By Beyond the Clinic - a podcast by and for vet professionals
The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.
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/
Orthopaedic specialists Padraig Egan and Jamie McClement join host Daniella Dos Santos to discuss forelimb lameness in dogs. They stress the importance of taking young dog lameness seriously to catch developmental diseases early. They also explore why imaging should complement, not replace, a thorough clinical examination.
Padraig Egan
Padraig is a European Diplomat in Small Animal Surgery. He currently works at East Neuk Vet Clinic, an orthopaedic referral clinic in rural Fife, which receives cases from all over Scotland. Padraig’s career pathway has been varied with time spent in the charity sector, as a mixed vet, and as a dedicated OOH vet followed by the specialist training pathway of internship and residency. To contact Padraig Egan regarding cases and referrals: [email protected]. To find out more about East Neuk Vet Clinic https://www.eastneukvetclinic.co.uk/.
Jamie McClement
Jamie graduated from Liverpool University in 2001, and joined Abington Park Vet Group in 2008 as a first opinion clinician with a surgical interest. He completed the CertSAS in 2009, and moved into full-time referral work in 2011. The practice joined IVC Evidensia in May 2012, and he attended the IVC Clinical Board that year, and has been a member ever since, serving on both the welfare and clinical excellence committees. Jamie has contributed to documents including neutering and chronic pain management guidelines in that time. He works full-time as a referral surgeon (becoming an Advanced Practitioner in 2015) and Clinical Director. His clinical interests are in osteoarthritis management and joint surgery. To contact Jamie McClement regarding cases and referrals: [email protected] . To find out more about Abington Park Vet Group: https://www.abingtonparkvetreferrals.co.uk/referring-vets.
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 Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.
Recapping memorable moments from season two and providing a sneak peek into our upcoming new season.
We've got orthopaedic specialists Padraig Egan and Jamie McClement discussing forelimb lameness, while Liz Cox clarifies the schedule three legislation's relevance for RVNs. Andy Kent critically examines the use of antibiotics in gastrointestinal diseases, and Laura Playforth emphasises the role of quality improvement across the veterinary team.
On the final episode of season 2, host Daniella Dos Santos and neurology referral clinician Emma Suiter explore the concept of 'neurophobia' - the fear of clinical neurology. Emma shares practical tips on performing the neurological exam efficiently in first-opinion practice. By simplifying the process and prioritising, learn how to gain confidence in managing neurological cases and provide the best patient care.
Emma Suiter
Emma graduated from the RVC in 2016, after which she spent 2 years in first opinion practice before undertaking a rotating internship at the University of Bristol. She completed a neurology internship, followed by a residency at Pride Veterinary Referrals. She has recently moved to Blaise Referrals in Birmingham. Her clinical interests are neurosurgery, in particular, decompressive spinal surgery and spinal stabilisation
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 Clinic do not necessarily reflect those of IVC Evidensia.
Links:
For clinical advice and further information about neurology referral services at Blaise:https://www.blaise-referrals.com/vet-hub/our-services/neurology
Contact Emma and the team at Blaise Referrals: [email protected]
7 steps of the neurological examination: https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=19840&catId=105891&id=8249840&ind=464&objTypeID=17#:~:text=The%20neurological%20examination%20can%20be%20further%20divided%20into%20the%20following,%2C%20and%20(7)%20Nociception.
The grading system for IVDD: https://www.dachshund-ivdd.uk/research/grading-scale-references/
BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Neurology Chapter 1 for the Neurological Examination
Paul Horwood and Jim Hopkins explore the increasing importance of sustainability in farming. Jim is Chair of the Farm Animal Clinical Board at IVC Evidensia and he breaks down how being sustainable is often synonymous with being efficient.. Together, they discuss how vets can influence farm practices to optimise resource use, improve animal welfare, and meet environmental goals. Jim explains the vital role vets play in guiding farmers through sustainable transitions.
Jim Hopkins
Jim has been at Steffan Vets since he qualified in 2005, becoming a director in 2015. He is a mixed Vet but primarily works with livestock. Having a keen interest in sheep he regularly runs farmer meetings and workshops for dairy, beef and sheep. He is passionate about teaching and supporting his younger colleagues as well as clients. He peer-reviews papers for the Livestock Journal and is on the BVA Wales committee.
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.
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.
External Links:
Vet Sustain: https://vetsustain.org
Vet Sustain Carbon Calculator: https://vetsustain.org/shop/carbon-calculator
Vet Sustain 6 Sustainability Goals: https://vetsustain.org/veterinary-sustainability-goals
Host Arlene Connor interviews Carrie Sidden, head nurse at Rowe Vets, on pain management for veterinary patients. Carrie explains the importance of multimodal analgesia and the important role of vet nurses in pain assessment and treatment. She shares practical techniques for pain management, including local anaesthesia. Carrie also discusses integrating new pain protocols through auditing and clinical governance, emphasising the nurses' pivotal role in enhancing pain control.
Carrie Sidden
Carrie is currently Head Nurse at Rowe Vets, a busy first-opinion, IVC Evidensia practice in Bristol. She holds a Graduate Diploma in clinical and professional nursing and a Postgraduate Certificate in Pain management. She is currently embarking on the final year of her Master's in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia at Edinburgh University. Carrie enjoys all aspects of Nursing but has a particular interest in anaesthesia and acute and chronic pain management of our patients.
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 UK.
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:
Zero Pain Philosophy website: https://www.zeropainphilosophy.com/vet-professionals
American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) latest pain management guidelines: https://www.aaha.org/resources/2022-aaha-pain-management-guidelines-for-dogs-and-cats/
RCVS Knowledge: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/quality-improvement/
Host Daniella and emergency specialist Dan Lewis discuss heatstroke in pets. They cover causes and early signs of heatstroke and the importance of immediate first aid. They also discuss clinical and at-home cooling methods, interventions for severe cases, and considerations for brachycephalic dogs. They emphasise the veterinary team's critical role in preventing this life-threatening condition.
Daniel Lewis
Dan is an American, European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care. He has worked at the Vets Now 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Hospital in Glasgow since 2015 and is the National ECC Lead for IVC Evidensia. Dan is interested in all aspects of critical care, but particularly in septic patients and poorly cats, as well as being a keen advocate of the development of non-technical skills in ECC teams, as he believes that these ultimately have the greatest impact on ourselves, our colleagues, and therefore our patients.
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 Specialist Referrals: https://www.vets-now.com/professionals/hospitals/
Proposing the VetCompass clinical grading tool for heat related illness: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7994647/
Cooling methods used to manage heat related illness: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10385239/
Epidemiology of heat-related illness in dogs under UK emergency veterinary care in 2022: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38783549/
Focusing on equine radiography, Maty Looijen and Judith Findlay highlight key practices for pre-purchase examinations and improving radiation safety. They discuss the importance of shielding with fixed barriers and personal protective equipment, maintaining safe distances from the x-ray machine, and the use of goggles in equine radiography. They underscore the role of equine nurses and vet techs in efficient image acquisition.
Judith Findlay:
Judith is a recognised European Specialist in Equine Surgery with RCVS certificates in Equine Orthopaedics and Soft Tissue Surgery, as well as a master’s degree. She currently works at Donnington Grove, a large IVC Evidensia equine hospital in Berkshire.
Maty Looijen:
Maty Looijen is IVC Evidensia’s Group Head Equine Diagnostic Imaging. She completed a residency in Large Animal Diagnostic Imaging at the RVC and has remained as a Staff Clinician in Equine Diagnostic Imaging.
Gayle Hallowell
Gayle graduated from the University of Cambridge and then completed a rotating large animal internship and residency at the Royal Veterinary College. She then moved to the University of Nottingham to complete a PhD on the equine aortic valve and worked there until 2022 when she joined IVC Evidensia as Director of Veterinary Professional Development. She still loves working as an internal medicine and ECC specialist at Pool House Equine Hospital a day a week.
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:
Donnington Grove Equine Hospital Referrals: https://www.dgequinevets.com/referrals
IVC Evidensia equine diagnostic imaging contact email: [email protected]
Research paper from Maty: Should radiographs of the thoracolumbar spine remain part of the pre-purchase exam: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373792375_Should_radiographs_of_the_thoracolumbar_spine_remain_part_of_the_pre-purchase_examination
Research paper discussed in this episode: Substantial variability exists in the interpretation of survey radiographs among equine veterinarians: https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14045
Research paper discussed in this episode: Career outcome of Thoroughbred racehorses with metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint dorsal chip fracture managed non surgically and surgically: A retrospective cohort study: https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13253
Veterinary Quality Improvement (QI) is an essential aspect of delivering optimal care and ensuring patient safety. Laura Playforth, IVC Evidensia's Group Quality Improvement Director, shares her experiences and passion for QI. Laura emphasises the need for a systematic approach to QI, involving measurement, change, evaluation, and continuous improvement. Laura looks forward to a future with an integration of technology and data analytics to further enhance veterinary QI and improve patient outcomes.
Laura Playforth:
Laura, IVC Evidensia’s Group Quality Improvement Director, is responsible for driving our culture of continually improving the care we deliver across the company. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1999, she worked in small animal practices until 2007 before joining Vets Now where she held several roles, the most recent being Professional Standards Director. Laura attained her MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice in 2019 and is the current Vice Chair of the RCVS Knowledge Quality Improvement Advisory Board. She has particular interests in improvement culture, client communication and how QI improves team wellbeing.
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:
VDS Vetsafe: www.vds-vetsafe.co.uk
RCVS Knowledge: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/quality-improvement/
RCVS Guidelines: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/quality-improvement/tools-and-resources/guidelines/
RCVS Checklists: https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/quality-improvement/tools-and-resources/checklists/
Canine Cruciate Registry: https://ccr.rcvsknowledge.org/
Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET): https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/savsnet/about/
Vet Compass: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/about
The podcast currently has 21 episodes available.
14 Listeners
2,961 Listeners
630 Listeners