Ready to join a supportive 14-vet team with no OOHs, a 4-day week, and genuine opportunities to develop your surgical and medical skills? MacArthur Barstow & Gibbs is a rare independent practice where clinical freedom and learning come first.
No on-call out-of-hours. Vets Now handles all emergency cover. One 7 pm finish every two weeks for phone triage only (paid). Weekend rotas: two Saturdays (8:30 am to 4:30 pm) and two Saturday/Sunday weekends (Sat 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Sun 10 am to 2 pm) per 16-week cycle.
You'll be joining an established 14-vet small animal practice in the heart of Droitwich, a historic spa town with easy access to Worcester and the Malvern Hills. This is a full-time role working a fixed 4-day week (Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 6:30 pm) with no out-of-hours on-call commitments. Vets Now handles all OOH cover, and you'll only need to be available by phone one evening every two weeks to triage incoming emergencies before they hand over. Weekend rotas are manageable: two Saturdays and two Saturday/Sunday weekends across a 16-week cycle.
The practice operates across three locations: the flagship surgery on Hanbury Road in Droitwich, a second clinic on the outskirts of Worcester, and a third branch at Wychbold. You'll have access to impressive in-house facilities including two ultrasound machines, laparoscopic equipment, endoscopy, dental radiography, and a brand new dedicated orthopaedic and soft tissue theatre suite. If complex surgical cases appeal to you, this is an ideal environment to develop that interest, with visiting consultants including an RCVS Specialist in Cardiology and an ophthalmologist who operates on-site.
The team culture is genuinely supportive: senior vets are always available for backup, the practice actively funds certificate training and equipment (they've invested in an endoscope specifically to support a vet's studies), and there's a real emphasis on work-life balance with no expectation to stay late writing notes. You'll be working alongside vets with certificates in surgery, orthopaedics, medicine, dermatology and exotics, plus specialist visiting mentors in cardiology, ophthalmology and soft tissue surgery.
MacArthur Barstow & Gibbs (MBG) was established in 1954 and remains one of the few independent, vet-owned practices in Worcestershire. Over 60 years, it has grown from serving the small farms around Droitwich into a thriving mixed animal practice with four purpose-built premises. The small animal team operates from three locations: the main surgery on Hanbury Road in Droitwich, a branch in Worcester (opened 1989), and Wychbold. The farm and equine departments operate from separate purpose-built facilities and provide ambulatory services with portable ultrasound, radiography and endoscopy equipment.
The practice is characterised by its independence, clinical excellence and community involvement. There are no corporate sales targets; instead, the focus is on fairly-priced, high-quality care. The team actively invests in its vets' development and specialist interests. Five of the current vet team hold certificates in areas ranging from surgery and orthopaedics to medicine, dermatology and exotics. The practice also hosts visiting RCVS Specialists (Cardiology, Ophthalmology) and provides on-site physiotherapy, dentistry, keyhole surgery and orthopaedic operating facilities. MBG is active in the local community, sponsoring shows and supporting disease awareness campaigns in the farm sector.
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