Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

You’ll be joining Vets Now Preston’s emergency and critical care team as a full-time or part-time Veterinary Surgeon. This role combines meaningful emergency caseload with a genuinely considered approach to shift patterns: full-time positions work an average of 40 hours per week across weekday nights and weekend days/nights on a 1:2 rotation, with bank holidays shared—and crucially, you’ll never work more than three consecutive nights. If full-time doesn’t suit your lifestyle, part-time and weekend-only arrangements are warmly welcomed.

Based in Preston in the North West, you’ll work within a highly skilled emergency team equipped to handle the critical cases that make ECC rewarding. The clinic values continuous learning and practical development, with a structured AdvantEdge onboarding programme for those new to emergency practice: one week of hands-on training followed by flexible, case-based e-learning you complete at your own pace.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver emergency and critical care to small animals presenting with acute conditions and injuries
• Conduct thorough clinical assessments, diagnostics, and treatment decisions under emergency protocols
• Contribute to the on-call rota on a 1:2 basis, covering weekday nights and weekend shifts
• Work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary emergency team across your shifts
• Maintain accurate clinical records and case documentation to the highest standards
• Participate in ongoing professional development and case-based learning within the practice

Requirements

• Fully qualified Veterinary Surgeon (RCVS registered)
• Relocation to Preston area (relocation allowance available)
• Commitment to emergency and critical care veterinary medicine
• Ability to work flexibly across nights, weekends, and bank holidays
• Strong communication and team collaboration skills
• ECC experience or willingness to undertake structured training (AdvantEdge programme available)

Benefits

• Salary: Up to £75,000 depending on experience, plus £5,000 relocation allowance
• CPD & Training: £1,500 annual CPD allowance plus 35 paid CPD hours (pro rata); full financial and study leave support for ECC certificate
• Leave: Seven weeks pro rata annual leave
• Health & Wellbeing: Enhanced company sick pay, maternity, paternity, and adoption pay schemes; private medical insurance
• Pet Care: Up to 50% discount on staff pet care services
• Professional Support: Professional membership fees covered
• Onboarding: AdvantEdge blended training programme (paid, including accommodation and travel for new to ECC candidates)
• Flexibility: Part-time, weekend-only, or full-time options available

About the Practice

Vets Now Preston is part of Vets Now, a leading provider of out-of-hours emergency veterinary care across the UK. The Preston clinic operates as a dedicated emergency and critical care facility, staffed by highly skilled clinicians committed to round-the-clock animal care. As a Disability Confident Employer, Vets Now actively welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds and is committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

The organisation operates a structured training and development culture, including the AdvantEdge and Cutting Edge programmes designed to support vets at different career stages. Flexibility in working patterns and genuine investment in work-life balance are core to the practice philosophy.