Meet the Team

I was born and raised on a game and livestock farm in the Eastern Province of South Africa. After the obligatory 5 1/2 years of student life at the University of Pretoria Onderstepoort Veterinary Faculty, I qualified in 1989.
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My next move was 15 months compulsory national service in the South African Defence Force. I spent 12 months of this working as a vet in a rural tribal area, providing a service to the local farmers and pet owners.

With that obligation completed, I returned to my hometown to work in a mixed practice for 9 months before deciding to have a 6 month working holiday in the UK.

As the saying goes, the rest is history…

I joined Heathfield Vets in 1991 and became a partner in 1998.

I am married to Rose-Ann and am the proud father of 2 daughters, Natalie & Jaime.

We have 2 family cats, Tommy and Peter, and after much badgering by Jaime, a recently acquired Springer Spaniel called Nala.

We also have a small flock of pet chickens, which produce fresh eggs for the larder.

In my spare time I enjoy cross-country jogging and I’m also a fair weather cyclist, though a full time profession and a young family don’t allow too much time for these.

Having said that, I recently achieved a long held ambition by spending a major part of 2016 on my bike, culminating in a 9 day cycle ride from Land’s End to John o’ Groats while raising funds for Chestnut Tree House.

I enjoy the variety of work that is encountered at the practice. However I do spend most of my day treating and operating on family pets.

I particularly enjoy, and am interested in, surgery and I also practice acupuncture.

Ian

Ian Killian – BVSc MRCVS

I have two daughters, one dog called Dottie, a cat called Dexter and 9 sheep which we bottle fed from lambs – we seem to collect more each year!

I have worked in the practice for a while and have seen many changes. I started working in reception and was then lucky enough to be offered work experience with the nurses. I then became a trainee veterinary nurse.

When I started at the practice we were a small and large animal practice, so as well as the many duties I do today I also got the opportunity to help with cow caesareans, horse x-rays and castrations. After completing my nurse training, I was promoted to Head Nurse which I very much enjoyed for a few years, before having my first daughter and returning to work part-time. I have worked part-time since having my second daughter a few years later.

I am now back in the role of Head Nurse, working with a fantastic team here at Heathfield Vets. Being a nurse has so many varied responsibilities and each day is never the same. I help with operations, monitor anaesthetics, help with taking x-rays, ultrasounds and doing scopes, clean teeth, take blood samples, care for patients and do a lot of cleaning!

I also have my role of Head Nurse to fulfil, sorting rotas, leading team meetings, processing insurance claim and general running of the hospital.

I very much enjoy my job and love working in a practice that is forward thinking and always pushing to use the latest techniques and up-to-date equipment.

Vicki Farrant – RVN – Head Vet Nurse