Veterinary Surgeon - Small Animal

Overview

Salary up to £70,000 DOE. Relocation allowance up to £5,000. Welcome bonus up to £5,000.

About Barton Lodge Vets

Barton Lodge Vets has been proudly caring for pets in the Hemel Hempstead community for over 50 years. Our reputation is built on compassion, high standards, and long-term relationships with clients who trust us to care for their beloved animals.

Role

We’re now looking for a confident, experienced Veterinary Surgeon to join our friendly and dedicated team. If you’re seeking a practice where your skills and experience will be valued and where you can continue to grow this could be the perfect next step.

Practice environment

A Modern Practice with a Rich History. Our practice has a warm, welcoming atmosphere while offering up-to-date facilities designed to help you work at your best. We have a dedicated operating theatre, three consulting rooms (including a nurse consult room), a large prep area, separate dog and cat wards, isolation kennels and an imaging and dental suite with digital X-ray. You’ll also find a dispensary, and office space for admin work. We’ve invested in ongoing refurbishments to keep our environment modern, bright, and practical. Our light and airy reception area creates a positive first impression for clients, while our kitchen and staff lounge are well stocked with tea, coffee, snacks, and a full biscuit tin because we know small comforts make a big difference in a busy day.

Caseload and duties

We offer a good balance of surgery and consulting, ensuring variety and clinical challenge. Our patients include cats, dogs, rabbits, and small furries from guinea pigs to the occasional hamster or rat. You’ll perform a range of routine surgeries such as neutering and lump removals, alongside dentals, more complex soft tissue surgeries and ECC work when needed.

We have a steady orthopaedic and soft tissue caseload, so if you hold (or are working towards) a certificate, or have a strong background in these areas, that will be a great advantage. While we’re supported by Vets Now on-site for out-of-hours care, we aim to keep as much work as possible in-house and can bring in visiting specialists when required.

Equipment and facilities

You’ll have access to an extensive range of diagnostic and surgical equipment including a MyLab 25 Gold E-SAOTE ultrasound scanner, in-house laboratory, multi-parameter monitor, tonometer, endoscope, blood pressure monitor, EPOC analyser, dental X-ray, and a fully equipped X-ray suite. Everything you need to work cases up thoroughly and deliver top-quality patient care is right at your fingertips.

Team and support

Our close-knit team includes three vets, five RVNs, two SVNs, two receptionists, and a practice manager. We’re proud to have an AVP certificate holder in Small Animal Medicine, and GP Certs in Feline Medicine, and Small Animal Medicine, ensuring you’ll always have knowledgeable colleagues to collaborate with. A candidate with an interest in surgery would be a great addition of skills to our team.

Our nursing team is a real asset to the practice led by a Head Nurse who’s been with us for nearly 30 years. They run their own nurse clinics, assist with surgeries, and provide invaluable support across daily tasks. At Barton Lodge, teamwork is at the heart of everything we do.

Work-life and schedule

This role offers a great work-life balance. Our full-time hours consist of four 10-hour days (8am – 7pm) and 1 in 4 Saturday mornings (8am–1pm) sole charge. There are no out-of-hours, Sundays, or bank holiday duties, as we’re fortunate to be a Vets Now host practice, meaning our in-patients are cared for overnight by their dedicated emergency team all under our own roof.

Community and charity

We’re proud to support a number of animal welfare charities, including the local RSPCA, Cats Protection, and Dogs Trust. As part of the IVC Evidensia family, we also work closely with StreetVet, helping to provide veterinary care for the pets of people experiencing homelessness. Giving back to our community is something we take to heart, it’s part of who we are.

Life in Hemel Hempstead

Hemel Hempstead is a vibrant town in Hertfordshire, offering a balance between green spaces and modern amenities, with easy access to London via direct train links in under 30 minutes.

Benefits at a glance

Work-life Balance & Wellbeing

• 6.6 weeks’ holiday including bank holidays – plus your birthday off
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced family-friendly leave and pay
• 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme

Development

• £1,250 CPD allowance + 40 hours paid CPD
• Certificate and advanced learning support & Access to Vetlexicon online resources
• World leading IVC Evidensia Training Centres
• £1,250 annual Care Fund for every vet

Professional Memberships

• BVA membership
• VDS cover
• RCVS fees

Colleague Benefits

• Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes (eligibility applies)
• Retail discounts and cashback offers
• Reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets

Apply today or get in touch for an informal, confidential chat.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Up to £70,000 DOE