Veterinary Surgeon

Linnaeus; Huntingdon; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks holiday + bank holidays

No out-of-hours (OOH)

RCVS and VDS fees paid

CPD allowance £1,500 and CPD leave

Monthly in-house CPD program

Career progression opportunities

Staff discount schemes

Enhanced sickness pay

Enhanced family leave

Wellness program including EAP

Job summary

Cromwell Veterinary Group in Huntingdon, part of Linnaeus, seeks a Veterinary Surgeon to join a well-equipped first-opinion hospital. The role offers a four-day week (nine-hour days), a varied caseload and excellent development opportunities within a 24-strong veterinary team.

Salary is £50,000–£60,000 FTE with a £5,000 sign-on bonus for direct applicants, plus CPD support and structured learning. No routine OOH duties.

Qualifications

• RCVS registration required.
• Minimum two years’ UK small-animal practice experience post GDP.

Responsibilities

• Provide a varied mix of consulting, surgery and hospital inpatient care.
• Work within a team of experienced clinicians to deliver high-quality patient care.
• Tailor the four-day week to clinical interests while maintaining 40-hour week.

Skills

Teamwork

Communication

Education

RCVS registration

Job description

Veterinary Surgeon

Location: Cromwell Veterinary Hospital, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire
Hours: Full-time | Four 9-hour days in a typical week | Structured weekend rota | No routine OOH
Practice: Cromwell Veterinary Group, part of Linnaeus
Salary: £50-60,000 per annum FTE, depending on experience

£5000 sign on bonus for direct applicants.

Develop your clinical skills. Explore your interests. Be part of something exceptional.

Looking for a Veterinary Surgeon role where you can enjoy a varied caseload, develop your clinical confidence and learn from experienced colleagues? At Cromwell Veterinary Group, you'll have access to the facilities, expertise and support of one of the region's established first-opinion hospitals, with plenty of opportunity to keep progressing throughout your career.

With a varied mix of consulting, surgery and hospital work, an impressive range of diagnostic equipment and a genuine commitment to professional development, this is an opportunity to build your experience in a collaborative environment, with the added benefit of a four-day working pattern in a typical week.

Why join us?

• A varied, flexible clinical role: a mix of consulting, operating and dedicated hospital inpatient shifts, with the opportunity to tailor your working week to your clinical interests.
• A four-day working pattern: typically four 9-hour days per week, with a structured weekend rota and no routine out-of-hours duties.
• Investment in your development: £1,500 CPD allowance and 40 hours of CPD leave, with additional support available for Advanced Practitioners.
• Excellent diagnostic facilities: a brand-new ultrasound machine with five probes, including three cardiac probes, alongside extensive in-house laboratory capabilities.
• Equipment to develop your clinical interests: rhinoscopy, bronchoscopy, gastroscopy, laparoscopy and a veterinary orthopaedic kit.
• Learn from experienced clinicians: join a team of 24 Veterinary Surgeons across the hospital and branch network, including certificate holders and Advanced Practitioners.
• Continuity of care, day and night: our dedicated night vets mean patients can remain at Cromwell, cared for by a team that knows their case.
• Support to keep progressing: monthly in-house CPD, structured clinical rounds and a collaborative culture of shared learning.
• High clinical standards: work in an RCVS-accredited Veterinary Hospital with Gold ISFM Cat Friendly Hospital and Silver Investors in the Environment accreditations.

The team and practice

Cromwell Veterinary Group is centred around its RCVS-accredited hospital in Huntingdon, supported by five surrounding branch practices. Together, they offer a varied first-opinion caseload and access to a broad network of clinical expertise, creating opportunities to learn from colleagues across a wide range of disciplines.

Our hospital is exceptionally well equipped to support the investigation and treatment of a broad range of cases in-house. Facilities include digital radiography and a brand-new ultrasound machine with five probes, including three cardiac probes. We also have rhinoscopy, bronchoscopy, gastroscopy and laparoscopy equipment, alongside a veterinary orthopaedic kit, giving our clinicians access to a range of diagnostic and surgical capabilities.

Our in-house laboratory is equally well stocked, with EPOC, in-house coagulation testing, IDEXX ProCyte, Catalyst and SediVue analysers, as well as Antech HESKAView for digital cytology. These facilities support timely diagnostics and varied clinical work, providing opportunities to build your diagnostic skills and explore areas of clinical interest.

One of Cromwell's greatest strengths is its people. Our team of 24 Veterinary Surgeons includes certificate holders and Advanced Practitioners across medicine, soft tissue surgery, orthopaedics, cardiology, emergency and critical care, ophthalmology, oncology, diagnostic imaging and dentistry. Clinical discussions and shared learning are an important part of hospital life, giving you access to a wealth of knowledge as you continue developing your own skills.

The role involves a mix of consulting days, operating days and dedicated hospital inpatient shifts, with the opportunity to tailor the balance to your clinical interests. You'll work closely with experienced Registered Veterinary Nurses and our dedicated Client Care team, managing a varied caseload while benefiting from the support of the wider hospital team. Some flexibility is required to provide cover at surrounding branches where necessary.

We're also committed to supporting your continued development. You'll receive a £1,500 CPD allowance and 40 hours of CPD leave, with additional support available for Advanced Practitioners. Alongside monthly in-house CPD and structured clinical rounds, you'll have opportunities to learn from colleagues, share knowledge and continue developing your clinical interests.

Our dedicated twilight and night veterinary teams provide continuity of inpatient care around the clock. Rather than patients being transferred elsewhere overnight, patients can remain at Cromwell, cared for by a team that knows their case. This helps us maintain continuity, communication and high standards of patient care throughout their stay.

The working pattern is designed around a four-day week in a typical week, averaging 40 hours across the rota. Weekend duties are structured across a 12-week rota block, with time off in lieu built into the schedule. There are no routine out-of-hours duties for day vets.

Located in the heart of Cambridgeshire, Huntingdon offers a great balance between town and country living, with Cambridge within easy reach. Good road and rail connections make commuting straightforward from Peterborough, St Neots, Bedford and surrounding areas, while the local countryside provides plenty of opportunities to enjoy your time away from work.

What we're looking for

We're looking for a Veterinary Surgeon who enjoys first-opinion practice, takes pride in delivering excellent patient care and wants to continue developing their clinical skills as part of a collaborative team.

• RCVS registration.
• At least two years’ experience in UK small-animal practice post GDP.
• Confidence managing a varied first-opinion caseload.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with a collaborative approach to clinical decision-making.

An interest in pursuing further qualifications or certificates would be welcomed, but is by no means essential. Most importantly, we're looking for someone who wants to contribute to a supportive clinical team while continuing to grow in their own practice.

Benefits:

• 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays and birthday off (pro-ratio for part-time)
• No out-of-hours (OOH)
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• External CPD funded
• Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program
• Career progression opportunities
• Staff discount schemes
• Enhanced sickness pay
• Enhanced equal family leave
• Wellness program including:
• Employee assistance program
• Eyecare voucher scheme
• Free annual flu jab
• Cycle to work scheme

Cromwell is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Being privately owned, we can truly be driven by our purpose, to create a better world, and think long-term as opposed to being focused solely on short-term profits.

At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people. Our Associates are over 6000 strong and empowered to speak up, step up and deliver quality services. You’ll have access to a huge network of specialists, worldwide development opportunities and an easily accessible, comprehensive wellbeing package that prioritises your physical and mental health, allowing you to focus on what you do best - care for pets.

We are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse, we care about you and want you to be authentic, with everything you need to perform at your best. We are all individual but two important things bring us together: a commitment to excellence and our passion to achieve our purpose.

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