32 WICTSUN VETERINARY HOSPITAL AUG / SEP 2020 • farmers-mart . co . uk
Andrew talks of how the partners are very conscious of always being able to give of their best to every animal they look after and every farmer or pet owner too .
‘ We have a bit of an unwritten rule that farms needing emergency treatment , and that includes every livestock farm , won ’ t really want to take on a vet that is any ore than 45 minutes away . And we would think the same . That ’ s why we sit down as partners and ask ourselves whether we can give a prospective customer the service he or she needs . We are always mindful of others wanting to sell services cheaper to get the business . We trade off the fact that when you call us we will be there quickly , whether it is a caesarean on a cow or a prolapsed sow .’
‘ I ’ m really passionate about our out of hours service whether it is on-farm or now here at the Animal Hospital . With having pets and farm animals myself the thought of being told at 2 o ’ clock in the morning that you ’ ve to go somewhere you don ’ t know , with vets you are not used to is not the same as having somewhere where you have registered , you know the people and they know your animal and have its records on site .’
‘ I ’ m also fervently passionate about us remaining independent . I don ’ t want to be told what antibiotics I can or cannot use just because of ownership . As a vet you always strive for doing the best you can for the animal in front of you , not what medicine you get the best deal on .’
‘ For an independent practice to undertake what we have done in opening up the new Animal Hospital is unique . I ’ m very proud of what we have achieved . Myself and my fellow partners – Edward Pettifer , Julian Hamilton , Jon Slee and Nick Watson are delighted to be able to offer these fantastic new facilities . Edward has recently become a specialist in orthopaedic animal surgery and while I love my farm work I love a tricky medical case . I ’ m currently studying once again , for a certificate in small animal medicine . We have three animal theatres for surgery in the Animal Hospital .’
Wicstun Vets , so named taking the Saxon name for Weighton before Market
The team at Vetsonic wishes Wicstun Veterinary Hospital all the best in its new venture .
info @ vetsonic . com | 01653 695333 | vetsonic . com
was added , has been a partnership for around 80 years and includes the practices in Market Weighton , Pocklington and South Cave . Two other practices at Hessle and Howden who resisted selling to corporates are also in the fold .
Everything about Wicstun Vets ’ new Animal Hospital has a local side . The hospital has been built on land once owned by a livestock farmer who used the practice .
‘ Mike Rushby and his sister had this land and it was their father who farmed here . They resisted selling the land for housing and a car showroom preferring us to have it . It was Mie who told the prospective developers that it was to become a veterinary surgery . Like I say , loyalty is a massive trait in farmers in the East Riding .’
‘ We have been loyal too . When we had the idea of doing this we put on our Facebook page that we wanted to use as many of our clients as we could in getting this building up . We mentioned that if anyone was a plumber , builder , electrician or whatever and they had an association with us to get in touch and give us quotes . We have looked after the Colleys ’ cattle for years and Paul Colley of Colley Farm Buildings put up the frame , roof and handled all the concreting .’
‘ We would like to invite anyone to come and see this new facility . We are so proud of what we have been able to do – as an independent veterinary business that we intend to remain so for as many times as TV comes up with ‘ Al Creatures Great and Small !’