Archive for the General Category

Covid-19 Updated Protocols:

Following last night’s update from the Prime Minister we have reviewed and carefully updated our protocols:
It is clear that we will be working with social distancing for the foreseeable future. Our vets are workers coming into contact with different clients and it is very important for us to maintain this distance, both on the road and in the hospital, to protect ourselves and to protect the health of our clients, their families and the public.
Yard Visits:
🔴 When our vets visit your yard, please wear a face mask
🔴 Please adhere to the 2m social distancing, where possible
🔴 Please have you horse ready
🔴 Only one client to attend the appointment / handle the horse (where possible)
Visiting the Hospital:
🔴 Only one client should come in with a horse, whenever possible. If a second or third person travels, please do not enter the trot up, yard or reception
🔴 Social distancing must be respected at all times
🔴 All clients must wear masks (unless exempt) whilst on the yard, on the trot up or in reception
🔴 Visiting is by prior appointment only and a maximum of 2 visitors per horse
🔴 Clients to please wait outside, in their car or box
Please do not be offended if a member of staff asks you to put a mask on, or to keep a 2m distance from them. This is just to ensure we can all keep safe.
We are still able to offer our full equine veterinary services, and remain dedicated to providing the best veterinary care to your horses, ponies and donkeys, in as safe a way as possible.
Thank you for your understanding and support!
From all of us at Liphook Equine Hospital

Housevet Positions

Housevet Positions

Applications are invited for the next 3 housevet positions starting in December 2020,  early Spring and mid-Summer 2021.

The Liphook Equine Hospital is an internationally renowned equine referral hospital with state-of-the-art facilities based in Hampshire in the South of England. The hospital has 10 RCVS and EBVS specialists who are supported by the housevets a diagnostic imaging clinician, medicine resident and approximately 70 nursing and support staff and a large on-site laboratory.  The hospital team works closely with the large ambulatory team of 11 vets who provide first-opinion care to horses in Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey and beyond. More details of the practice are available on our website www.TheLEH.co.uk.

Currently,  we employ a team of four Housevets who work for a fixed -term of 18 months. The housevets work as a team alongside the hospital clinicians and nurses. The housevets’ prime duties include anaesthesia, intensive care monitoring and the day to day management of the 50 hospitalised in-patients, including both diagnostic procedures and treatments.  Orthopaedic investigations, including nerve blocks, are an important part of the role and, in addition, there will be ample exposure to other diagnostic techniques (such as radiography, scintigraphy, ultrasonography and MRI) as well as to colic and lameness work up.  The housevets work under the direction of recognised Specialists in both Surgery and Medicine and are well supported by a large team of excellent nurses, who work shifts to provide full 24 hour care.

The position is challenging and the hours are long but there is a tremendous amount of experience to be gained by applicants with suitable enthusiasm and a desire to learn.  Accommodation is provided in a house in a nearby village. As this house is shared with the other members of the housevet team it is, unfortunately, not suitable for couples.  No pets are allowed in this accommodation.  The out of hours rota is shared equally between all members of the housevet team and the duty housevet is required to stay on site, at nights and weekends, in a self-contained flat.  The team of housevets work a shared rota for their part of the out of hours system whilst other veterinary surgeons in the practice are responsible for the ambulatory calls and for the surgical and medical rotas. Duty nurses take all phone calls outside office hours.

These positions are offered for a fixed term contract of 18 months.  Following the term as a housevet it is not expected that any vacancies will occur in the practice for assistantships but we have found that, in past years, our housevets have had little difficulty finding suitable employment either in practice or in residency programmes.  Indeed, there seems to be a widely held view in the profession that our housevets have received some of the best post-graduate training and clinical exposure currently available in the UK.

We are looking for enthusiastic team players to join our friendly but hardworking Hospital team, who are all dedicated to providing first class care to the horses, ponies and donkeys entrusted to our care.  The majority of the hospitalised cases are referred patients but we also have a large first opinion clientele and there may also be a limited opportunity to become involved directly with first opinion outpatient cases during your stay.  As you will be in frequent contact with owners and referring veterinary surgeons, a good, confident and sympathetic manner with both clients and professional colleagues is essential.  For this reason, we look for those who have been qualified for at least a year, preferably more, and candidates who have not previously worked in practice in the UK for at least one year or who do not have English as their mother tongue may be at a disadvantage in the selection process, as fluent spoken and written English is essential.

In addition to an above average salary and rent-free free accommodation we also provide a car allowance, house and mobile phone, uniform, private health insurance and a free private accident/disability insurance scheme.  More importantly perhaps, we also offer good working conditions and, we believe, a happy and supportive environment.  There is ample scope for your professional development and continuing further education within the practice.

Applicants are requested to send in a covering letter and a CV to Barbara.Thornley@theLEH.co.uk. . Closing date for applications Monday 31st August 2021.

Using “Grey-zones” in interpretation of lab results

If all results of diagnostic tests were clearly either positive or negative then our lives would be simpler! Unfortunately that is not the case and we are all used to seeing borderline values. This is probably an inevitable result of progress and the fact that we now tend to get presented with early-stage disease cases of all types, rather than end-stage disease which rarely presents diagnostic difficulties. Many diseases are not simply either “present” or “not present”, and may exist along a spectrum of development. With many lab tests we have to use judgement as to when a mild increase merits further action versus further monitoring. For example, if GGT is normally <50 iu/L, should we be concerned when it increases to 55, or 75, or 150………?
We are now offering further guidance alongside our seasonally adjusted ACTH values and you will now see a “grey-zone” on the lab forms alongside your result. For example, this week we suggest an ACTH cutoff value of 49 pg/mL with a grey zone from 20-73 pg/mL. This indicates that a PPID case is very unlikely (P<0.05) to have an ACTH <20 pg/mL, and a normal horse is very unlikely (P<0.05) to have an ACTH >73 pg/mL.
The ACTH result should be interpreted in the context of the degree of clinical suspicion and we will always help you with this where you have time to enter clinical history on the submission form. If a test is being run in quite a speculative fashion with no strong clinical suspicion of PPID then the result ought to be above 73 pg/mL (this week) to be reasonably convincing for PPID. On the other hand if you are pretty convinced clinically that a horse has PPID then you should remain suspicious even with values as low as 20 pg/mL, and perhaps advise TRH stimulation testing as the next step (NB. TRH stimulation tests are hard to interpret at this time of year, although a negative result makes PPID unlikely).

VETPD – INTERNAL MEDICINE CHALLENGES FOR ADVANCED PRACTITIONERS – A 2-DAY INTERACTIVE & PRACTICAL COURSE

Fri 6th Nov 2020 – Sat 7th Nov 2020
 
@ Liphook Equine Hospital
 
For more information and to book your place, please click here:

CLINIC NURSE POSITION

We are in need of an additional clinic nurse to join us on a fixed term interim contract.
Enthusiastic, equine veterinary nurse required to join our clinic nursing team. We are seeking a motivated, hardworking team player to be part of our busy referral hospital. The ideal candidate should have a strong interest in diagnostic imaging and theatre nursing. There is a 1:5 out-of-hours on call commitment and the salary is commensurate with experience. We are interested to hear from individuals who have an excellent track record in horse care and horse handling with some experience of veterinary procedures and practice. EVN or RVN qualifications are highly desirable, but not essential.
The position is based in our state-of-the-art equine hospital in Liphook Hampshire. Due to our rural location own transport is essential.
Applications, accompanied by a covering letter and CV, should be sent to Rosina Lillywhite, Clinic Nurse Manager, Liphook Equine Hospital, Forest Mere, Liphook, Hampshire GU30 7JG or by email to rosina.lillywhite@theleh.co.uk.

Experienced Equine Vet 

Due to expansion of our ambulatory team, we are looking to recruit a highly motivated and experienced equine ambulatory vet.  A minimum of 5 years’ experience in equine practice is required.  We have a diverse client base but with an increasing number of high level competition horses and stud clients. Experience in all aspects of equine ambulatory work is essential and specific expertise and knowledge of reproduction is of particular interest. Our ideal candidate will either have or aspire to achieve a post graduate qualification in their chosen field.  Excellent client communications skills and ability to work as part of a team are vital.

We currently have a team of ten equine ambulatory vets (including 7 RCVS certificate holders) with the most up to date mobile equipment such as fully wireless DR radiography systems, digital ultrasonography, endoscopy, shockwave, power dental equipment etc. The ambulatory team has full back up of our tier 3 hospital which includes 9 RCVS specialists and full range of facilities such as Scintigraphy, CT and MRI.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the right candidate to further develop their skills and advance their career. The practice offers an excellent working environment with a highly competitive package.

If you are interested in applying for the position please submit an application to Carrie Goodbourn, Business Director, Liphook Equine Hospital, Forest Mere, Liphook, Hants, GU30 7JG or by email to carrie.goodbourn@theleh.co.uk including your CV and a covering letter. Applications should be received no later than Friday 14th August 2020. For an informal discussion please call Carrie on 07917851129.

One Full Time and One Part Time Administrator/Receptionist Required

Due to high levels of interest we will not be accepting any further applications for the time being.

 

Liphook Equine Hospital is a specialist equine veterinary practice providing expert care for horses, ponies and donkeys. We are looking to recruit two additional members of staff to join our busy hospital admin team. We are seeking one person to join on a full time basis Monday to Friday to cover maternity leave on a fixed term contract. The second individual is required to work afternoons only, Monday to Friday. This position is also being offered initially on a fixed term contract basis. Both positions require individuals to take a share of working Saturday mornings for which additional payment and time off in lieu is offered.

 
We are seeking excellent team players who are willing to be flexible and who work well within a small team. Both roles involve dealing with clients and other veterinary practices, booking patients in for procedures, dealing with admissions and discharges and generally supporting our team of equine specialists and veterinary surgeons who are based within the hospital. This is an extremely important and varied role and the team is responsible for ensuring that we provide a first class administrative service to clients bringing horses into the hospital.
 
You will need to have an excellent telephone manner and be committed to and experienced in the delivery of excellent customer care. You will need reasonable computer skills, exceptional attention to detail and be happy working in a busy and varied environment where no one day is the same. You must have previous office experience and be able to demonstrate a customer service background. A knowledge of horses is a definite advantage.
 
The role is based in our state of the art equine hospital in Liphook, Hampshire. Due to the rural location you will need access to your own transport. A competitive salary will be offered commensurate with experience.
 
If you wish to apply please send a current cv with covering letter identifying which role you are interested in and including details of your existing salary package and the names and addresses of two referees by email to post@theleh.co.uk or by post addressed to Barbara Thornley, Liphook Equine Hospital, Forest Mere, Liphook, Hants GU30 7JG.

Due to high levels of interest we will not be accepting any further applications for the time being.

 

We would like to welcome and introduce to you Victoria Tannahill, who has joined our surgery team.

Victoria graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2007 and subsequently served in the Royal Army Veterinary Corps for five years, treating military working animals in the UK and abroad. She then decided to pursue a career in equine surgery and completed an equine internship at the Royal Veterinary College, a short spell in equine ambulatory practice, and an equine surgery residency at the University of Bristol. She has obtained RCVS certificates in equine practice and large animal diagnostic imaging, and became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2020. After a period working as an Academic Clinician at the University of Glasgow, Victoria joined the Liphook Equine Hospital surgery team in March 2020.
 
Outside of work, Victoria enjoys exploring the local area with her labrador Elsie, and she continues her commitment to the Armed Forces as a reservist.

Covid-19 Update: LATEST GUIDANCE

As the Covid 19 lockdown period continues, the guidance from our governing bodies has been updated due to the extended period of time during which services will be restricted.  As a result,with effect from Tuesday 14th April, we will be following the updated advice from our governing body.  We will now be performing RISK ASSESSED work that is vital for equine health and welfare and this will include equine vaccinations, where the deadline is due imminently.

It is now considered appropriate to perform vaccinations as it is important to minimise the risk of an equine outbreak during this extended period of lockdown but in all circumstances this maywill only be done where it is considered safe to do so. Permitted vaccinations will not include 6 month competition booster vaccinations which are not deemed to be essential at this current time.  

Individual risk assessments will be carried out before any visit and we will discuss with you the outcome of these to ensure that you fully understand the social distancing measures that must be put in place.  We will not arrange a visit until we are entirely happy that we can ensure the safety of all involved.

Safety and distancing measures for vaccinations and other services where applicable will include :

– ensuring that your horse is tied up waiting prior to arrival

– the passport should be left out ready beside the stable/horse

– where a client is present this should be ONE person per visit (strictly no children or pets are to be present)

– a physical distance of 10m will be maintained where possible

– we will liaise with you across a 10m distance or by telephone

– if you are self-isolating or confirmed to have Covid 19 you SHOULD NOT be present at all and we will consider bringing a second practice member to assist safely

 *IF YOU THINK THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING CANNOT BE MAINTAINED PLEASE DISCUSS THIS WITH US BEFORE WE ARRIVE*

This does not mean that we can return to business as normal and we will assess all work remotely before determining if a visit is necessary. Wherever possible work will be by telemedicine consultations/phone calls. If work is non-essential and in the short term, no significant impact on equine welfare is likely to occur, then that work should continue to be delayed in line with the current RCVS advice. (This will include routine dental work, pre-purchase examinations, low grade lameness and poor performance investigations).

We are doing everything we can to safeguard human and equine health and welfare and to comply with the government guidelines.  We are keen to provide your horses with the care they may need but we will ensure at all times that we can ensure the safety of our vets and nurses, your own health and that of the general public. Thank you for all your help in complying with these regulations and for your loyalty to the practice in these difficult times. 

We have great respect for our medical colleagues and we are extremely concerned about the continuing pressures that the coronavirus outbreak is putting on the NHS and the most vulnerable members of our society. It is imperative that we continue to protect our staff, clients and their families and to be socially responsible and we will do everything we can to continue to uphold the directions of the government to help control the spread of Covid-19.

This advice will be kept under constant review and updated in line with government guidelines.

Covis 19 – Equine vaccination policy

We are really sorry that it has been necessary to suspend equine vaccination during the current crisis. This is not a decision that we take lightly as our entire professional careers have centred upon animal welfare and protection against some nasty diseases such as equine influenza. However, we now find ourselves, having to act with human health at the top of our agendas and we strongly feel that it is important to do the right thing and limit social contact unless there is a current or imminent threat to equine welfare. We hope you agree that, although of great importance, equine vaccination is simply not a higher priority than limiting the spread of coronavirus amongst the human population. The risk of influenza and other equine infectious disease is also further limited in the coming months by the decreased activity and mixing that will inevitably occur.
 
Therefore, along with most other equine practices, we are crystal clear in our minds that routine vaccination is not an acceptable procedure currently. We are assured by the vaccine manufacturers that when the world returns to a more normal structure, that “vaccine amnesties” will then be offered to all such that a new course of vaccinations can be recommenced at the cost of a single booster.
 
We hope you understand and sympathise with our approach to vaccination. Beating human coronavirus should be THE priority for us all right now. Be assured that we will continue to deal promptly with any serious equine injuries and diseases through this difficult time.
 
Additionally, less serious issues can still be dealt with via contact by phone or facetime. If in any doubt then please do not hesitate to call us on 01428 723594 for advice.

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