MEET OUR TEAM

Veterinary Surgeons

Donna Claridge BVetMed MRCVS

Donna qualified from the University of London in 1989. She has worked at Park Veterinary Hospital for over 30 years with a short break to go travelling back in the nineties. Donna enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine but is particularly interested in feline medicine, emergency medicine and the care and treatment of exotic pets.

She enjoys the long-term relationships and friendships she has fostered with many clients and their pets over the years and now considers herself an honorary northerner having spent more of her life in Sheffield than anywhere else.

In her spare time Donna enjoys anything outdoors and is a keen climber and fell-runner and can think of no better way to relax than running with her dogs across the bogs and moors of the Peak District. She lives with her husband and daughter and a large variety of pets (from tortoises to sheep).

Carmel Stanford MVB MRCVS CertAVP (VetGP) GPCert (SAS) OCQ (V)-CA  RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Practice

Carmel graduated from the University College Dublin in 2000. She came to work at Park Veterinary Hospital after graduation and soon found a love for both the local area and small animal surgery. Following a year of working as a locum at veterinary practices across Sheffield, Carmel returned to Park Veterinary Hospital in 2007.

Carmel has achieved an RCVS certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (VetGP),  completed an ESVPS Certificate in Small Animal Surgery and was awarded RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal practice.

During her time off, Carmel enjoys spending time with her husband and two children and walking her border terrier in the Peak District.

 

Katie Limb BSc BVSc PGCertSAOphthal MRCVS

Katie graduated from Bristol vet school in 2008 after completing a previous degree in Zoology.
She has worked at various small animal practices across Yorkshire since and after having her daughter she settled back home in Sheffield.
She has worked at Park Vets since 2018 and has a keen interest in opthalmology, achieving a certifcate in this area.

When not at work Katie is an artist using paper to create animal portraits. She lives with her daughter, 3 whippets, a Maine Coon and a mad moggie that was the product of a pregnant spay brought into Park who had her kittens at Katie's house!

 

Tiago Flor MRCVS

Tiago graduated in Nov 2016 but never got to work in his home country of Portugal as he always wanted to live abroad and decided to move to the UK. He has as an interest in clinical pathology, laboratorial analysis, soft tissue surgery, diagnostic imaging and dermatology. Even though he is admittedly a "dog person" he loves cats too and has a soft spot for rats.
An avid computer gamer and keen on sports, during his free time can be found playing rugby with Sheffield Vulcans, hiking on Stanage Edge or home playing video games when there's a storm outside! Tiago enjoys cinema and spending time with friends, loves finding new places and getting know different cultures. 

 

Matthew Holden MA VetMB GPCert(Derm) MRCVS OCQ(V)-CA

Matt qualified from the University of Cambridge in 2007. Following a stint in mixed practice, in the Peak District, he has been looking after people’s pets since 2009.

He moved to Sheffield in 2018 and had been locuming in the area since then. He started working at Park Veterinary Hospital in April 2022.

In May 2024 Matt achieved an ISVPS certificate in Dermatology and is working towards Advanced Practitioner status.

In his spare time Matt enjoys a spot of running, skiing in season and exploring the world when he can!

 

Zoey Broughton BVM&S MRCVS

Originally from the US, Zoey graduated in July 2024 from the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh. Before coming to the UK for veterinary school, Zoey also completed a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences in 2020. During her high school and University years in America, Zoey worked as a veterinary technician (a position similar to a vet nurse). Zoey has a keen interest in medicine (especially feline and rabbit medicine), pain management, and diagnostic imaging. She now lives in Sheffield with her 2 rabbits, Maximum Destruction and Venous Return. In her free time, she enjoys reading, playing dungeons and dragons, and hiking when the weather is nice

 

Annelies Sarrazyn MRCVS

Annelies graduated from Ghent University in 2005 but never got round to working in Belgium as she moved to the UK shortly after qualifying. She moved to Sheffield in November 2007 and joined Park Veterinary Hospital, as a permanent full time vet until 2011 and on a part time locum basis since then.

In 2010 she attained her ESVPS Certificate in Small Animal Medicine. She finds all aspects of veterinary practice fascinating and her main interests lie in small animal medicine, particularly endocrinology and geriatrics.

In her spare time she enjoys climbing, fell running, road biking and reading.

 

Vicky Ironside VetMB MA,CertVC MRCVS

Vicky Ironside is the practice cardiologist.  She qualified from Cambridge in 1989 and after 10 years in general small animal practice, gained a further qualification in cardiology (Certificate of Veterinary Cardiology).  Since then she has worked mainly with practices in Sheffield, making use of a specialised ultrasound scanner when she visits for cardiology clinics.

 

 

 

David Strong BVM&S CertAVP MRCVS    

David graduated from the R(D)SVS in 2005 and has been seeing referrals as a visiting surgeon since 2012. He performs a high volume of orthopaedic surgery; these are mainly cruciate and patellar luxation procedures, but also fracture surgery and other orthopaedic procedures such as arthrodesis (joint fusion) and correction of angular limb deformities. David has designed a number of veterinary instruments and implants that are in common use around the world.

David still performs a range of soft tissue procedures, but these are now fairly focused as airway surgery (BOAS), ear canal ablation (TECA), perineal rupture/herniation, wound reconstruction with occasional ocular surgery (eg cherry eye, entropion, conjunctival graft).

Much of his free time is taken up with his young family, their rescue spaniel and their small woodland in the Peak District National Park

 

Veterinary Surgeon Vacancy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Veterinary Nurses

Andrew Lipscombe RVN ISFMCertFN

Head Nurse

Andrew joined the practice from leaving school in 1999.  He studied at Myerscough College in Preston and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2005.  His main interest is small animal nutrition and he runs weight clinic for cats and dogs from the practice. Away from work Andrew enjoys most types of sport, but mainly Formula One, Moto GP and football.

 

 

Melanie Dando RVN

Nurse Training Co-ordinator

Melanie has worked at the practice since 2002 and qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2004.  She is the practice nurse training co-ordinator, responsible for training our student nurses and has a particular interest in feline medicine. Outside work she plays roller derby for Sheffield Steel Rollergirls.

 

 

 

Lauren Parkinson RVN

Lauren qualified as a veterinary nurse from Nottingham Trent University in 2021 and joined the practice in October 2022. Lauren has a keen interest in anaesthesia and analgesia. Outside of work Lauren is kept busy by her 2 horses, dog and cat.

 

 

 

Emma Palmer RVN

Emma graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2023 and on graduation, started work following a university placement at the practice. Emma has always wanted to work with animals and has a special interest in anaesthesia. In her spare time, Emma enjoys going out with friends, reading a good book and spending time with her two cats and dog

 

 

 

Chloe Garbutt-Byers RVN

Chloe qualified as a registered veterinary nurse in 2023 after completing her degree at the University of Bristol. She worked in Bristol for a short while and then decided to return to her Yorkshire roots, joining Park Veterinary Hospital in July 2024. She loves providing the best care possible for pets at the practice and has a several interests, including anaesthesia and exotic species.

In her spare time she enjoys going to the gym, swimming, walking in the peaks, and horse trekking. Otherwise, she can usually be found wandering around a garden centre and looking after her many plants.

 

Rachael Honeyman RVN CertVNECC

Information to follow soon.

 

 

 

 

 

Student Veterinary Nurses

 

Erin Stratford

Erin has always loved animals and completed a degree in Zoology in 2021 before deciding that she wanted to become a veterinary nurse. She has a cat named Yuki and would love more pets in the future.

 

 

 

Sarah Beal

Sarah previously worked in the NHS and Private Healthcare following her graduation from Bangor University with a degree in Zoology and Animal Conservation. Sarah enjoys being part of a like minded team - CRAZY about animals - in a Veterinary environment.

In her spare time, Sarah volunteers at animal shelters and takes part in various outdoor projects, aiming to have a more positive impact on the environment. She also enjoys blasting out 80s music and tidying up after her cat, Juno

 

Receptionists

Heather Clarke

Heather has worked at the practice since 1986 and is currently working as a part time administrator. She has one cat which was adopted from the local branch of the Cats Protection league.

In her spare time, Heather is interested in antiques and retro furniture, upholstery and soft furnishings. She also enjoys going to the theatre when she gets the chance!

 

 

Jessica Slack - Head Receptionist

Jess joined the practice in February 2019 as part of our reception team. Through her love of animals Jess has volunteered with a number of animal charities and helped on a local farm. Jess is kept very busy in her spare time walking Watson the whippet.

 

 

 

 

Kara Williamson SQP

Kara joined the team in October 2019. She has previous experience working as a veterinary receptionist and enjoys working in a busy veterinary hospital. Kara has three rescue cats at home and in 2021 completed an SQP qualification allowing her to dispense and provide advice on a range of medications.

 

 

 

 

Kealy Redfern

Kealy spends her spare time organising and supporting one of our local athletics clubs as their membership secretary.

She also enjoys spending time with her three children and two dogs.

 

 

 

 

Catherine Farmery

Catherine joined the practice in February 2024. She has a crazy English Springer Spaniel called Poppy who keeps her busy and in her spare time, enjoys being outdoors in the Peak District, running and also relaxing with a glass of wine in hand.