BEING on call 24/7 has earned the team at a Tyne Valley vets nominations in a national awards ceremony.

The service provided by staff at dedicated horse veterinary practice Bearl Equine Clinic, just off the A69 at Bywell, has been so appreciated by its clients that they have taken the time to put it forward in three categories at the 2017 Petplan Veterinary Awards.

Bearl manager Suzanne Sharp is shortlisted as Practice Manager of the Year and Jonathan Wainwright has been nominated as Vet of the Year, while the entire team have received a pat on the back with the nomination in the Practice of the Year.

The independent practice, operating with five equine vets and a team of support staff, is delighted with the nominations for its continued hard work since the clinic was established 30 years ago.

Suzanne said: “It’s always nice to be recognised for a job well done, but the best bit about working here is sending a client home with a healthy horse. We work rather like a large family and celebrate the successes and mourn the losses together.”

The longevity of the business proves how trusted the clinic is in the Tyne Valley, and the North-East in general, with business constantly streaming in.

Bearl has already experienced a busy 2017, a continuation of a frantic festive period.

With vets and nurses taking turn to be on call, to ensure every day over the Christmas and New Year period was covered. Vet Natalie Young and nurse Laura Morris were working on Christmas Day, while Suzanne herself was working alongside vet Alex Font on both Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. And it was just as well.

Suzanne explained: “We had an eventful Christmas with an emergency colic case coming in the wee small hours of Christmas Eve. A long surgery followed and none of the surgical team saw much sleep that night!

“The same happened on Boxing Day and, between attending to the needs of the intensive care patients, we also attended a series of incidents and accidents requiring urgent attention throughout the festive period.

“Thankfully, our surgical patient was discharged to the comfort of his stable with a bright prognosis, and that makes all the hard work worthwhile.

“We are very fortunate to have Jonathan heading the team. He is the only experienced surgeon in the North-East who has been successfully resolving surgical colics for more than two decades.

“The rapid response we are able to make contributes enormously to the success of the outcome where colic is concerned.”

It is not just in colic cases in which the clinic excels, and ongoing investment and development has helped gain Bearl the great reputation it currently holds.

The practice has the capacity and capability to deal with major equine incidents and ailments, as well as high-spec routine care.

Among its many offers, it provides MRI, bone scintigraphy and full surgical facilities to referring vets throughout the region.

Suzanne said: “Life is never dull here at Bearl Equine Clinic! Each day brings its challenges and we have learned to deal with each one as it comes.

“Although my job is to manage the clinic, it can be like trying to control a slippery eel as emergency calls force priorities to change on an hourly basis.

“Our equine veterinary services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so even when the rest of the country is tucking into dinner or fast asleep under the duvet, the team is on alert and ready to act.”