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All the 2017 finalists on stage

All the 2017 finalists on stage

Winners Of The 2017 Petplan Veterinary Awards Announced

7 years ago
4851 views

Posted
7th April, 2017 16h06

Author
Petplan


The winners of the 2017 Petplan Veterinary Awards were announced on the 6th April in a glittering ceremony at the iconic Town Hall in Birmingham. The Awards, now in their 18th year, celebrated the nation’s most outstanding vets, vet nurses, practices, practice managers and support staff who had been nominated by their colleagues and clients for continually going that extra mile, keeping pets healthy and giving owners peace of mind.

Isabella von Mesterhazy, Head of Marketing at Petplan, comments: “Visiting the vets can be a stressful experience for anxious owners but when local staff are as committed and attentive as these winners, owners are reassured that their pets are in safe hands. The annual Petplan Veterinary Awards allow us to honour the remarkable work carried out by some of the best and brightest veterinary professionals in the country. We’re delighted to be able to announce the deserving winners, and congratulate them on such a fantastic achievement!”

The following prizes were awarded:

Veterinary Practice Manager of the Year - Anne Corson of Pennard Vets in Tonbridge

Particularly impressive for the independent panel of judges was the leading role Anne has taken as an advocate for the practice’s charity work which has seen the practice staff organise a swimming relay for a cancer charity, a cause profoundly close to survivor Anne’s heart. Numerous clients and staff participated in swimming the equivalent distance of the English Channel.

On receiving her award, Anne said: “I’m gobsmacked and so honoured to have won this Petplan award. It’s humbling to have been chosen in the first place, and to actually win feels unbelievable.”

Veterinary Practice Support Staff of the Year - Joanne Civil of 387 Veterinary Centre in Great Wyrley

Joanne was highly-commended by the independent panel of judges for the boundless creativity she brings to her role - not only was Joanne awarded “Student of the Year” in her Level 3 NVQ in Customer Service qualification, she independently created a gratitude board where individual mentions and congratulatory messages to colleagues could be posted. Now used by every member of staff at 387 Veterinary Centre, the gratitude board was a key reason for the practice’s recent win of a Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons award.

Commenting on her prize, Joanne said: “I’m delighted to have won – it hasn’t sunk in! This is really a career highlight and it means so much to me to have received Petplan recognition for a job I love.”

Vet Nurse of the Year – Nicky Smith of 387 Veterinary Centre in Great Wyrley

What stood out for the independent panel of judges was her contribution to growing the practice from a small one with one consulting room on the side of the vet’s house, to a standalone practice with three consulting rooms, dog and cat wards and dedicated preparation, theatre and imaging area. As head nurse, Nicky has been instrumental in this growth over the past 10 years.

Commenting on her prize, Nicky said: “When I found out I was nominated I was completely overwhelmed, so to know I’ve won feels unreal! It means the world – thank you to those who voted and to Petplan for this award.”

Veterinary Practice of the Year - 387 Veterinary Centre in Great Wyrley

The independent panel of judges were impressed by the practice’s focus on patient care beyond the purely clinical. “We are never too busy to see people and many testimonials talk about how the team ‘goes the extra mile’” says Hamish. 387 Veterinary Centre recently became only the second practice in the UK to gain Platinum status in bereavement and end of life training. They have since gone to great lengths to make the euthanasia experience as private, compassionate and gentle as possible for stressed and grieving owners – readily accommodating home visits to allow pets to pass away in their own home.

Commenting on their award, the team said: “We’re all just over the moon. 387 is an amazing place, and we couldn’t be prouder of our team. The past ten years in the surgery have been amazing, but there are no words for winning this prize. 387 is the best place to work – and now everyone knows it!”

Vet of the Year – Johanna Headley of Sunninghill Veterinary Centre in Ascot

Particularly impressive for the independent panel of judges was Johanna’s ability to create a balance between leading a practice which maintains incredibly high clinical standards along with a welcoming, caring ethos with patients at the heart of everything they do.

Commenting on her prize, Johanna said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic! I wasn’t expecting to win at all, so this is a real surprise – I just want to say thank you to those who nominated and all my staff for supporting me every day. What a brilliant feeling!”

For further information on the awards and to learn more about the winners, please visit https://www.petplan.co.uk/vetawards/.


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