SOUTHWEST

Rachel Risdon BVSc CertCHP MRCVS 

07817 030881

Rachel qualified from Bristol University in 1997 and spent several years in mixed, though mainly farm animal, practice in West Devon/North Cornwall.  She then returned to Bristol University as a Farm Animal resident and gained her Certificate in Cattle Health and Production before moving to work for the Animal Health Centre in Waikato, New Zealand, where she learned more about block calving systems and liver biopsying for mineral status.  Rachel returned to North Cornwall/Devon, set up a branch of Stock 1st farm vets from scratch and married a dairy farmer!  Stock 1st merged with Westpoint 18 months later and the Southwest branch has continued to grow.

Pat Shaw BVSc MRCVS

07809 562882

Pat graduated from Bristol University in 1974.

Chris Just BVSc MRCVS

07809 388382

Chris graduated from Bristol Vet School in 2003.  After 18 months of mixed practice in this home county of Cornwall, he gave up the life of sun, surf and bovine TB and moved to Cheshire.  There he worked in a ten farm vet team doing dedicated farm only practice for four years, mainly with the high production Holstein dairy herds of the Cheshire plains.  After this time severe signs of Cornish pasty withdrawal had set in and Cheshire cheese really isn't a substitute, so when Westpoint Veterinary Group offered a position with the team of farm only vets based in the Southwest, he was back like a shot.

Chris' dedication to cattle medicine has led to a keen interest in foot care, mastitis, fertility and healthy calf production.  His interest in foot care has led to a position as veterinary liaison on the committee of the National Association of Cattle Foot Trimmers since 2007.  He is also interested in analysis of conventional disease recording data e.g NMR and Interherd.

Outside of work Chris likes to keep fit running and hiking the moors of Cornwall and Devon with his dog Vinny - often seen accompanying him on daily rounds!

 

Philip Elkins BVM&S MRCVS 

07743 808197 

Originally a West Country boy, Phil qualified from the Edinburgh in 2005 before returning to Devon and the joys of mixed practice.  Two years later he decided to concentrate solely on farm animals and, following stints in Nantwich and New Zealand, decided to join the growing Westpoint farm animal veterinary team in Cornwall in early 2009.

Phil is now the senior vet for the Winnards Perch branch. He enjoys all aspects of farm care, but has particular interests in managing mastitis and implementing Johne’s control programmes. Phil is trained in implementing the DairyCo Mastitis Control Plan, and is also currently studying for a RCVS Certificate in Production Animal Practice

Phil lives in St Columb and manages somehow to balance a healthy enthusiasm for work with playing rugby for Wadebridge Camels, pretending to know how to surf and spending time with his wife Julie and rapidly growing son.

Lesley Gibson BVM&S MRCVS 

07753 639129  

Originally from Cumbria, Lesley graduated from Edinburgh University in 2007 and moved to Devon to start her career in mixed practice, after 2 years she decided to focus on farm work and joined Westpoint at their Launceston branch in October 2009. When she is not working Lesley enjoys playing hockey and walking on the moors with her dogs.

Grant Fraser

07702 202321 

Grant originates from rural New Zealand and graduated from Massey University in 2005. He then took up practice in central Waikato with one of the biggest rural veterinary practices in New Zealand. Grant moved to the UK in May 2008 and has been locuming for various rural practices.

Outside of work he enjoys rugby, mountain biking and surfing, basically anything outdoors.

Rhona Stewart

07702 202320 

Rhona originally completed a degree in Animal Science at Leeds then went on to study Veterinary Science at Glasgow, graduating in 2004. She moved straight into mixed practice in Crediton, Devon for 3 years. In June 2007 Rhona moved to New Zealand for a year, working for a rural practice in the Waikato. After moving back to the UK and locuming for the last 18 months Rhona is looking forwards to settling back into dairy practice.

When not working she enjoys surfing, squash, skiing and baking when in the mood.

Kevin O'Leary BVetMed MRCVS

07766 562581

Kevin is going to be filling in for Jason while he’s away playing with monkeys on some far distant shore!

Kevin was born in Cardiff, but his family are dairy and beef farmers back in Ireland. He graduated from the RVC in 2006, where he undertook a final year project on cattle lameness. He then moved to mixed practice in South East Cornwall, where he worked for two years – so is no stranger to the moors! Wishing to specialise further, he undertook a Farm Animal Internship at the Royal Veterinary College, spending all of his time at the Northpoint branch of Westpoint for 15 months, and finishing with two months of herd health medicine at the Welsh Regional Veterinary Centre. Kevin is interested in all aspects of farm animal practice, but is especially interested in  cow lameness and cow comfort. In his free time, he plays rugby, and goes on long walks with his 5 month old puppy Koda – long walks as Koda doesn’t listen to him!

Jason Parker BVetMed MRCVS 

07738 766704 

Having been brought up (mainly) in Yorkshire, Bedfordshire and Sussex, he graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1996.  His first job was a true mixed practice in Northern Ireland, where he stayed for an enjoyable 15 months before heading to Truro in Cornwall.  He joined a large animal (horses and farm animals) practice specialising there in cattle work. 

Before and during the Foot and Mouth outbreak , Jason worked for Defra/Maff.  He then re-joined his old practice in Truro, this time taking equine veterinary work as well.  After a brief spell in South Africa doing cattle and equine work, he once again returned to Cornwall to his old practice before joining Westpoint in their Launceston office in February 2008.

He now works from the premises at Winnard's Perch near Truro, which opened in January 2009. 

Despite constant practice he still can't play football or play the guitar. 

Gemma Rowland - Veterinary Technician 

Gemma is a farmers daughter she brings a vast amount of experience gained  through helping out with the family farm.

Gemma can be contacted on all enquiries relating to paraprofessional services at the Trethorne Office on 01566 86985

Helen Jenkins  RVN - Office Manager of Southwest branches 

Helen is a registered and listed veterinary nurse, and worked in a mixed practice until joining Stock1st in October 2006.  Helen has been with Westpoint Southwest since its inception in January 2008 when Stock1st merged with Westpoint Veterinary Group.   

Her sparetime is taken up by riding and training her (very) inexperienced horse as well as walking her black Labrador and German Shepherd across Bodmin Moor.  Helen has completed (twice!) the BHS Bedouin Riding Challenge in aid of BHS Welfare - a task that involved trekking some 100 miles across the Wadi Rum desert.

Kath Dawe - Office Administrator Trethorne

Jacky Parsons - Office Administrator Winnard's Perch