Mrs James originally started the practice in Padbury, as a small mixed practice. Her primary interest was in farm-animals. However, with the help of various assistants the small animal side expanded. It reached a size to support 2 full-time and one part-time vet by 1995.
The development of the Winslow site, from the Windmill Public house was finished by 1995 and photographs taken at the time show the huge amount of work required to change the derelict building into a veterinary centre. The main bulk of the work was transferred to Winslow, leaving Padbury as a branch surgery. This was subsequently moved to Buckingham.
Mrs Jane Alexander bought the small-animal portion of the practice from Mr James in 1997, having managed the practice for the previous two years. The practice ownership became a partnership in November 2001, with Mrs Jacqui Naysmith having been with the practice since 1995 taking on this responsibility. Mr Jeremy Beck took on the farm practice, giving continuity to the rural character of the practice. In October 2010 the practice became a Limited Company. Sadly on the 28th August 2018, Jacqui lost her battle with cancer and passed away aged 49 years old. Richard Rallings, who joined the practice in 2017 became a Director in May 2020. Jane resigned as a Director on the 30th April 2024, but remains within the practice working fewer hours.
The main surgery is at Winslow in a prominent position on the High Street, with parking behind the building. There are three consulting rooms, dispensary area, three operating theatres including a dental room, separate dog and cat inpatient facilities, cat only consulting and waiting room, internal imaging facilities, laboratory and a waiting area for clients attending the surgery. We have a “quiet” room available for end of life care situations, offering privacy to clients from our busy waiting room. Consultations are available throughout the day Monday to Friday and on Saturday morning. All consultations are by appointment only. Out-of-Hours emergencies are dealt with by VetsNow in Milton Keynes and Hampden Veterinary Hospital, Aylesbury.
The branch surgery in Buckingham is currently run as a consulting suite, with no facilities for in-patient care or laboratory work. Appointments are offered throughout the week.
The range of equipment in use within the practice has been extended to include ultrasonography as well as X-ray, dental radiography, endoscopy, laser and laboratory standard blood and urine testing. Additionally, orthopaedic & ophthalmologic equipment have been significantly upgraded mirroring the specific interests of our veterinary surgeons.
We are an RCVS Tier 2 accredited training Practice, and have Advanced Practitioner Certificate holders in medicine, surgery and anaesthesia. Certificate holders have gained additional qualifications, knowledge and skills above their initial veterinary degree. We’ve been awarded Silver Cat Friendly status with the ISFM as we recognise the unique nature and needs of your cat when coming to the vets.
We were delighted to have been awarded Best Vets in Buckinghamshire (based solely on client reviews) for the last four years and sit within the top 25 of practices in the UK. Our medium-to-long-term objectives are for the continued development of both personal aims (agreed at regular staff assessments) and practice facilities. The goal being to provide a stimulating and rewarding atmosphere in which to work and to ensure that the service and care given to clients and their companions continues to be the best that we can offer.