FIVP Practice Matters

The Animal Cancer Trust, founded in 2002, provides vital support to both pet owners and the veterinary team. In this episode we meet the CEO, DR VICKI ADAMS and one of the many volunteers at the charity, JOE FLANAGAN, and learn about their valuable work.

For more information visit:

https://www.animalcancertrustcharity.co.uk/

An opportunity at BSAVA Congress and Expo 2025 to catch up with JACK PEPLOE from Veterinary IT Services, following the launch of a brand new CPD stream this year, looking at how practices can improve their day-to-day efficiencies in many different ways.

Plus - how secure are your practice data systems? Jack (who is also a certified ethical hacker) offers up some advice.

Thoughts and comments? As ever, we would love to hear from your practice - send us a voice note to 07709 83 68 65

A sort of tale of two 'VUK's' in this episode of Practice Matters as we firstly get a snapshot of VUK (Verbund UnabhängigerKleintierkliniken) in Germany - a similar organisation to FIVP which supports independent vet practices there. We chat with EBERHARD HOCK and OLIVER VOLIN about the impact that corporate attention is making to the many small clinics there.

We also meet Vetlife UK ambassador OSCAR SINFIELD who tells us about his next mammoth cycling fundraiser for the charity and how your practice can become involved

https://www.vetlife.org.uk/tour-de-vet-school-2025/

https://www.justgiving.com/page/tour-de-vet-school?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL

As always, if you have a story to share about what's happening in YOUR practice, why not send us a voice note via WhatsApp to 07709 83 68 65.

With client communication figuring large on the list of likely 'remedies' by the CMA, this edition of Practice Matters looks at some of the digital tools which many independent practices are utilising. We catch up with VETS DIGITAL, VIDIVET and PETS APP for their top-tips around social and website media, telehealth and online booking services.

We'd love to hear about how inventive your business is being to make things as effective on the comms front for clients. Send us a Voice Note or message via WhatsApp to 07709 83 68 65

In this episode vet and entrepreneur DR KATIE FORD explains coaching and mentoring and how it can be a major asset to the whole practice team.

We also meet executive coach MYLES DOWNEY. Will he be able to convince you that YOU are a genius?

For more information visit https://www.vetempowered.com

We return to SPVS Congress 2025 for this latest edition of the podcast and find out about Employee Owned Trusts with two practices who have approached things from different angles. Heart Vets Cardiology Referrals' DAVE DICKSON and JOANNE HARRIS, together with Pennard Vets' CEO MATT FLANN help to de-mystify this growth area.

Guide to Employee Owned Trusts

With the increase in new independent startup businesses, TRACEY MORBEY and STUART JEEVES from PetPlan explain how the provision of pet insurance arrangement for a new practice can sometimes be a last minute scramble and some of the things to consider in its implementation in the new business.

As ever, we would love to hear your comments, so please send us a Voice Note or message to 07709 83 68 65 about what you are doing in your practice.

The theme of the recent SPVS (Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons) 2025 Congress was 'Connect, Collaborate and Progress' and this edition of FIVP Practice Matters turns the spotlight on our large animal practice colleagues. We catch up with DR OWEN ATKINSON, owner of Dairy Veterinary Consultancy and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production who takes us on a journey of change from Vet 1.0 to 3.0.

The difficult issue of debt in the veterinary sector is discussed with director of DSL (Debtsolve) MIKE BROOKS who has a wake-up call as to how even the smallest of unpaid accounts can seriously damage your business.

Check out this useful calculator to see what he means!

In this episode vet and entrepreneur DR KATIE FORD turns our attention to personal finances amongst vet teams. Why is it taboo? How can finances affect your career journey? Lots of practical advice can be found at https://vetyou.co.uk

Don't forget you can sent us a voice message to 07709 836 865 - we would love to hear from your practice about this or any other subject.

What does the word 'sustainability' mean to your practice? In this edition, we welcome back Onswitch founder ALISON LAMBERT to discuss what a sustainable practice should be considering, as we progress through a forthcoming year of changes in the veterinary space.

In this episode we catch up with a member practice - Westport Veterinary Clinic in Edinburgh and their Clinic Manager FIONA LEATHERS RVN. As one of the participants in the pilot scheme of the BVA Great Workplaces Scheme, Fiona runs through the accreditation process to hopefully tempt more practices to join. We also touch on the area of 'Fear-Free' veterinary practice. Ten years after it was launched at an overseas conference, what has been the impact here in the UK? Again, Fiona tells Practice Matters listeners about her experiences.

At the recent London Vet Show STEVE CARTER from Priory Veterinary Surgeons in Reigate conducted an experiment on the FIVP stand - 'Two Chairs and a Sign' , the objective of which was to discuss practice ownership in an open and frank way. Steve joins us on the line to reveal all!

As this is the final edition of the podcast for 2024, may we wish all our members and colleagues a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. 2025 may well be a year of challenge for the profession but rest assured, we'll be right there to support the interests of independent practice.