Veterinary Nurses
Highcroft has 19 fully qualified veterinary nurses which is outstanding for a practice of this size. They provide excellent support for the rest of our team, both veterinary surgeons and reception staff and, most importantly, for you and your pet.
Natasha Watts VN
Head Nurse
Natasha joined Highcroft in 1992 and qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1999.
As our head nurse, Natasha looks after the pharmacy and the nursing staff, ensuring that our high standard of clinical care is maintained.
She is currently studying for a management qualification with the Chartered Institute of Management.
Natasha also works closely with the Bristol League for Cats (rescue charity), helping them where she can and liaising with them on our behalf.
Vicki Campho VN
Deputy Head Nurse
Vicki joined Highcroft in 1999 and qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2005. She also holds a certificate in Parasitology and is a Bayer Healthy Pet Advisor.
As Deputy Head Nurse, and in addition to her nursing duties, Vicki works alongside Natasha and manages the nurse rotas.
Vicki holds a BVNA Certificate in Dentistry and runs dental clinics on Tuesdays where she gives pre-op checks, tooth brushing lessons and advice on preventative treatments.
Virginia Board VN
Deputy Head Nurse
Gin joined Highcroft in 2003 as a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse (VN 2003).
She is well known to many of our clients as she runs our Advice Line and the Nurse Clinics at our Well's Road surgery.
Gin holds an Advanced Diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour from the Centre of Applied Pet Ethology (COAPE) and runs Pet Behaviour Clinics for client's who need help with their pet's behavioural issues.
Gin is also a qualified pet bereavement counselor and a Hill's Pet Health Counselor.
Kati Heddington VN
Exotic Speciies Nurse
Kati joined Highcroft in 1999 and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2002.
Kati has a City and Guilds Certificate in Veterinary Nursing of Exotic Species. She works closely with Polly Cornwell, our exotic species veterinary surgeon, and runs regular nurse clinics.
Kati also holds the A1 Assessor qualifications which allow her to help and mentor our student veterinary nurses.
Ursula Bradshaw VN
Ursula joined Highcroft in 2005 and qualified as a veterinary nurse in January 2006. Ursula works at our Whitchurch hospital and surgery and is particularly interested in dentistry, surgery and helping clients through our Nurse Clinics. Ursula is currently studying for a degree in veterinary nursing.
Kirstan Badcock VN
Kirsten joined Highcroft in 2003.
She works at the Stockwood surgery helping the veterinary surgeons in surgery and supporting the reception staff.
Kirstan is always happy to give advice to clients on pet related topics such as diet, worming and flea control, behaviour etc.
Laura Curtis VN
Prep Nurse
Laura joined Highcroft in 2003 and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2004. As our Prep Nurse, Laura organizes the operations, gives the pre-meds and prepares the operating theatres, surgical kits and equipment.
As well as her RCVS Veteinary Nursing qualification, Laura has a Higher National Diploma in Veterinary Nursing Science. She is also an A1 Assessor which allows her to help and mentor our student veterinary nurses.
Kelly Rogers VN
Lab Nurse
Kelly joined Highcroft in 2001 with a Diploma in Animal Care, and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2006.
Kelly has a special interest in laboratory work and runs our state of the art blood sampling laboratory.
Kelly studies canine and feline haematology on an ongoing basis and is currently studying faecal flotations for worm eggs and bacteria.
Chris Gudge VN
Highcroft Referrals Manager
Chris joined Highcroft in 2003. He became our first male veterinary nurse in 2006, qualifying with credit and thereby placing himself within the top 15% of RCVN VN graduates that year.
Since then Chris has gained an post graduate certificate, with distinction, in Anaesthesia and Critical Care. Chris is particularly interested in all aspects of surgical nursing.
Chris also manages our veterinary referrals service, coordinating appointments for Highcroft Specialist and Referral Vets.
Jenna Holly VN
Jenna joined Highcroft in 2005 and qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2006.
Jenna is one of our prep nurses and also carries out dental procedures alongside Vicki Adams.
Janine Fletcher VN
Head Nurse, Keynsham
Janine qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1986 and joined Highcroft in 2006 as Head Nurse at Keynsham Veterinary Centre.
As head nurse, Janine helps to organize the nursing duties and ensures that we maintain our high clinical standards.
Janine is particularly interested in hand-rearing orphaned animals, many of which have been rescued by members of the public and brought into the surgery - she has hand reared owls, squirrels, hedgehogs, rabbits, kittens and puppies before finding new homes for them.
Natalie Rey VN
Natalie qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1999 and joined Highcroft with Keynsham Veterinary Centre (formerly Charlton Park) in 2006.
She continues to work at our Keysham surgery helping the vets in surgery and looking after our clients and their pets on reception.
Natalie is always happy to give advice to clients on pet related topics such as diet, worming and flea control, behaviour etc.
Sarah Jones VN
Sarah joined Highcroft in 2004, initially as a kennel person. She is now a fully qualified veterinary nurse based at our Whitchurch hospital and surgery.
Sarah is currently studying for her physiotherapy and rehabilitiation nursing qualifications.
Sarah Knowlson VN
Sarah joined Highcroft in 2008 and is based at our Whitchurch hospital and surgery.
Sarah is our referral nurse and has a special interest in cardiology. She works closely with cardiology vets, Oliver Garrod and Luca Ferasin (RCVS visiting specialist). Sarah also works closely with Joanne Lampard, our medicine certificate holder.
Fay Weaver VN
Fay qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2002 and joined Highcroft in 2004.
She is one of our night nurses at our Whitchurch Veterinary Hospital caring for our inpatient pets (along with our nursing auxiliaries) and supporting our out of hours vets.
Fay answers our out of hours emergency telephone offering first aid and emergency guidance and directing them to the hospital where required.
She is particularly interested in critical care.
Gemma Bowen VN
Gemma joined Highcroft as a fully qualified veterinary nurse in January 2006.
She is one of our night nurses at our Whitchurch Veterinary Hospital caring for our inpatient pets (along with our nursing auxiliaries) and supporting our out of hours vets.
Gemma also answers our out of hours emergency telephone offering first aid and emergency guidance and directing them to the hospital where required.
Laurie Rawlins VN
Laurie joined Highcroft in 2004 as a kennel person, and qualified as a veterinary nurse nurse in 2009. She is based at our Whitchurch hospital and surgery.
Liz Davies RVN
Liz joined Highcroft in 2002 having completed her work experience with the practice. She is now a fully qualified veterinary nurse (2010).
Liz is particularly interested in exotic species and works closely with Polly Cornwell and Sharon Redrobe, our exotic species vets.
Ashley Crews ANA,Student VN
Ashley joined Highcroft with Keynsham Veterinary Centre (formerly Charlton Park) in 2006. She is a qualified animal health assistant, and is studying towards her veterinary nursing qualification.
Ashley now works full time at our Whitchurch Veterinary Hospital.
Sam Blackman ANA, Student VN
Sam joined Highcroft in 2006 as our Kennel Person having been with us twice before on work experience.
Sam is a qualified Animal Health Assistant, and is currently studying to be Veterinary Nurse. Sam works full time at our Whitchurch hospital and surgery.
Caroline Webber, Student VN
Caroline joined Highcroft at the end of 2009 as a final year veterinary nurse student (BSc). However, as part of her degree course, Caroline had already spent a over a year with Highcroft on a placement.
Caroline is based at the Whitchurch hospital and surgery and is particularly interested in Orthopaedics.
Holly Edwards, Student ANA
Holly joined Highcroft in 2007 as our Kennel Person.
Holly now works full time as a trainee Animal Nursing Assistant at our Whitchurch Hospital and Surgery.
Auxiliary Nursing Staff
Jordan Gunstone
Jordan joined Highcroft in 2009 as our Kennel Person.
Jordan cares for our inpatients, feeding, walking and comforting them where required. He also assists our veterinary nurses and makes sure that everything is clean.
Judith Parfitt
Judith joined Highcroft in 2007 as an overnight auxiliary nurse, helping with the care of the inpatients, feeding and walking them where required and making sure everything is clean and all the instruments are sterilized.
