Davies Veterinary Specialists (Davies) has appointed existing member of staff Nat Whitley as Clinical Director. The new role has been introduced to support the private small animal veterinary referral centre’s continued growth and development.
Davies, based in Higham Gobion, on the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border, is a leading multi-disciplinary, small animal veterinary referral practice, with a team of more than 170 vets, vet nurses, physiotherapists, assistants and administrators.
Nat Whitley, who is a Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, has been employed full time by Davies for the past 13 years. He originally joined the team as a medicine and cardiology clinician and became Head of Internal Medicine in 2010. Nat underwent a rigorous interview process with both internal and external interview panels, to secure the appointment of Clinical Director.
The new role has been created as a part of Davies’ new management structure to support the practice’s continued expansion and safeguard quality, safety and efficiency. Nat will provide clinical leadership for the practice, advising on matters of clinical policy, practice, staffing, training and development. He will liaise with Heads of Clinical, Nursing and Client Care Services to monitor and manage caseload and admissions to ensure effective daily management of the main clinic, as well as supporting the strategic management of the practice.
While Nat will still manage his own cases and take his share of the out-of-hours rota, his clinical commitment will be reduced by 50% to accommodate the new role. His initial focus as Clinical Director will be to oversee the upgrade of new practice management software, and to ensure smooth running of the clinic whilst other projects come to fruition or get underway, including the expansion of the practice’s kennel block and Intensive Care Unit and the installation of new CT and MRI scanners. He will also be heavily involved with staff recruitment and retention.
Nat Whitley said: “This marks an exciting new phase in my career with Davies. The introduction of the new role is a culmination of Davies’ investment in management training over past few years. It demonstrates our commitment to strategic investment, growth and development across all areas of the business from directorial to administrative levels.”
Dr Clive Elwood, Managing Director of Davies continued: “I am delighted that Nat has undertaken this role, and I am confident he will make a great success of it. Creating this position maintains the momentum of changes necessary for us to remain as an independent referral practice whilst continuing to deliver outstanding care to patients, customers and referring colleagues.”
Find out more at http://www.vetspecialists.co.uk
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