Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

Acorn House is seeking an experienced veterinary surgeon with a strong surgical focus and the confidence to manage a varied, high-volume caseload. You’ll be joining a 12-vet RCVS-accredited small animal hospital in Bedford’s beautiful market-town setting, where modern facilities meet genuine support for your professional development.

This is a four-day-week role with set shifts and advance planning—consulting, operating, late shifts, and support shifts build into your schedule, and you’ll take just one Saturday shift (8–4:30pm) per month. On-call is refreshingly light: one weeknight every two weeks and one weekend every two months. The practice runs its own 24-hour ECC service with a dedicated RVN, and the RVC takes calls from 11pm–8am, meaning your on-call is typically inpatient-only from late evening onwards. A buddy system lets you pair up for weeknight shifts, making swaps straightforward.

Bedford offers easy access to countryside, the River Ouse, and excellent transport links—Luton Airport and London are 30–50 minutes away by train, while Milton Keynes is a 20-minute drive.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-standard first-opinion surgical and medical care across a busy, varied caseload
• Lead on emergency surgical cases such as GDVs and manage complex soft-tissue work
• Contribute to a collaborative 12-vet team with opportunities to mentor veterinary students and new graduates (the practice hosts RVC 4th/final-year placements most of the year)
• Engage in consulting, operating, and support shifts within a structured rota
• Work alongside a skilled nursing team including an ECC RVN and certificate holders in anaesthesia, exotics, feline nursing, and education
• Participate in practice meetings and regular CPD to support continuous learning

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon with demonstrable surgical experience and confidence
• Strong interest in soft-tissue surgery; experience with BOAS and advanced procedures valued
• Capability to manage emergency surgeries independently
• Willingness to engage in professional development and further qualifications
• Ability to work within a supportive, collaborative team environment

Benefits

• Salary: £46,000–£68,000 based on experience, plus out-of-hours bonus scheme and supplements for Certificate holders and AVPs
• Leave: Five weeks’ holiday plus bank holidays, with increases based on length of service; two paid personal days annually (unused days carry over)
• Professional Development: Certificates and AVP status supported and funded; unlimited online CPD through the RVC; professional fees for RCVS, VDS, and BSAVA paid
• Wellbeing: Weekly yoga classes, Employee Assistance Program through BUPA, enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption pay
• Additional Perks: Cycle-to-work scheme; visa sponsorship available; transparent salary banding with clear progression pathways
• Career Progression: Opportunity to pursue Advanced Practitioner status and join the Senior Vet team with management responsibilities; support for PGCert in Veterinary Education

About the Practice

Acorn House Veterinary Hospital is a 12-vet RCVS-accredited small animal hospital established in Bedford, Bedfordshire, and owned by the Royal Veterinary College since 2018. Operating as a flagship first-opinion practice, Acorn House models high-quality care to veterinary students while maintaining its independent clinical ethos. The practice holds ISFM Gold Standard Cat-Friendly, Dogs Trust Dog-Friendly, and RWAF Gold Rabbit-Friendly accreditations, and is an RCVS-approved Graduate Development and Veterinary Nurse Training Practice with Bronze Investors in the Environment status.

The team features experienced clinicians including Advanced Practitioners in Dentistry, Zoological Medicine, Small Animal Surgery, Small Animal Medicine, and Animal Behaviour. Recent expansion has added three theatres, two dental suites, a new dog ward, and dedicated cat and exotic wards. Facilities include laparoscopic and orthopaedic kits, gastroscopy, bronchoscopy, digital dental radiography, and ultrasound. A skilled nursing team, led by a Head Nurse with an RCVS diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (surgical) and an ECC certificate, supports clinical work alongside a dedicated Client Care team including Accredited Veterinary Receptionists.