Veterinary Surgeon - paying up to £70,000

Vets for Pets; North East; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Four‑day week

No Sundays

No Bank Holidays

6.6 weeks’ holiday

Free confidential therapy

Job summary

Vets for Pets in North Tyneside is seeking an experienced Veterinary Surgeon for a four-day week with no Sundays or bank holidays and a consistent day off each week. The role offers £50,000–£70,000 DOE, 6.6 weeks’ holiday, and a twilight shift once per week with a dedicated team.

You’ll work in a busy GP practice, handle emergencies, inpatient care, and client communication, with opportunities for professional development and funded training.

Qualifications

• Minimum three years in practice.
• Interest in general practice and client relations.
• Willingness to develop and learn within the team.

Responsibilities

• Work up interesting cases and assist in emergencies.
• Operate and manage inpatients when required.
• Collaborate with a team and provide high-quality patient care.

Skills

Three years in practice

GP experience

Client communication

Job description

Experienced Veterinary Surgeon – North Tyneside

£50,000–£70,000 DOE | 4-day week | Same day off every week | 1:3 Saturdays | No Sundays | No Bank Holidays | No daytime sole charge

We’re looking for an experienced vet with ideally at least three years in practice who wants to excel in general practice.

You don’t need a particular certificate or postgraduate qualification to join us. Whether you’re an experienced all‑round GP or have developed a particular clinical interest, we’re interested in someone who enjoys the breadth of general practice and wants to continue developing.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys building relationships with clients, working up interesting cases, operating, managing inpatients, dealing with emergencies and being part of a team that genuinely enjoys working together.

What will your week look like?

You’ll work a four‑day week, with the same day off every week:

• 1 surgical day — 9am–7pm
• 2 consulting days — 9am–7pm
• 1 twilight shift — 4:30pm–11pm
• Your regular day off will follow your twilight shift
• 1:3 Saturdays — 9am–3:30pm
• No Sundays
• No Bank Holidays
• 6.6 weeks’ holiday per year

On each consulting day, you’ll have at least one hour of protected admin time and a full hour for lunch.

There is no sole charge during your normal daytime shifts.

What does a twilight actually look like?

We’ve deliberately designed our twilight service to give clients greater access to their usual veterinary practice while making the shift sustainable for the team.

Your twilight shift runs 4:30pm–11pm.

Another vet will be present until 8pm, you’ll have a receptionist until 9pm, and a dedicated twilight nurse will work alongside you for the entire shift.

From 9–11pm, the doors are locked and we see agreed emergencies only. Routine consultations do not continue throughout the night.

The only period of sole veterinary cover is 8–11pm during your twilight shift, and you’ll have your dedicated twilight nurse with you throughout.

And importantly, your regular day off follows your twilight shift.

We want you to have time to be a good vet

We hold inpatient rounds and a morning huddle every day.

Throughout the week, we also schedule group activities including:

• Journal clubs
• Clinical clubs
• Anaesthesia rounds
• CPCR practical training and practice
• Significant‑event discussions
• Team huddles
• Practical sessions and training

We believe professional development should be part of your working life rather than something you have to squeeze in around it.

Postgraduate certificates and further training are actively encouraged and supported.

We take mental health seriously

Working in veterinary practice can be incredibly rewarding, but we also recognise the pressures that come with the profession.

We want looking after our team to mean more than simply saying that wellbeing matters. Every member of our team has access to confidential therapy with a qualified counsellor, completely free of charge, should they ever wish to use it.

There is no expectation to engage with the service — it’s simply there if and when someone needs it.

We believe properly supporting our people helps them build long, fulfilling careers within the profession.

Who will you be joining?

We’re a busy and growing North Tyneside practice with a team of:

7 vets | 9 nurses | 6 receptionists

We’re owned and run by clinical people — a vet and an RVN — who understand the realities of working within the veterinary profession.

Our veterinary team currently includes:

• A vet with a postgraduate certificate in Small Animal Internal Medicine
• An Official Veterinarian
• A vet completing a postgraduate certificate in Surgery
• A vet completing the WSAVA Certificate in Pain Management

Our nursing team includes:

• An RVN with a certificate in ECC
• An RVN with a certificate in Dentistry
• An RVN completing a certificate in Anaesthesia
• An RVN completing a certificate in Internal Medicine
• An RVN completing a Foundation Diploma in Feline Nursing
• An RVN with a degree in Animal Behaviour who holds dedicated behavioural consultations

You don’t need to arrive with a certificate. We’re much more interested in finding an experienced GP vet who wants to continue learning and developing — and if you already have an area of particular interest or further qualifications, we’d love to help you make use of them.

What can you do here?

We want our clinicians to be able to investigate and manage as much as we appropriately can within general practice.

Our facilities include:

• Fully equipped surgical theatre
• Laparoscopic equipment for keyhole spays
• Endoscopic equipment for GI and thoracic endoscopy
• Dedicated imaging room with digital radiography and ultrasound
• Fully equipped dental suite with dental radiography
• Separate isolation ward alongside dedicated cat and dog wards
• Tonopen
• Microscopy

We’re happy to perform our own echocardiography and ultrasound‑guided abdominal FNAs, and we also offer in‑house acupuncture and laser therapy.

We’re actively working towards RCVS Practice Standards, ISFM accreditation and RWAF accreditation.

We’re part of our community

We don’t want to simply be a business that happens to be based in North Tyneside. We want to contribute to the community around us.

We support local businesses, children’s football teams, charities and community initiatives, and work alongside Wag & Company and the RSPCA.

Who are we looking for?

Above everything else, we’re looking for the right person for our team.

Ideally, you’ll have at least three years’ experience in practice and:

• Want to become an exceptional GP vet
• Enjoy the variety and challenge of first‑opinion practice
• Build genuine relationships with clients
• Communicate well, including when conversations are difficult
• Work collaboratively and enjoy being part of a team
• Want to continue learning and developing throughout your career

Our greatest strength is our team and how well we work together, so finding someone who shares that approach matters enormously to us.

Why are we doing all of this?

Our vision is simple:

To be the change people hope to see in the veterinary industry.

Our missions are:

• To be known for having the highest standards of patient care.
• To provide every team member with the time and resources to reach their full potential.
• To always do our best to ensure every client leaves on a positive note.
• To develop further as a nurse‑led practice.
• To actively engage with our local community and support initiatives that improve the lives of people and animals.

Our values:

Compassionate | Integrity | Progressive

Benefits summary

• North Tyneside
• £50,000–£70,000 depending on experience
• Four‑day week with the same day off every week
• One structured twilight shift per week, followed by your day off
• No daytime sole charge — sole veterinary cover only 8–11pm on your twilight, with a dedicated RVN throughout
• 1:3 Saturdays, 9am–3:30pm
• No Sundays or Bank Holidays
• 6.6 weeks’ holiday per year
• Free confidential therapy available to all team members
• Certificates and further development actively encouraged

Location: NE29 8QD

We take our inspiration from pets in embracing people from all walks of life, and we value, respect and celebrate difference. We encourage our people to be their best selves so that we can create a better world for Pets, our Planet, and People. Our ambition is to reflect the diversity of the communities we operate in, and we are intentional in addressing and removing barriers to create opportunities for the exceptional talent and potential in our communities. Even if your skills and experience don’t perfectly align, if you think you can make a unique contribution through your values and behaviours, we want to hear from you!