A 4-day week, one Saturday shift a month and minimal on-call make this a well-structured small animal vet role at an accredited hospital in Bedford. You'll also have the backing of advanced clinicians, strong nursing support and excellent surgical facilities.
One weeknight every two weeks and one weekend on-call every two months. The practice provides its own out-of-hours service, with calls handled by the ECC RVN first and the RVC taking calls from 11:00 pm to 8:00 am.
This is an experienced Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon role at Acorn House Veterinary Hospital in Bedford, with a strong surgical focus and a varied first-opinion caseload. The practice is looking for a vet who is confident with operating, comfortable managing emergency surgeries such as GDVs, and interested in more advanced soft tissue work including BOAS and anal sacculectomies.
The rota is built around predictability and work-life balance. You'll work a 4-day week with a fixed day off, one Saturday shift from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm each month, and a weekly mix of consulting, operating and a late shift. A support shift is included every two weeks, running from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm with no appointments scheduled, so urgent and emergency cases can be handled without squeezing them into standard consult blocks.
The practice also runs its own out-of-hours service, with a dedicated ECC RVN on site for 24-hour inpatient care. On-call is shared on a minimal basis, with one weeknight every two weeks and one weekend on-call every two months. From 11:00 pm, calls are handled by the RVC, and any patients needing advanced care can be transferred to the RVC Queen Mother Hospital.
Acorn House Veterinary Hospital is an RCVS accredited small animal hospital in Bedford and is owned by the Royal Veterinary College, having operated as an independent practice before that. It serves as a flagship practice supporting veterinary students and first-opinion care.
The practice has a 12-vet team and a wide range of facilities, including laparoscopic and orthopaedic kits, gastroscopy, bronchoscopy, a dental suite with digital radiography, ultrasound, dedicated dog, cat and exotic wards, three theatres, two dental suites, a new dog ward and a surgical supplies room. It is also accredited as an ISFM Gold Standard Cat Friendly Clinic, a Dogs Trust Dog Friendly Clinic and is undergoing reaccreditation for RWAF Gold Rabbit Friendly Practice status.
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