Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

This is a permanent full-time position offering a refreshing 40-hour, 4-day working week—rare in veterinary practice. You’ll be based primarily at Blythwood Vets’ Bushey or Hatch End clinics, with occasional cross-coverage at their Stanmore and Northwood branches. The role combines consulting and surgical work, with 15-minute appointment slots giving you breathing room to deliver thorough clinical care. Weekend commitments are genuinely manageable: 1 in 3 Saturdays and 1 in 6 weekends only, with no on-call requirements whatsoever. If you work a weekend, time off in-lieu is available or negotiable as part of your salary package.

Located in northwest London near Bushey—a leafy suburban setting with direct train links into central London—this practice has been serving the community for over 40 years. You’ll work alongside a highly experienced nursing team and benefit from a culture that genuinely values professional development and work-life balance.

An inpatient rota exists where you’ll provide backup to the nursing team on evening checks, but any patient requiring constant monitoring is transported to the practice’s out-of-hours provider, so you’re never stretched thin.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct routine consultations and procedures across the four-practice group, with a focus on primary care excellence
• Perform a balanced mix of consulting and surgical work
• Work confidently with 15-minute appointment slots to deliver high-standard clinical care
• Provide evening inpatient backup to the nursing team (non-intensive cases)
• Collaborate with experienced RVNs and support the multi-vet teams at Bushey and Hatch End clinics
• Build lasting relationships with clients and their pets
• Contribute to a culture of learning and professional progression

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon (RCVS registered)
• Confidence and competence in routine primary care consultations and procedures
• Willingness to learn and embrace active professional development
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multi-vet, multi-site environment
• Comfortable with some solo charge work (though primarily supported by multi-vet sites)
• Experience in small animal practice preferred

Benefits

• Work-life balance: 4-day week, 40 hours, zero on-call
• Time off: 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays + birthday off (pro-rata for part-time)
• Professional support: RCVS and VDS fees paid; external CPD fully funded; extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program
• Career progression: Encouragement and support towards veterinary certification and advancement
• Financial perks: Staff discount schemes; recruitment referral rewards
• Wellbeing: Enhanced sickness pay; enhanced equal family leave; employee assistance program; eyecare voucher scheme; free annual flu jab; cycle-to-work scheme
• Wellness program: Comprehensive mental and physical health support

About the Practice

Blythwood Vets is an established, high-end small animal primary care group operating four closely located clinics across northwest London: main practices in Bushey and Hatch End, with smaller branches in Stanmore and Northwood. Founded over 40 years ago, the practice is a member of the Practice Standards Scheme and operates as a training practice for veterinary nurses, reflecting its commitment to professional development and clinical excellence.

The practice serves a large proportion of insured clients and is equipped with digital x-rays, dental x-rays, and ultrasound machines with colour flow doppler. Blythwood is part of Linnaeus, part of Mars Veterinary Health—the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. This affiliation brings access to specialist networks, worldwide development opportunities, and a comprehensive wellbeing framework, while maintaining the personal, supportive culture that defines Blythwood’s approach to both staff and patient care.