Join a 14-vet independent practice with zero OOHs, a 4-day week, and genuine support for clinical development. MacArthur Barstow & Gibbs offers the rare combination of surgical complexity, teaching mentorship, and work-life balance in a historic Worcestershire market town.
No overnight on-call required. Vets Now handles all out-of-hours cover. One 7 pm finish every two weeks for telephone triage only before handover. Weekend day work shared on 16-week rota: two Saturday mornings (8:30 am to 4:30 pm) and two Saturday/Sunday weekends per cycle.
You'll be joining a 14-vet independent practice in the heart of Droitwich, working a straightforward 4-day week (Monday to Thursday, 8:30 am to 6:30 pm) with no overnight on-call commitments. Vets Now handles all out-of-hours cover, so once the practice closes, you're off duty. There's just one 7 pm finish every two weeks for phone triage of emergency calls before handover to Vets Now. Weekend work is shared on a 16-week rota: two Saturday mornings and two Saturday/Sunday weekends across the year.
This is a practice that genuinely invests in its team. If you want to develop a surgical interest, they'll buy an endoscope. If orthopaedics calls you, they have a dedicated theatre suite and visiting surgeons (including MSM Vets specialists) who mentor hands-on. The caseload spans routine small animal medicine through complex soft tissue, orthopaedic and emergency procedures, with in-house expertise in surgery, medicine, dermatology, exotics and cardiology via visiting specialists like Mark Patterson (RCVS Specialist in Cardiology, visiting fortnightly) and Jeremy Wills (ophthalmologist).
Located in the scenic Malvern Hills region, Droitwich is a historic spa town with excellent transport: two miles from the M5, 15 minutes by car to Worcester, and 20 minutes by train to Birmingham city centre.
MacArthur Barstow & Gibbs (MBG) was established in 1954 and has remained independently owned and vet-led throughout its 70-year history. It's one of the few truly independent practices still operating in Worcestershire. The practice operates across four sites: the flagship surgery on Hanbury Road in Droitwich (small animal primary care and surgery), a branch in Worcester, a clinic at Wychbold, and a separate farm and equine facility. The small animal team comprises 14 vets, with five holding advanced certificates (surgery, orthopaedics, medicine, dermatology, exotics). The practice is supported by seven additional qualified vets, 9 RVNs, 2 SVNs and a dedicated support team.
The practice is proud of its in-house capability for complex procedures including laparoscopic surgery, dental radiography, gastroscopy, endoscopy, ultrasound, and orthopaedic operations. It regularly hosts visiting specialists in cardiology, ophthalmology and advanced surgery, reducing the need for external referrals. MBG's ethos centres on clinical excellence, compassionate care, fair pricing, and zero corporate sales targets. The team is actively involved in the local community, sponsoring agricultural shows and running regular dog shows.
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