Ready to join a 12-vet teaching hospital where your surgical skills are valued and your work-life balance is protected? Acorn House offers a genuine 4-day week, supportive learning culture, and minimal on-call rota in a thriving market town.
One weeknight on-call every two weeks; one weekend on-call every two months. ECC RVN takes calls initially, so on-call can be taken from home. RVC takes phones 11pm-8am, so from 11pm onwards on-call is inpatient only. Buddy system in place for weeknight on-call with easy swap options.
You'll join Acorn House as an experienced veterinary surgeon with a strong surgical bias, taking on a varied and rewarding first-opinion caseload in a purpose-built 12-vet hospital. This is a full-time permanent role offering genuine work-life balance: a fixed 4-day week with one Saturday shift per month, a manageable on-call rota of just one weeknight every two weeks and one weekend every two months, and dedicated support from an ECC RVN on-site for 24-hour inpatient care.
The role suits confident surgeons comfortable with routine procedures (including emergency GDVs) and interested in advancing into soft tissue work such as BOAS and anal sacculectomies. You'll operate in three modern theatres, benefit from laparoscopic and orthopaedic kits, gastroscopy, bronchoscopy, dental suite with digital radiography, and ultrasound. The practice is based in Bedford, a picturesque market town surrounded by the Marston Vale and Chiltern Hills, with excellent road links (A1/M1), transport connections to London and Luton Airport, and plenty of leisure activities from riverside walks to shopping and cinema.
As a Royal Veterinary College flagship practice and RCVS-accredited teaching hospital, you'll work alongside experienced clinicians including Advanced Practitioners in Small Animal Surgery, Medicine, Exotics and Diagnostic Imaging, plus vets pursuing specialist certificates. The culture emphasises learning, mentorship and genuine team support.
Acorn House Veterinary Hospital is a 12-vet RCVS-accredited small animal hospital in Bedford. Since 2018, it has operated as a Royal Veterinary College flagship practice, modelling high-quality first-opinion care to veterinary students. The practice is ISFM Gold Standard Cat Friendly, Dogs Trust Dog Friendly Clinic accredited, and holds Silver status for the RWAF Rabbit Friendly Practice scheme. It is an RCVS-approved Graduate Development and Veterinary Nurse Training Practice, and has achieved Bronze Investors in the Environment accreditation.
The practice boasts a team of experienced clinicians, many holding advanced qualifications and certificates in specialisms including Small Animal Surgery, Medicine, Exotics, Feline Medicine and Animal Behaviour. The nursing team is led by a Head Nurse with an RCVS diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing and an ECC certificate, and includes certificate holders in anaesthesia, exotics and feline nursing. A dedicated ECC RVN provides 24-hour inpatient care. The facilities include three modern theatres, two dental suites, dedicated dog and cat wards, exotic ward, laparoscopic and orthopaedic kits, gastroscopy, bronchoscopy, digital radiography and ultrasound equipment.
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