Seaside Success Continues at Cedarmount

FIRST OPINION AND REFERRALS SUCCESS AT CEDARMOUNT
 BUSINESS is increasingly brisk, both first opinion and referrals, at Cedarmount Veterinary Clinic in the prosperous seaside resort and commuter town of Bangor, Co Down.

In response practice partners Norma Bailie and Craig Reilly have again invested in higher staffing levels and enhanced facilities.
A recent refurbishment of the bright and welcoming Bryansburn Road premises included adding more consulting space as well as extending the naturally lit main operating theatre and adjacent laboratory. This, along with up grading the orthopaedic operating theatre, means three operations can be on going at the same time.

The introduction of Sevoflurane as the sole inhalant anaesthetic gas having facilitated provision of very smooth anaesthetics and especially comfortable recoveries for Cedarmount patients.
There has also been a major investment in additional diagnostic equipment and other behind the scenes facilities, plus provision for more client parking space off Cedarmount.

At the same time an additional veterinary surgeon, Alan Hartley, joined the four existing veterinary surgeons in the Bangor practice. From a mid Ulster farming family Alan graduated at Liverpool in 1999 to spend three years in a hectic Yorkshire mixed practice where he did, however, make time to meet his future wife. Returning to Northern Ireland Alan gained further valuable experience with another mixed practice, Parklands Veterinary Clinic is Dungannon, before seizing the opportunity to specialise in companion animals at Cedarmount.

Until acquired from Terence Morrow by current partners Norma Bailie and Craig Reilly in 1994 Cedarmount was a thriving mixed practice.
However, as Norma recalled, “It was increasingly difficult to keep abreast of rapid advances in veterinary medicine across all species so we ceased farm animal and equine work to concentrate on becoming a high quality, first opinion, companion animal practice.

“A very successful strategy as gaining a sound reputation in companion animals allowed Cedarmount to develop a referral or second opinion practice within the existing clinic.”

A logical development, given the two practice partners own interests, experience and qualifications, including Craig Reilly in 2002 becoming the first NI based veterinary surgeon to obtain an RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Medicine. A Bangorian, Craig Reilly qualified from the Dick veterinary College, Edinburgh in 1987 with distinction in medicine and was UK Vet of the Year 2006.

“I am a great believer in ongoing professional training and obtaining the Certificate in Small Animal Medicine has greatly facilitated a very high standard of diagnosis and therapy. Not only for our own patients, but for referral cases in all aspects of internal medicine from cancer care to renal disease, cardiac cases and hypertension control.”

For practice partner Norma Bailie companion animals have been an abiding interest since graduating from Glasgow in 1978 to climb a steep learning curve over four years with two small animal practices in the city.
Norma then spent two fulfilling years as a research fellow at the University of Minnesota Veterinary School where she obtained a Masters in small animal medicine via a thesis and course work.
On returning from the USA Norma worked in the Veterinary Pathology Dept at Liverpool University.

“An opportunity that led to a teaching post where I enjoyed lecturing in reproductive pathology and performing diagnostic pathology on tissue samples submitted by practices and the vet school,” Norma explained.
“This was excellent experience and sparked an interest in cytology, which has enhanced our Cedarmount laboratory and clinical pathology skills. More recently my special interest has been reproduction and behaviour in dogs and cats.

“One of the great joys of our profession is that a vet really is always learning, be it new surgical techniques, solving different medical problems or trying to match the fast rising expectations of pet owners.
“Moving on from university teaching to a Manchester small animal practice and then becoming a partner in Cedarmount has never been regretted.  The buzz I get in our fast changing veterinary profession working with small animals and their owners makes everyday at Cedarmount exciting, especially as the volume of referrals rises.”

The other two vets in the practice are job sharing Kerry Parkhill and Lisa Allen, who not only both qualified from Glasgow, but share a passion for competing at a high level in equestrian disciplines such as eventing, dressage and show jumping. Kerry and Lisa as very experienced small animal clinicians are ideal for Cedarmount as both are capable of the high level of concentration and multi-tasking required to handle the heavy caseload.

14 years after Norma and Craig acquired Cedarmount their practice has a full compliment of five vets working in ultra modern premises staffed by well trained, highly motivated nurses and admin staff.  A team that makes Cedarmount Veterinary Clinic well placed as a top quality primary opinion practice to also provide a province-wide referral service.

STRONG SUPPORT TEAM

FIRM believers in ongoing training practice partners Norma Bailie and Craig Reilly encourage support staff to develop their knowledge and skills, both at Cedarmount and though veterinary nursing courses at Greenmount College.

Practice manager Richard Friar VN has been with Cedarmount Veterinary Clinic since leaving school, aside from a brief spell with DARD science division. His many duties range from offering clients pet insurance advice to working with fellow nurses Jennifer Parker, Emma Larmour VN, Michelle McGimpsey, Rosemary Campbell, Caroline Bramwell and Angela Johnston to provide a consistently first rate service.

For clients the friendly face at reception sets the tone of a practice and no where more so than at Cedarmount where Rachael ‘Ruby’ Acheson has been a member of the Clinic team for over 20 years. The Petplan Receptionist of the Year 2002, Ruby has a special rapport with cat and dog owners.

More recently she was joined on reception by Scot Suzi Mercer, who worked in a Glasgow small animal practice before having the good fortune to settle in Northern Ireland!