talks with National Lead for Medicine, Lucie Goodwin about Cushing's Syndrome. Lucie shares her expertise on what Cushing's is, emphasising the importance of understanding the physiology behind it. They discuss the typical signs to look out for, alongside key diagnostic tests. They explore how to best explain the diagnostic process to pet owners, especially when multiple tests are required.

Lucie Goodwin

Lucie graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2004 and spent the following two years working in a busy small animal hospital in Bristol. Having developed a love of internal medicine, she returned to the RVC in 2006 to undertake an internship and subsequently a residency in small animal medicine. Following the completion of her residency, Lucie returned to the West Country to work for the University of Bristol and Langford Veterinary Services as a teaching fellow and internal medicine clinician. She worked as an Internal Medicine Consultant for Axiom Veterinary Laboratories before joining the BSAVA as Head of Education in June 2018. Lucie joined Vale Referrals as an Internal Medicine clinician in September 2021 and became the IVC Evidensia National Lead for Medicine in June 2022. Lucie is also a trustee of RCVS Knowledge, a charity dedicated to the advancement of the quality of veterinary care for the benefit of animals, the public, and society. 

Lucie enjoys all aspects of internal medicine but has a particular interest in renal and urinary tract medicine and immune-mediated diseases.

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient on the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the animal welfare charity SPANA and the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia:

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

Vet Compass Cushing's Predictor Tool: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/new-vetcompass-tool-aids-diagnosis-of-cushing-s-syndrome-in-dogs

Diagnosis of Spontaneous Canine Hyperadrenocorticism: 2012 ACVIM Consensus Statement (Small Animal): https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jvim.12192

Medicine referrals at Vale Referrals Dursley: https://www.valereferrals.co.uk/for-vets/disciplines#internal-medicine

How can we support colleagues dealing with menopause, and what resources are available to those experiencing it?

Host Daniella Dos Santos and guests Sadie and Scott discuss these questions. Menopause symptoms such as anxiety, brain fog, and low mood can have a huge impact. Sadie shares her personal experiences with perimenopause, highlighting the importance of open communication and support from colleagues and leadership. Scott highlights the need for understanding individual needs and making reasonable adjustments. We focus on the importance of increasing awareness and support, offering resources and strategies to help create a more inclusive and supportive workplace.

Sadie Ashbee 

Sadie is Head of People Operations for the UK at IVC Evidensia and has over 25 years of experience within HR. She loves to see people grow & develop as well as delivering a best-in-class experience through the work of our team. 

 Scott Stowell 

Scott is responsible for our people policies and processes at IVC Evidensia, setting our strategy to improve the colleague experience.  He and his team also work on our wellbeing, diversity and inclusion agenda. 

Daniella Dos Santos

Daniella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2012 having previously obtained a degree in Molecular Genetics from Kings College. She has since worked in first opinion, small animal and exotic pet practices across the Southeast. In 2019, she became the youngest-ever President of the British Veterinary Association, leading the profession through the height of the pandemic. During her time as President, she was instrumental in the association’s Diversity and Inclusion work, as well as the development and launch of the Good Workplaces Policy. Daniella was the recipient of the RCVS Inspiration Award 2021 for her leadership and became an RCVS Fellow in 2021 for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession. She is a trustee of the PetPlan Charitable Trust.

Powered by IVC Evidensia 

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners. 

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media. 

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia. 

Links:

BVNA Menopause toolkit: https://bvna.org.uk/project/menopause-toolkit/

BVA Menopause Hub: https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/good-veterinary-workplaces/menopause-hub/

Farm animal welfare presents unique challenges that differ from those in small animal care. Vets Paul Horwood, Gill Whitehurst, and Dave Martin discuss these challenges. They explore how the vet-farmer relationship can support welfare improvements, and stress the importance of understanding the farmer’s perspective. The episode uncovers practical approaches to resolving chronic welfare issues, managing crisis situations, and the role of vets in both advisory and direct intervention capacities.

Paul Horwood

Paul has had a varied career so far, initially an Officer in the military, Paul left and trained as a vet, but kept his links with the military, returning to the front line in Afghanistan in 2012 with the Grenadier Guards.

Paul is currently the Group Veterinary advisor for farm at IVC Evidensia. He qualified from Royal Veterinary College in 2000, and after an internship, joined Westpoint Farm Vets, becoming partner, owner and director along the way, as it grew to 25 practices across the UK. He has a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction from Liverpool University. He's a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer for Vetlife, a member of the BVA council, mental health first aider, and the founder of VetYou, a financial advice platform for the veterinary profession.

Gill Whitehurst

Gill graduated from Liverpool University in 1998 to begin a career in mixed practice. She started working for Glenthorne Vets in 2000 as a mixed practice vet, and now specialises in Farm Animal Medicine and Preventative Healthcare with a keen interest in Lameness and Infectious disease management on farm. Glenthorne Vets became part of IVC Evidensia in 2018 and she took on the exciting challenge of Clinical Director in 2019.

Since joining IVC Evidensia she has been a proud and enthusiastic member of the IVC Farm Clinical Board and has also supported the Graduate Academy, teaching and mentoring students during the farm animal practical sessions. Gill has now joined the Central IVC Farm team as Regional Head of Farm for the Midlands and North of England. Outside of work she loves to watch England Rugby and Cricket and enjoy walking in our beautiful countryside.

Dave Martin

David Martin serves as the group animal welfare advisor at IVC Evidensia and clinical director at Brownlow Vet Group. With over three decades experience, he's well-known in the UK welfare community. David is a leading voice in animal wellbeing and spearheads several key welfare initiatives.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links

IVC Evidensia Welfare contact email: [email protected]

The Farming Community Network (previously The Farming Crisis Network): https://fcn.org.uk/ 

DPJ Foundation mental health awareness training: https://www.thedpjfoundation.co.uk/training/ 

Host Arlene Connor sits down with Liz Cox, IVC Evidensia's Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, to discuss the details of Schedule Three legislation in practice. Liz explains how this legislation allows vets to delegate certain tasks to registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) and student veterinary nurses (SVNs). They also explore the challenges faced by veterinary surgeons and RVNs, emphasising the importance of communication and trust within a veterinary team.

Arlene Connor

Arlene qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2003 and subsequently worked in a small animal practice in central Scotland. She joined Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Glasgow in 2013 as a surgery nurse, before becoming Clinical Nursing Manager in 2014. In 2017, Arlene took on the role of Head of Clinical Operations for Vets Now’s Referral Hospital sites across the UK, which saw her represent Referrals within VetsNow as a member of the Veterinary and Nursing Standards group and at the company’s Clinical Strategy Board. In 2021 Arlene moved over to IVC Evidensia as National Lead of Referral Nursing, within the newly created Referral Division, taking the lead on the UK’s Referral Nurse Strategy. In addition, with the rest of the National Clinical Lead team, Arlene is responsible for the clinical and professional standards within the hospital and is part of the team responsible for opening new IVC Evidensia Referral Hospitals in the U.K. At home, Arlene lives with her husband, two small children, Harris the dog and George the cat.

Liz Cox

Liz is IVC Evidensia's Group Veterinary Nursing Advisor, this is a critical part of the delivery of a modern veterinary service and the development of our professional nursing team and complementary care providers such as our teams providing physio and hydrotherapy. Liz is a founder member of the IVC Evidensia Nurse Committee, has presented at major Veterinary Congresses and holds senior office on the RCVS Nurse Council. She has a passion for Nurse Development and training and has worked in a full range of practices from single-site to hospital practices and as a locum for Bristol Veterinary School. Liz is a huge asset to the group and brings a depth of understanding of the Veterinary Nurse profession that is unparalleled in the industry as a whole.

Powered by IVC Evidensia

At IVC Evidensia we’re building the world’s best veterinary group, with a single purpose; healthy animals and happy owners.

Visit ivcevidensia.co.uk to find out more, or follow us on social media.

Please note that the views expressed by hosts and guests in this podcast Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.

Links:

RCVS Advice on Schedule 3: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/advice-on-schedule-3/#:~:text=Under%20Schedule%203%20to%20the,employed%20in%20the%20same%20practice.

SUPERB Acronym poster: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/superb-checklist-poster-to-assist-schedule-3-delegation/

RCVS Schedule 3 Case studies: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/features/case-studies-for-navigating-schedule-3-delegation-in-practice/