Meet the Supporters
You can contact any member of the Vet Support team below on their direct email address
Or email info@vetsupport.me where we guarantee a reply within 24hrs.
James Buick
MVB, MRCVSJames qualified from UCD Dublin in 1999. On graduation, he worked as an assistant in mixed practice for a year, moving to small animal practice for 3 years. Having then worked as a VO in DARD for 7 years, he opened a small animal clinic in Ards in 2011. He lives in Belfast.
james@vetsupport.meAndy Mayne
BVetMed MRCVSGraduated from London 1989. Worked as mixed vet Somerset 2 years. Worked Australia 6 months. Started working at Jubilee Vet Clinic, Newtownards in 1992. Director since 1996. 100% farm animal work. Past Treasurer and President of AVSPNI.
andy@vetsupport.mePat Hart
BVMS,MRCVSPat graduated from Glasgow in 1974 followed by an internship in Pennsylvania and a dermatology certificate in 1994. She retired from small animal practice and dermatology referral work in 2020. She is currently Chair of VetNI. Pat is a registered Human Givens psychotherapist and is married with three grownup children and one grandchild.
pat@vetsupport.meJohn Hill
MVB, MRCVSQualified Trinity College Dublin 1975. Mixed practitioner and partner in Glenburn Veterinary Surgeons and almost retired in 2015. Heavily involved in veterinary politics, past president of AVSPNI, NIVA and SPVS. Currently, Chairman of VetNI, trustee of Pet Blood Bank and President of the British Bee Veterinary Association.
john@vetsupport.meFiona McFarland
BVSc MRCVSFiona graduated from Bristol University in 2004 and worked predominantly in farm animal practice in Somerset, England before returning home to Ireland in 2010. She then moved into the small animal sector in 2012 and worked in first opinion and referral practice. In 2017 Fiona started working as a full-time locum vet and worked in over 40 practices in NI along with a few in England and Scotland. In late 2021, Fiona moved into industry and is now Account Manager Ireland North for IMV Imaging focussing clinically on diagnostic imaging. Outside of clinical work Fiona was one of the founders of the Young Vet Network in NI and is currently the Junior Vice President of both NIVA and the NI branch of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), becoming President in Feb 2022. She has been a member of NIVA council, BVA NI Branch, BVA policy committee, BVA Members Services Group and was a past president of the Association of Veterinary Students (AVS).
fiona@vetsupport.meDavid McKeown
BVMS, CertSHP, ARAgS MRCVS1972 Glasgow graduate. Worked in Cape Town and North Antrim. Started Knockanboy Vet Clinic in 1975 – 6 vet mixed practice. Predominantly dairy work for 25 years. Joined the Veterinary Defence Society (VDS) Board in 1989. Took on a full time role and served as part of the VDS Executive as Director of Member Services until retirement at the end of 2019. Volunteers with Vetlife’s Helpline in addition to a management role with the Samaritan organisation.
david@vetsupport.meShane Murray
BVMS MRCVSQualified from Glasgow University 1997. Started in mixed practice. Locumed throughout England and Australia. Worked in the Foot and Mouth outbreak in 2001. Set up Braemar Vet Clinic small animal practice in Belfast in 2007.
shane@vetsupport.meLouise Patterson
RVNWorked in the veterinary profession since 2000. Qualified as Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2006. Started in small animal practice helping to train student VNs, moving on to an Out Of Hours role, worked with referral cases, locum nursing and VN Education. Have also worked in research. Since 2013 involved in delivering the RVN courses at Greenmount.
Naoimh Toner
RVNRegistered Veterinary Nurse. Qualified in 2003 from Greenmount Agricultural College. Work in mixed practice with my full time RVN job divided between 2 practices. Based in Co. Londonderry and have recently been appointed as the Regional Co-ordinator for the BVNA in NI.
naoimh@vetsupport.meSeán E Rooney
BVSc MRCVSGraduated from the University of Bristol in 2012. First year in mixed practice after which the equine route was followed. Worked in various assistant positions across Wales and England. He returned home to NI in summer 2016 to take up an assistant role at The Veterinary Clinic Rathfriland. In charge of driving the equine side of the practice and still works as a mixed practitioner to facilitate the OOH rota.
sean@vetsupportni.co.uk