Veterinary nurses

Head Nurse

Katie has been our head nurse since July 2016 but originally started working for the group in 2005. She has been qualified for many years and has worked in referral practice gaining knowledge and experience in all aspects of nursing, including advanced and specialist work. She has a keen interest in anaesthesia, analgesia and critical care and gained her nursing certificate in anaesthesia and critical care in 2011. She is a clinical coach for our student nurses and is also passionate about animal nutrition despite having her own slightly overweight rescue cat Henry! Her horse, Theo takes up most of her free time outside of work.

Penny has been a registered veterinary nurse since 2010 but is also an animal behaviour counsellor; having attained a certificate and diploma in canine and feline behaviour. Penny works part time for the group and is passionate about puppy socialisation and kind methods of training to correct behaviour. Outside of work Penny is kept busy by her cats, Maggie and Harry and has recently adopted a lovely dog called Benny who came to the practice as an injured stray and stole all of our hearts.

Natasha graduated from Harper Adams University in 2016 with a BSc (Hons) degree in veterinary nursing, and joined us shortly after as a registered veterinary nurse. She enjoys all aspects of nursing, but particularly likes anaesthesia and surgery, nutrition and dentistry. Natasha has a cheeky Burmese cat named Columbus, who likes to pester her older rescue Birman cat Tosca. Natasha enjoys hiking, swimming and playing guitar.

Amanda joined our team as a veterinary nurse in 2010, after qualifying in 2008 and has been a core member of the team ever since. Amanda has developed an interest in emergency and critical care nursing and enjoys mentoring our student nurses as their clinical coach. She has a gentlemanly cat called Simba who has kept Amanda on her toes with his various medical conditions. Outside of work Amanda practises ballet and looks forward to her holidays in Ibiza.

Elke is originally from Lelystad in the Netherlands and graduated from Groenhorst College Barneveld in 2009. She worked as a veterinary nurse there until 2017 when she decided that her dog, Timo, and her needed a new adventure in veterinary nursing in the U.K. Elke is very interested in surgery, anaesthesia, taking care of in patients and rodent medicine. In her spare time she likes taking Timo out for long walks. She also enjoys aerial yoga, diamond painting and travelling.

Lydia has worked in local veterinary practices for many years and has been a qualified veterinary nurse for over since 2015. She started working at our Merstham branch in January 2017 and particularly enjoys running the busy nurse clinics. She has a strong interest in rabbit medicine and animal behaviour and hopes to become an animal behaviour counsellor in the future. She has two beautiful blue British Shorthair cats called Neo and Luna.

Student Veterinary Nurse

Laura has been working for The Village Animal Hospital since September 2014. She joined the team as a student veterinary nurse and started college in September 2015. She is very interested in looking after inpatients, diabetes clinics, reptile clinics and wildlife. She has two rescue cats called Toby and Tilly and a family dog called Bonnie.

Student Veterinary Nurse

After achieving a joint honours degree in marine biology and biodiversity at Anglia Ruskin University, Laura joined the practice in 2014 as an animal nursing assistant. It was during this time that Laura’s desire to train as a veterinary nurse grew as she realised she wanted to actively help in improving the health and welfare of pets and aid in elevating any pain or illnesses. Laura enjoys spending time with her very bouncy (and naughty) chocolate Labrador, Phoebe.

Patient Care Assistant

Lesley joined the practice 20 years ago and as the practice has grown, equally Lesley’s experience and interests have grown. She is passionate about cats, especially their behaviour and is sometimes nicknamed as our ‘cat whisperer’. She is our go to person for all laboratory related queries. Her passion for cats has led her to breed and show Birman and Maine Coons and she currently has a Maine Coon called Pyro but we all affectionately call him the Ginger Ninja! Out of work she enjoys reading, movies, eating out and evenings in the pub with friends.

Animal Nursing Assistant

Carly joined our Smallfield team as an animal nursing assistant in November 2017 with the desire to train as a veterinary nurse in the future. Carly is very well known as the ‘crazy rabbit lady’ wherever she goes as she has 14 rabbits at home (including 10 that are giant breeds). She also has three dogs and a cat. Carly has a love for all animals great and small and has had lots of animal care experience through working at several kennels, catteries and animal charities dealing with both companion animals and wildlife.

Animal Nursing Assistant

Jackie joined our Merstham team in November 2016 but before this she worked with children in a children’s nursery for four years. Jackie has always wanted to work with animals and now has her dream job as an animal nursing assistant. Outside of work she enjoys eating out with her fiancé, going to the cinema, taking her daughter to the park and baking yummy cakes. Jackie aspires to become a veterinary nurse.

Animal Nursing Assistant

Laura joined us in the summer of 2017 as an animal nursing assistant and is hoping to train as a student veterinary nurse. She has a Jack Russell Terrier named Keira who is always hunting for any left over scraps of food! She has volunteered in an award-winning wildlife habitat in Port Douglas, Australia, getting hands on with the crocodiles, snakes, tree kangaroos, wallabies and cassowaries. She enjoys travelling and is known as a bit of an “adrenaline junkie” having done two skydives, the world’s highest bungee jump, extreme white water rafting and cage diving with great white sharks.

Animal Nursing Assistant

Charlie always knew she wanted a career in veterinary practice as has always had a passion for animals, especially dogs, cats and horses. She joined our team in Caterham in 2017 as an animal nursing assistant and aspires to one day become a veterinary nurse. She loves how varied each day is at The Village and particularly likes watching our patients get better. She has a gorgeous Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Archie and a cat called Millie. She enjoys reading, drawing and riding horses whenever she has a free moment.