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Practice News
Our new vet Ellie has recently moved down from Edinburgh and is temporarily staying with family friends. She is looking for rented accomodation suitable for her and her little dog. If anyone knows of any suitable accomodation to rent in the surrounding areas of Heathfield, please either contact reception on 01435 864422 or email vets@heathfieldvets.co.uk
We would like to introduce to you our two newest members of the Heathfield Vets team:
Ellie Packer, our new vet who recently joined us at the beginning of February 2012 after graduating from Edinburgh University in 2011.
To read more about our new vet Ellie click here
Harriet Gay, our new reception team leader who joined us at the beginning of January 2012.
To find out more about Harriet click here
Monday 6th February
Clients and staff alike were grateful when most members of the practice team arrived early on Monday to clear and grit the car park after heavy snow over the weekend.
Those manning the phones kept the outside workers fuelled with hot drinks and the area was soon much safer for drivers and pedestrians.
Unfortunately, this didn’t apply elsewhere and two of our team have recently used the skills acquired on their recent first aid refresher course. After a local resident had a nasty fall on the pavement in Hailsham Road resulting in a broken arm, head nurse Laura Walker made the patient comfortable in our staff room, then provided help, reassurance, and a space blanket for extra warmth after calling for an ambulance.
Staff at Heathfield Vets helping to clear the car park of snow
Only a couple of days later while on her lunch break, practice manager Danielle Head came to the rescue of another accident victim who fell in the High Street, badly damaging her knees on steps.
It seems as if our caring skills are not restricted solely to animals!
Catherine Darragh, our veterinary surgeon, is sadly leaving us at the beginning of January after two and a half years here. She is starting her own new vet practice in Hove. She will be very much missed by clients and staff alike, we wish her well in her new venture.
Here at Heathfield Vets we have been saving the money we would have spent on christmas cards and donating it to a chosen charity
Last year we saved our pennies and raised £50 which we then donated to our chosen charity for the money to go to which was
Last Chance Animal Rescue Centre in Kent.
This year the charity we are donating to is
The Cinnamon Trust.
We successfully raised £43 which will soon be making a difference for this charity.
Arthritis Information Evening
On Monday the 14th of November we held a FREE arthritis Information Evening at Kings Church State Hall in Heathfield. The evening went really well with a great turn out of both our own clients and some newcomers who came to learn more about arthritis and their pets.
We had a mixture of guest speakers as well as talks from our own vets.
The evening included talks on; Recognizing the signs of arthritis, nutrition, exercise, reducing pain/inflammation, what to look out for and how to manage the changes caused by arthritis in your pet.
If you would like any more information about the evening please do not hesitate to contact us.
The first ever Wealden Business Expo was held on Tuesday the 11th October and was a great sucess. We met many familiar faces as well as plenty of new ones! Hope everyone enjoyed seeing what we have to offer at Heathfield Vets. Below are some articles from local newspapers that covered the event.
Staff Changes
Sally Clark, our practice manager, left us at the end of August after sixteen years with the practice. She has moved back to her roots in the Isle of Wight, where she and her husband will be running a self catering holiday cottage business. We wish her the best of luck in her new venture. She will be very much missed but has left the management of the practice in capable hands. Danielle Head has been promoted from reception team leader to take over as practice manager.
Goodbye
Sally
Firework Advice Evening
On Thursday the 21st of July we held a FREE Firework Advice Evening at Kings Church State Hall in Heathfield. The evening was a great success with many of our clients and newcomers welcome to learn more about fireworks and their pets.
Natalie Lagstrom from Naturally Pets spoke about behavioural advice and training. Janet Nuttall and Philip Snyman two of our vets gave information on medicinal and herbal remedies to help with firework phobias.
Receptionist Sam in grooming competition!
I am Sam one of the reception team here at Heathfield Vets. In my spare time I am a member of the English Groomer Group. On Sunday the 12th June they held the English Groomers Challenge in Swanley, Kent. It was an early start leaving home in Hailsham at 7am, my dog Basil was not impressed! My competition started at 9am and dogs have to be prejudged before it starts, which means the judge comes round and talks to u and asks you what u are doing and combs the dog over. My category was called ‘Real Life’, and I decided that I was going to clip and cut Basil, giving him a very smart yet natural look. Basil was a very good lad and behaved perfectly. He was very patient standing there for two hours! I didn’t expect to get placed as it was my first competition I had ever done, so when they called my name for 3rd Place I was over the moon. There were lots of competitions going on throughout the day including a creative challenge which means colouring and dressing dogs up to a theme. I'm not sure if Basil would ever let me do that to him. Overall it was a very interesting and fun day with my beloved dog.
Heathfield Show
On Saturday 28th May the annual Heathfield Show took place and was another roaring success. People travelled from all over the country to watch the many events taking place on a cloudy but dry day in East Sussex. We had a stand at the show, as well as our vets partaking in the duty vet rota with other local practices. Thank you to all who visited our stand and said hello over a cup of tea and piece of cake! Our tombola in aid of Hound for Heroes raised over £60 and some of the dogs at the show were very happy with their prizes!
Library Morning
On the 11th April Heathfield Vets took part in an 'Ask an Expert' morning at Heathfield Library. This was an opportunity for anyone with any questions to come pick our brains! Jan Nuttall was our representative vet for the morning and Kelly Chapman was our nurse. There was lots to see and do with games for the children including 'Guess the breed of dog' and 'Find the micro-chipped animal'. There were also some special guests; Browning and Barcombe the ferrets as well as some stick insects and African land snails for people to meet.
Rising Star
Here at Heathfield Vets many of our staff have pets ranging from guinea pigs to horses. Jan Hartwell one of our receptionists is a keen rider and competes regularly on the weekends. On Saturday she learnt that her horse Bertie has qualified for the Hickstead Unaffiliated Championships at the end of May. Heathfield Vets would like to wish the best of luck to Bertie and Jan!!
