Veterinary Nurses
We now have 16 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.
Heidi
Partners' Assistant
Heidi joined the practice in 1996 and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2000. Her main role is to help the partners with the general management of the practice.
Alongside this, Heidi holds D32 and D33 Assessor qualifications which allow her to help and mentor our student veterinary nurses.
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 is also a qualified pet bereavement counselor, a Hill's Pet Health Counselor and is due to complete her certificate in Animal Behaviour this summer.
Kati Heddington VN
Kati joined Highcroft in 1999 and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2002.
She holds the A1 Assessor qualifications which allow her to help and mentor our student veterinary nurses.
Kati is currently studying for 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.
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.
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 Monks VN
Kelly joined Highcroft in 2001 with a Diploma in Animal Care, and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2006.
She has a special interest in laboratory work and runs our state of the art blood sampling laboratory.
Chris Gudge VN
Chris joined Highcroft in the summer of 2003 having previously been with us on work experience. He became our first male veterinary nurse trainee and qualified in 2006 with credit, thereby placing himself within the top 15% of RCVN VN graduates that year.
Chris is particularly interested in all aspects of surgical nursing.
Jenna Holly VN
Jenna joined Highcroft in 2005 and qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2006.
She is particularly interested in surgical nursing.
Janine Fletcher VN
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.
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.
Sarah Knowlson VN
Sarah qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2004 and joined Highcroft in 2008.
Sarah works at our Whitchurch hospital and surgery as the medicine/cardiology nurse, and at Keynsham where she helps to run the Nurse Clinics.
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.
Liz Davies, Student VN
Liz joined Highcroft in 2002 having completed her work experience with the practice. She is now a student veterinary nurse.
She is particularly interest in exotic species and works closely with vet Polly Cornwell who also has a special interest in exotics.
Sarah Jones, Student VN
Sarah joined Highcroft in 2004 as a kennel person, and is now a student veterinary nurse helping out generally at our Whitchurch hospital and surgery.
Laurie Rawlins, Student VN
Laurie joined Highcroft in 2004 as a kennel person, and is now a student veterinary nurse helping out generally at our Whitchurch hospital and surgery.
Sam Blackman, Student ANA
Sam joined Highcroft in 2006 as our Kennel Person having been with us twice before on work experience.
He is now studying to be an Animal Health Assistant and works full time at our Whitchurch hospital and surgery.
Auxiliary Nursing Staff
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.
Holly Edwards
Holly joined Highcroft in 2007 as our Kennel Person.
She cares for our inpatients, feeding, walking and comforting them where required. Holly also assists our veterinary nurses and makes sure that everything is clean.
Rikki Kippen
Rikki joined Highcroft in 2008 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.
