Business North September 2020

| 103 Volume 19 | Issue 3 businessnorth Vet care team thriving in Western Bay Tauranga Vet Services provides animal health care and resources to a large population of domestic, rural and life-style clients. Sue Russell VETERINARY SERVICES » Tauranga Vet Services T he four veterinarian practices that make up Tauranga Vet Services provide animal health care and resources to a large population of domestic, rural and life-style clients. For Managing Director and owner, David McDon- nell, there’s a real sense of pride in what he and the teams of qualified vets, veterinary nurses and support staff offer through the practices, based in Katikati, Papamoa Village, Te Puna and Tauranga. “It’s important to have a strong sense of empathy when working in animal health but its also essential to have an ability, guided by professional judgment, to help clients make the right choices, and that’s not always easy.” David’s background is in the production animal sectors of dairying, sheep and deer. He says each of the qualified and experienced Vets based across the four clinics tends to have a specialised area of interest, while offering health care for all sorts of animals from production and equine, through to companion and lifestyle. The Tauranga Vet clinic in Cameron Road is the businesses ‘flagship’ providing outstanding facili- ties. The clinic has a fully equipped surgical wing, x-ray and ultrasound technologies. “Our x-ray equipment is all digital and we also have special dentistry x-ray capability,” says David. He’s also proud that the business is indepen- dently owned, rather than part of a corporate entity as is often the case these days given the cost of establishing and operating a successful veterinary service. “There’s a large team of us and we put an emphasis on meeting regularly to share profes- sional development opportunities. We also have an exceptionally strong nursing culture. Our practice policy is to employ qualified nurses who come through a variety of training pathways.” When Covid-19 struck it presented the team with fresh challenges. As an essential industry daily life continued, caring for animals, however under strin- gent contact management guidelines provided by the Health Ministry. All four clinics remained open. “We’re fortunate to have a very good business manager who kept communication up with all staff to counter any sense of isolation.” David says he’s always interested in grasping fresh opportunities to evolve the practice. “I’m particularly focused on us deepening the relationship with our customers and understanding their needs. This is about three essential fac- tors; empathy, a thirst for diagnosis and searching for answers and nurturing a trusting relationship between practitioner and client.” Looking back on a long career David says today the training provided to veterinarian students now is of a much better quality. He says while there’s the necessary need to learn the science and facts, just as important in the formative years in practice is having a supportive employer. “There is a requirement on employers to provide a formalised framework of professional develop- ment and growth and I see this as a real benefit in modern day practice management.” David says that when he took over the business more than 10 years ago his goal was to develop it into a real leader in the Western Bay and build a really strong culture in vet care. “I think we are getting close to this,” he reflects. This aspiration has also been recognised in the awarding in 2017 and 2018 of Westpac Tauranga Business Awards. “Taking part in this process was like a business WOF. It was a great thing for our team and we were delighted to receive the Service Excellence Award and the Customer Experience Award in successive years.” The Cameron Road clinic in Tauranga is open seven days a week with extended hours, while those at Te Puna, Papamoa Village and Katikati are open six. Emergency services are available 24/7. 10 % OFF any BROADLINE, NEXGARD or NEXGARD SPECTRA triple pack when you present this ad in clinic EXPIRES 31 OCTOBER 2020 www.bopvets.co.nz 0800 838 7267 CUT HERE NZ-PVT-0003-2020 Registered pursuant to theACVMAct 1997, Nos.A011040,A011184,A010901