VETS

Angus Simpson
BVetMed MRCVS 
Veterinary Surgeon

​Angus qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1990 which makes him older than he cares to remember. His first posting was in Yorkshire where he met his wife Louise, who was a nurse at the same practice. He has worked in the Hexham area for the last 30 years, joining Scott Mitchell in 2004. Angus is head of Small Animal Surgery and is well known for his quiet and calm nature with his patients and clients alike. He lives in Hexham with his family and their three border terriers Bella, Betty and Bronte.

Roger Scott
BVM&S MRCVS
​Director & Veterinary Surgeon

Roger grew up and attended school in Hexham and qualified from Edinburgh in 1989  He worked first in North Yorkshire then   Hampshire and West Sussex before the inevitable return north. Aside from clinical work and directing the business Roger also co-runs a training company, CPD Actif - a novel training organisation that blends active learning and personal development with challenging activities such as skiing and sailing.
Roger and his wife Alison have three kids most of whom are, at last, earning a living!​

Rose Macmillan       
​VetMB MA MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon

After several years of study, travel and a variety of jobs in Britain and abroad, Rose was keen for longer term goals so went to vet school in Cambridge and qualified in 2014.  She started in mixed practice, first in North Wales and then North Yorkshire, before choosing to focus on small animal work and moving to Scott Mitchell in 2018. In her spare time she enjoys rock climbing, walking and cycling.

Sophie Nixon
BVSc BSc (Hons) MRCVS
​Veterinary Surgeon

Sophie is one of our Small Animal Vets and started working at the practice in September 2019. She lives with her husband and they have a young son, a Labrador and 2 cats. Her favourite part of her job is meeting the variety of people and pets that they own, getting to know their backstories, personalities and quirks! She is originally from Wiltshire but moved up to the area 17 years ago. Outside of work you'll find Sophie being a mummy, out walking her dog, socialising with friends and playing sports.  Sophie is currently on maternity leave after having her second son.

Tanya Palmer
BVM&S MRCVS
Veterinary Surgeon

Tanya qualified from Glasgow University in 2002 and has worked as a Veterinary Surgeon in the north east of England for the last 19 years. She joined our team in 2022.
At home she has a husband, 3 children, 2 horses, 6 chickens, 3 ducks and 2 guinea pigs which keep her busy when she’s not at work! She enjoys horse riding, cycling, walking and drinking tea and eating cake with friends.

NURSES

Becky Stainthorp
RVN
Registered Veterinary Nurse

Becky studied to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse alongside caring for our patients, she started working here in 2008 having previously worked as a dog walker, equine groom and at a kennels and cattery. She has a Diploma in Equine Studies from Broomfield College in Derby. Becky enjoys looking after both the animals at work and her two dogs and two cats. In her spare time she enjoys long walks, riding and spending time with family.

Bryony Turnbull
RVN
Registered Veterinary Nurse

Bryony started her training as a Veterinary Nurse last year after being part of our the Scott Mitchell team since 2018. She looks after in-patients, assists vets and helps on Reception. Bryony’s interests include hiking, cycling and spending time with her cats Gandalf and Winnie. She has lived locally in Northumberland her whole life and loves it here. ​

Emma Dunn
RVN
Registered Veterinary Nurse

Emma joined the practice in 2021 as a veterinary nursing assistant working a shift pattern to help provide 24hr care. She assists with reception duties, caring for inpatients, helping vets in consults and with procedures. Emma also enjoys working in the equine department having previously worked with horses as a groom.  Emma lives in Hexham and has two dogs, Betsy and Dora and two horses called Pearl and Quinn who she spends all her spare time with! 

Gill Parr
RVN
​Registered Veterinary Nurse

Gill joined our team in 2006 and qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2011. She is involved in running the small animal hospital, in-patient care, supporting our nursing students as a mentor, and runs nurse clinics. Gill has vast experience with all types of animals; she has taught and competed in many equine spheres and worked with dairy cows, youngstock, sheep and beef. In her spare time she has a keen interest in working and training dogs, and has her own Border Collie and a very hairy pony to keep her busy!

Victoria Potts
RVN
​Registered Veterinary Nurse

Victoria joined the practice in 2021 as an SVN and qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2024. She assists vets in theatre, looks after our inpatients and enjoys meeting clients in nurse clinics. She is Hexham born and bred and has two spaniels of her own, Bengie and Rio and is part of one of the local young farmers clubs to keep her busy outside of work.

SUPPORT STAFF

Vicki Chomse
Small Animal Head Receptionist

Vicki started working at SMVC as a part-time receptionist in November 2019, before becoming our only full-time Small Animal receptionist in March 2020. As Head Receptionist she now manages the front of house team in the Small Animal department. For Vicki, the best part of the job has to be puppy cuddles on a weekly basis, as well as working with some great people! She lives in Hexham with her best friend and their collie-x-lab Paddy. When not at work manning the front desk, you will find Vicki out and about enjoying the outdoors and socialising with friends.

Naomi Craig
Small Animal Receptionist

Naomi is a member of our lovely reception team and joined us in 2021. She lives just outside of Hexham with her partner, son Harrison, Ruby the dog, cats and guinea pigs. In her spare time, you’ll find her at the gym, out walking or camping with family.​

Jasmine Duffy-Welsh
Small Animal Receptionist

Jasmine has lived in Tynedale for most of her life and joined our Small Animal Reception team just before Christmas. She has a lovely Doberman, Bono, who is a popular face at the surgery whenever he comes for his big bag of food! 
Outside of work Jasmine enjoys spending time in the Highlands, where her family live, and adventuring in the countryside with Bono.

Toni Barton
Small Animal Receptionist

​Toni runs the Small Animal Reception on Saturday mornings and helps out with holiday cover for her colleagues. She joined the practice in 2007 and has always had a keen interest in horse riding and hunting.

Erynn McDonough
Nursing Assistant

Having joined the team in November 2021, Erynn works a shift pattern helping to look after in-patients and assisting with emergencies 24/7. She has lived locally since birth and currently shares her life with her three native ponies, three cats and her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Gil. 

Jade Hutchinson
​​Nursing Assistant

Jade began working with us in 2017 as a nursing assistant in the Small Animal department. She assists vets in consults, looks after in-patients and helps with reception duties. In her spare time she goes hiking with her border collie and spaniel cross. 

Joanne Cairns
​​Nursing Assistant

Joanne joined our team in 2014. She is the Shepherdess at her family farm, and being from a local farm she is familar with working with all animals. As a veterinary nursing assistant Joanne works a shift pattern helping to provide our excellent 24 hour care service for the in-patients, as well as assisting the vets with procedures and performing reception duties. Joanne recently returned from maternity leave after having her beautiful daughter.

Mandy Gown
​​Nursing Assistant

Mandy works in the Small Animal department and began working with us in 2006. She has always had pets at home, of lots of different species and personalities to keep her on her toes! Mandy is a veterinary nursing assistant who has a wonderful manner with all patients, providing excellent support to our Small Animal team.

Bethany Thirlwell
Nursing Assistant

Beth joined the Small Animal team as a nursing assistant in early 2021, and has been a great addition to the team. She is a local lass with a love of animals and a farming background. Bethany assists the consulting vets, looks after in-patients and helps with reception duties.

Kirstie Dodd
​Nursing Assistant

Kirstie joined the small animal team in 2022 as a nursing assistant, and this year will start her nurse training to become a qualified veterinary nurse. Kirstie has grew up around animals on her family farm in Otterburn and has 3 Shetland ponies, a horse, 3 dogs and 3 cats. In her spare time enjoys riding her horse, walking her dogs and attending young farmers.

Hayley Hannant
Nursing Assistant

Amy Miller
Nursing Assistant

Amy works as a Nursing Assistant, and this year she will begin studying for a FdSc in Veterinary Nursing at Askham Bryan University. She has previous experience working with horses and livestock and has always had a love for animals.
Outside of work, Amy enjoys wild swimming and hiking with her Labrador, Brandy or spending time with her horse, Sol.

Megan Walton
Nursing Assistant

Sue Shaw
​Small Animal Medical Records Clerk

Sue is our Small Animal Medical Records Clerk, responsible for data input of operations and procedures. She also looks after the Small Animal insurance claims. Originally from Lancashire, Sue has lived in Yorkshire and Surrey before moving to Northumberland. She enjoys reading, art and dog walking.

Neil Turnbull
​Maintenance

With a screwdriver in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, Neil is the man we turn to when we need more shelves, a door moving or a desk fixing.