A Blast From The Past Helps North East Vets Group Focus On The Future

Owners of a North East leading vets group have taken on their old boss to help them focus on the future. Croft Vets who are based in Blyth, Ashington, Gosforth, Monkseaton, Walkerville, Cramlington and North Shields is continuing to expand. Owners Malcolm Ness and Judith Joyce are delighted that a top eye consultant has joined the team at their £3m veterinary emergency hospital due to open in November. John Errington John Errington originally from Stamfordham, Northumberland, works only in ophthalmology and has been appointed as ophthalmologist for Croft Vets new hospital, situated just outside of Cramlington. John’s practice, the Animal Eye Centre, will be moving to the new hospital and treating animals that have problems with their eyes, he will also be operating the new state of the art Phaco emulsifier, which removes cataracts. John previously employed the founders of Croft Vets, Malcolm Ness and Judith Joyce as new graduates in the early eighties. Malcolm and Judith went on to open Croft in 1987 and the company has subsequently become a leading animal primary care and referral veterinary practice in the North East. John said: “I am proud to be working with Croft Vets in this new hospital, I have known Malcolm and Judith for a very long time, and it is a privilege to work with them again. The new hospital will lead the way for veterinary practice in the UK and will not only benefit Croft patients but those referred by other veterinary practices. It will be a fabulous facility in which to operate the Animal Eye Centre.” John qualified in Glasgow in 1973 and then, in 1975, went on to acquire a long established practice in North Shields, which he developed into a veterinary hospital, one of the first of its kind to be registered with the RCVS. John developed his interest in ophthalmology, which deals with diseases and surgery in the eyes of animals, and was one of the first practitioners to pass the RCVS certificate in ophthalmology in 1984. Malcolm Ness said: “Croft Vets is proud to have John as part of delivering the industry leading services we will be offering from the hospital. Our dedicated staff members have made us who we are today and the whole team is supporting the expansion and ensuring it happens smoothly.” Croft Vets have ten branches across the region, which all provide high levels of pet healthcare, primarily to cats, dogs and other household pets. The Newcastle Cat Clinic is also part of the Croft group and opened in September 08, in Jesmond, to specialise in cat care.   Croft Vets employs over 30 members of staff, most of who have been committed to building on their clinical expertise and gaining further qualifications. Croft has been training nurses under the RCVS Veterinary Nursing Scheme for more than 20 years and is one of the biggest employers of qualified Veterinary Nurses in the country. Several of the clinicians are active as lecturers, authors and teachers of veterinary medicine and surgery.

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