FARMERS will be able to benefit from a new veterinary service after the launch of Cross Counties Farm Vets.
The new practice will serve Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire and Bedfordshire and has been created after the farm teams from two of the area’s best-known practices, Westpoint Farm Vets in Welford, Northamptonshire, and the farm section of Broughton Vets in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, joined forces.
Cross Counties Farm Vets will be based initially at their two current practices, but there are future plans for it to have its own site.
The combined forces of the two farming departments will create a much stronger farm team, sharing their expertise and experience, with the expanded team of nine dedicated farm vets having a focused approach to herd or flock health and welfare, as well as small holders.
The merger of the two teams will also improve response times and enable farmers to see the vet who knows them best, with the back-up of a bigger team.
Cross Counties Farm Vets will be part of the UK’s biggest farm vet group. Some 140 of the UK’s most respected and trusted small animal, equine, farm and mixed veterinary practices are part of VetPartners. The group’s farm section covers 20% of all UK farm animals, 30% of dairy herds and over 45% of the pig population.
Vets Alex Rowley and Jessica Swiestowska will become clinical directors at the new practice, alongside and current Broughton clinical director Hannah Morrison, leading a team of nine vets, who all previously worked at Westpoint Daventry and Broughton.
Alex said: “We have a new name and a bigger team, but there will still be vets who are familiar to clients so there will be continuity and farmers can be reassured their chosen vet will still be there. There will be improvements to the service, which makes this extremely exciting for everyone involved.
“We will have a stronger veterinary team, sharing their expertise, knowledge and experience. There will also be a much bigger team of veterinary support staff to help with blood sampling for TB and a stronger admin team for improved efficiency and service.
“The new practice is going to be modern and forward-thinking. We firmly believe that farm efficiency and profitability is driven by animal health, and we aim to provide farmers with the best clinical and advisory services in order to maximise the health and productivity of their livestock.”
Westpoint Farm Vets has been serving the local farming community for six years, while Broughton Farm Vets has provided care for the farm animals of Leicestershire since 2003.
The joining of forces is a gradual transition and the merger is expected to be completed by spring.
VetPartners’ focus is on providing an excellent service to farmers to help enhance the health, welfare and productivity of UK livestock. Their ethos is centred on being true partners, investing in people and infrastructure, whilst listening to customers and evolving with their needs.
Their existing farm vet network includes LLM Farm Vets, Garth Pig Vets, Clyde Veterinary Group, Westpoint Farm Vets and Parklands Veterinary Group.
In addition, the VetPartners group also contains some of the UK’s leading production animal health businesses, including Biobest Laboratories, Kingshay Independent Dairy Specialists and Poultry Health Services.
For media enquiries, please contact Amanda Little, VetPartners Senior PR and Communications Manager, on 07970 198 492 or email amanda.little@vetpartners.co.uk