ISLAND REFERRALS - Key Persons
As Referrals Coordinator, Amy has many roles within the referrals process, all helping to ensure not only the best outcomes overall, but making the whole experience as smooth and positive as possible, in stressful times. With a long history of working within the veterinary sector, and as a multi-species passionate pet owner, Amy's personality and versatility mean she is an extremely capable and reliable member of the team.
Kit is an RCVS-recognised Specialist in Veterinary Internal Medicine (and is also an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Cardiology). Although Kit has taken a step back from providing direct consultations himself, by mentoring Jessica Bridgman as she undergoes further training in Internal Medicine he is still able to provide his skills and expertise to IR patients behind the scenes. Kit is a highly experienced and broadly skilled specialist. He and Ian Nicholson have worked together for a number of years and dovetail extremely well. Jess and Kit, with support from our Diagnostic Imaging, are key to Island Referrals' ability to treat patients with more complex needs.
Since finishing his specialist training, Ian has worked in university and private referral hospitals in the UK as a general surgeon performing soft tissue, orthopaedic and neurosurgical procedures.
Ian has particular interests in helping pet owners to decide what to do for the best; avoiding over-diagnosis and over-treatment; patient safety; the benefits of surgical generalism; openness; and collaborative clinical research.
He also has a strong interest in teaching, and provides undergraduate teaching to vet students at the University of Surrey, plus post-graduate training to specialists, advanced practitioners and general practitioners in all aspects of small animal veterinary surgery.
Ian graduated from the University of Bristol in 2000 and spent time in mixed practice before undertaking further training for a year at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), London, then three years at the University of Cambridge Veterinary School.
As well as working as an experienced vet within the Island VetCare small animal practice team, Jean-Paul is studying towards becoming an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery. This means he works alongside Ian Nicholson making sure all our surgical patients have the right level of veterinary care at every stage of their procedure.
As well as the clinical and emotional sides of dealing with an ill or injured pet, the financial side cannot be ignored and can be a significant source of stress all round - which is where Sarah comes in. Dealing with pet insurance companies can be a minefield, and Sarah's breadth and depth of experience, plus her tenacity and forensic eye for detail, mean that we will do what we can to help make sure there are no financial surprises in store.