CHRISTCHURCH - Key Persons
Abby is our Head Veterinary Nurse. She has been working in the veterinary industry for 5 years and joined us back in March 2022. Abby has a certificate in Feline Nursing. She uses the knowledge she has gained from this to provide a high standard of care to all cats that come in to see us. She loves making small alterations in the care of her patients and seeing big changes in their comfort and wellbeing.
Abby has a cheeky Poodle X called Max. She enjoys weightlifting in her free time and is currently learning Level 1 British Sign Language via evening classes.
In his free time Bernardo enjoys spending time with his wife and newborn baby and their cat Apollo and dog Snickers. Being from an island in the Atlantic, he has always enjoyed any sea related activities. He is an experienced sailor and has recently become a certified scuba-diver and is always very keen on travelling to new places for it.
After working as a receptionist for most of her working life, Bev has settled with us at Christchurch and works as a receptionist at both the first opinion practice and Referrals. She enjoys building a relationship with customers and their pets. She enjoys her three granddaughters and gardening.
Charlotte is the practice manager and a director at Christchurch Street after acquiring the practice with husband Shane in 2001.
Donna is also a long-serving member of the team, having joined in 2004, working at Christchurch Street and the Referrals centre. She has a Staffie called Rio and enjoys country walks and spending time with her grandchildren.
Emma has been nursing for 16 years, qualifying 13 years ago. She began at a Suffolk training practice, doing college and on-the-job training, staying for a further six years after qualification.
Emma has been nursing for over 20 years and qualified for 16 years. She has a particular interest in inpatient care and loves to help nervous and anxious patients feel more relaxed in practice.
Jane lives at home with her two daughters and her partner, their boxer dog Roxy and hamster Dumbledore. In her spare time, Jane enjoys going on long walks with Roxy and going to a few exercise classes.
Julie joined the practice in 2005 as a receptionist. It's all go at home with three dogs, a rabbit, an African grey parrot and budgies. And she has an interest in keeping tropical fish. Spare time involves looking after her granddaughter and walking the dogs.
Megan provides inpatient care and assists with equipment opening during surgery. She has gained levels 2 and 3 in animal care and enjoys giving all the patients some extra TLC. At home, she has a hand-reared cat called Fozzie and enjoys ballroom and Latin dancing.
Naomi has worked in practice since 2015 and qualified as a nurse in 2018. She has a particular interest in nurse clinics as well as exotic nursing, and is currently completing her certificate in avian nursing. Once finished she hopes to study small mammal nursing and ornamental fish keeping.
Job Titles:
- RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery
Shane graduated with First Class honours from the University of Melbourne in 1991. After working primarily in small animal practices in both Australia and England, he achieved the Royal College of Veterinary surgeons certificate in Small Animal Surgery by examination in 1997. He went on to establish Christchurch Veterinary Referrals in 2001. The referral practice burgeoned under Shane's direction and moved to its current state-of-the-art premises with CT and MRI in 2011. In 2015 Shane was in the first cohort of vets to be awarded the distinction of Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery by the RCVS.
By weight of case numbers, Shane is one of the most experienced small animal surgeons currently practising in the UK. His prowess in advanced techniques including total hip replacement in dogs and cats, spinal surgery and complicated fracture management is second to none. The success of Christchurch Veterinary Referrals is underpinned by Shane's desire to constantly improve the clinical outcomes and quality of care of his patients. Shane also regularly gives lectures to vets throughout East Anglia and presents a monthly column in the EADT Suffolk Magazine.
Tracy qualified from Glasgow University in 1993 and worked in mixed practice in Scotland before concentrating on small animals. She moved to Ipswich in 2010 and has been at Christchurch Street ever since.