Semantic Coherence: Ash Tree Vets – Signal Evidence & AI Readability

[IMG: Nurse Claw Clips]

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[H1] The highest levels of care for your pet

[H1] Emergency

If you have an emergency outside of our opening hours, please call 01858 462839 so that you can be directed to your nearest out-of-hours provider.
All patients requiring emergency care during our standard working hours will be cared for and hospitalised at our Market Harborough practice, where our friendly team is always available to see emergency cases. Please call ahead to advise us that you are attending the practice so that we can ensure we are ready for your arrival.
Our out-of-hours service is supplied by the skilled emergency teams at The Park Veterinary Hospital and Northlands Veterinary Group, who are always available to help our clients when we are closed – a deposit may be required at the time.

[H2] The Park Veterinary Hospital

162 Dominion Road,
Glenfield,
Leicester,
LE3 8JA

Call us – 0116 231 1635

[H2] Northlands Veterinary Hospital

6 Station Road,
Kettering,
Northants,
NN15 7HH

Call us – 01536 485543

[H1] Meet the Team

We’re extremely proud of our committed team, who consistently go above and beyond to provide the best for our patients and clients.
All our veterinary surgeons attend courses regularly keeping them informed of the latest developments in veterinary medicine. They all specialise in the treatment of small animals, and pursue active further education in various areas.
Working alongside our vets, we have an extraordinary team of nurses. Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) are responsible for carrying out nursing care of in-patients, monitoring general anaesthetics, giving medical treatment to animals under the direction of a veterinary surgeon, and much more! In addition to caring for your pet while they are in our care, our nurses are also able to provide advice over the telephone as well as running nursing clinics and nurse consultations.
Our support team is dedicated to ensuring you and your pet gets the best treatment possible. Made up of Clinical Care Assistants, Receptionists and Admin staff, the team is well equipped to facilitate your pet’s journey through Ash Tree Vets and provide a friendly and efficient service.

[H3] Filters

[IMG: Staff Profile Stella]

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Stella

[H4] Clinical Director

Stella graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2009 and managed to squeeze in some travelling before joining us the following year. She only intended to spend a short time in Leicestershire, but has been with us ever since!

She has a special interest in diagnostic imaging and patient welfare and is always planning her next adventure abroad.

[IMG: Staff Profile Rachel]

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Rachel

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Rachel graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2013, after which she worked for one year in Norfolk and then eight years in a hospital in Northampton. Rachel joined Ash Tree Vets in 2022 where she has shown a particular interest in emergency medicine and holds a certificate relating to this.

Outside of work, Rachel enjoys playing a variety of instruments – badly, she says ? – going to the gym, walking Poppy the dog, and trying to keep up with her two children!

[IMG: Staff Profile Lucy]

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Lucy

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Lucy graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2015 and joined the Ash Tree team the following year. She has a huge soft spot for rabbits and particularly enjoys working on medicine cases and meeting new people!

When asked what attracted her to the role of a veterinary surgeon and how she approaches building relationships with pet owners, she says, ‘As a child I was pretty geeky and loved science, especially biology, and as most children I loved animals but especially rabbits. So a career in veterinary medicine seemed to be the perfect fit. It’s great that no day is the same, I get to see all different animals, people, and see different clinical conditions which makes the job interesting. It’s a pleasure to come to work every day and know you are making a difference to people and animals. I have enjoyed being part of our cat friendly initiative and love my Friday “cat only clinic” at Desborough.

Building good relationships with owners is essential to being a good vet. I think listening to the owner and their viewpoint is so important, as the owners are the voice for the animal. It’s normally easy to forge good relationships with clients as we both have a common goal; a healthy, happy pet.’

Some of her favourite hobbies include horse riding, travelling and crafting – she always has a creative project on the go!

[IMG: Staff Profile Helen]

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Helen

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Helen graduated in 2002 and worked at a small animal and referral hospital for 15 years before joining us in 2021. A real globetrotter, she worked in the DRC, Cameroon, Thailand and Costa Rica before settling in Market Harborough with her family and pets.

Helen enjoys the variety of veterinary practice, from seeing puppies and kittens for their first vaccination visits (who doesn’t like cuddles?), to dealing with more complex medical conditions, right through to performing surgery.

She says, ‘Being a vet is a bit like being a detective, you need to look out for clues and patterns towards illnesses and use your skill (and investigations) to come to the right conclusions. Not all cases will have the same treatment options available, and working with owners to find the best options for themselves and their pet in their own circumstances is something I am passionate about. There is no ‘one size meets all’ approach here.‘.

With over 20 years experience she has seen many cases, from foreign body removals to dentals. Helen also enjoys and is experienced in working with rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets.

When she’s not working, she loves walking, cycling, singing (badly) and spending time on her allotment.

[IMG: Staff Profile Ellie]

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Ellie

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Ellie graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2021 and joined Ash Tree Vets shortly afterwards. She has a particular interest in animal behaviour and is passionate about reducing stress for her patients. Ellie has completed her Calm Clinic Academy CPD and is our Calm Clinic Ambassador. This has enabled Ellie to create positive changes within the practice, and implement a calm, stress-limiting approach to all patients.

Outside of work Ellie enjoys martial arts, walking and playing the piano.

[IMG: Staff Profile Rebecca]

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Rebecca

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Rebecca Hearne graduated from the University of Surrey and joined Ash Tree Vets in 2022. Prior to her vet degree she completed a Diploma of Higher Education in Veterinary Bioscience, and has also undertaken an internship at Chester Zoo. Rebecca recently had a Knowledge Summary posted and won an award for this too.

In her spare time you will find Rebecca out for a walk or run with her Cocker Spaniel, Gordon.

[IMG: Staff Profile Claire]

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Claire

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Claire graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2013, and is a general practitioner with a surgical bias and a certificate holder in companion animal surgery.

She is also the proud owner of a very handsome three-legged cat called Sid!

[IMG: Staff Profile Nigel]

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Nigel

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

After graduating from Cambridge University in 1995, Nigel worked at a busy small animal practice for 12 years. He joined us in 2007 and has a particular passion for orthopaedics, cruciate surgery, ultrasound and cardiology.

His interests outside of work include squash, attempting to play the guitar, water sports and anything to do with flying!

[IMG: Staff Profile Pippa]

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Pippa

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Pippa studied at Cambridge University and began her veterinary career at a mixed practice and a busy vet hospital in Northampton. She holds a post-graduate certificate in emergency and critical care and has a passion for anaesthesia.

She spends most of her free time chasing her two sons, looking after their cat and tortoise, and going rock-climbing!

[IMG: Staff profile Liz]

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Liz

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Liz graduated in 1999 and worked in practices in Somerset and New Zealand before joining us in 2014. She loves the positive atmosphere at our practice and enjoys getting to work on tricky cases!

When she’s not working or looking after her three children, she can be found walking, cycling, tending to her allotment and making novelty birthday cakes!

[IMG: Staff Profile Chris]

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Chris

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Chris graduated from Cambridge University in 1991, and has 25 years wide ranging surgical experience – both soft tissue and orthopaedic. He also has an interest in veterinary cardiology/echocardiography.

Chris has treated many trauma and medical cases over the years, ranging from skin grafts because of suspected adder bite, to diagnosing phenobarbitone responsive sialoadenitis.

He says, ‘Whilst I have always worked as a general practice vet with responsibilities involving both medical investigations and surgery, I have found myself drawn more to surgery over the years. Any caring surgeon will feel the weight of responsibility when carrying out demanding surgeries, but it is more than made up for when your patient is cured by your actions, and you can think to yourself “I did that”.’

Outside of work his pursuits include dancing (ceroc/modern jive) and gardening.

[IMG: Staff Profile Elissa]

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Elissa

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Elissa graduated from Cambridge University in 2013, and worked at a small animal hospital in Northampton before joining us in 2019. She enjoys all aspects of her job, but has a particular passion for soft tissue surgery.

When she’s not wearing scrubs, she can often be found running, cycling or walking her cocker spaniel, Lucy.

[IMG: Staff Profile Nick]

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Nick

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Nick grew up on the outskirts of Birmingham and graduated from Edinburgh University in 1995. A self-confessed all-rounder, he has been part of our team since 2000 and loves getting stuck into all aspects of his role.

He lives with his wife, two children and pets, and  enjoys running, cycling and competing in distance running and adventure races!

[IMG: Staff Profile Charlie]

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Charlie

[H4] Veterinary Surgeon

Charlie graduated from The Royal Veterinary College in 2008 after previously completing a BSc (Animal Sciences) at Edinburgh in 2003. She worked for 1 year in Kent then returned home to Leicestershire where she worked for 14 years as a mixed practitioner before joining Ash Tree Vets in 2023. Charlie enjoys all aspects of 1st opinion practice but is also very happy to treat and provide advice on chickens.

Outside work – home life is busy with two young children, but she occasionally finds time to run, read and attempt to grow veggies in the garden!

[IMG: Staff Profile Kathleen]

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Kathleen

[H4] Registered Veterinary Nurse and Nurse Manager

Kathleen qualified as a vet nurse in 2015, and worked at various local practices over the years including; a referral hospital, mixed practice, locum work in an emergency clinic, and she volunteered at a neutering clinic in Thailand before joining our team in 2018.

She loves all aspects of her role, but has a particular passion for mentoring and supporting student nurses. She says, ‘I really enjoy looking after the team at Ash Tree, being able to implement new ideas and maintain great standards of care, but the best part, and the reason why I do this job – is the animals!’.

In her free time, she loves looking after her Labrador, Lily, and hand-reared cat, Cabbage. They are both OAPs now who have been with Kathleen since her early student years. Lily enjoys helping out where she can by regularly being a students’ bandaging practice model, starring in marketing and demonstration videos, and has on occasion attended CPD days with our team. Lily loves all the attention and is partial to a carrot or two!

[IMG: Staff Profile Amy]

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Amy

[H4] Registered Veterinary Nurse

Amy has been passionate about animal care since childhood and always aspired to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse. After raising her family and exploring a diverse range of careers, she fulfilled her long‑held ambition by studying at Harper Adams University, where she qualified as an RVN.

Since then, Amy has continued to build on her skills, completing a recognised certificate in Veterinary Nurse Consulting. This has strengthened her interest in nurse‑led clinics and deepened her commitment to supporting clients through clear, compassionate communication. She also has a particular focus on end‑of‑life care and helping families navigate difficult decisions with empathy.

Before entering small‑animal practice, Amy gained wide‑ranging experience working with horses and livestock, giving her a strong, holistic understanding of animal health and welfare.

Outside of work, Amy enjoys walking her two rescue dogs and spending time crafting.

[IMG: Staff Profile Lucie]

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Lucie

[H4] Registered Veterinary Nurse and Deputy Nurse Manager

[IMG: Staff Profile

[IMG: Chris and Emily Perform TECA Surgery]

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[H1] Services

The experienced small animal teams at our branches in Market Harborough, Kibworth and Desborough welcome all domestic pets and have a range of special interests, including; ultrasonography, cardiology, orthopaedics, medicine and soft tissue surgery.
We are continually updating and investing in new equipment and resources to enable us to provide the best care, including; fully equipped operating theatres, digital x-ray, ultrasound, dental radiography and in-house blood analysis machines
Our fully computerised system allows for accurate and confidential clinical records which are accessible between branches.

[H1] Pet Health Plan

Year-round preventative healthcare for your best friend, with savings for you.

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[H1] Register Your Pet

Please note that there is a slight delay between submitting your online registration and being captured on our system, so if you would like to book an appointment for the same day it may be best to call in on 01858 462 839

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