Practice Staff
Roger Baker
BSc B.Vet.Med MRCVS
Roger was born in Whitstable and attended Vernon Holme and Kent College in Canterbury before going to the Royal Veterinary College in London where he completed both the Veterinary Course and an intercalated BSc degree in animal physiology. Returning to Whitstable in 1973 Roger set up his Veterinary Practice which exists today.
In addition to running his own veterinary practice Roger and has personally been involved in helping many charities including the Gambian Horse and Donkey Trust which he and his wife Georgina visited in 2008 whilst taking out much needed animal medication kindly donated by Messrs Shering Plough.
Roger has also been Vice-chairman of Conservative Animal Welfare for many years and played a significant part in introducing the Pet Passport Scheme. He is still involved in animal welfare and is looking forward to improved legislation on farm welfare and dog control and owner responsibilities.
Violeta Matei
DVM MRCVS
Violeta qualified in Bucharest University before moving to live in Faversham several years ago. She has joined the Practice on a part time basis to work to allow Roger to have a little time off occasionally and also so that she can spend time with her young daughter. The addition of a second Veterinary Surgeon does mean that we will be able to extend consulting hours somewhat and provide a better service to our clients and patients. Both Violeta and Roger have a very similar approach to patients and clients with the aim of providing a continuation of the friendly quality and caring service that has been the Practice’s hallmark.
Gill May
Gill joined the Practice as Practice Manager in 1983 and has taken responsibility for most of the very great changes in managing the practice since those days. Much of the time is spent dealing with the increasing amount of pet insurance administration and the increasing burden of small business.
Gill is also responsible for the client reminder service – now increasingly making use of email - which we provide to help clients with their routine appointments such as vaccinations and parasite control.
Carol Jefferson
Carol joined us in 2006 as the main receptionist and since the has become the regular “front of house” face. This is never an easy position to undertake and dealing with clients who are worried, upset and at times fearful takes skills that few possess as well as Carol. Her previous employment working in the human healthcare industry are of great help.
Selina Jackson
Selina joined the practice in 1985 and has managed to balance the responsibilities of taking charge of the nursing within the practice with that of bringing up two children. Selina’s main responsibilities lie in managing her team of nursing staff as well as some of the practice organisation. She is a qualified First Aider within the practice.
As the senior member of the nursing team Selina has overall responsibility for maintaining the high standards of care and cleanliness within the practice.
Nikki Wingrove
Joining the practice in 1999 Nikki plays an important role within the practice being largely responsible for health and safety matters and training students and younger staff within the practice. One of Nikki’s most important responsibilities within the practice is maintaining the high standard of cleanliness and readiness of the operating theatre. This involves not only the normal daily checks but regular testing of surfaces to ensure that they are sterile and safe for use.
Kealey O’Hanlon
Kealey joined the practice in 2009 and is developing her skills in veterinary nursing and all the laboratory skills that go alongside. A keen footballer outside the practice Kealey is mastering the very varied skills that are needed ranging from reception duties to blood analysis and from safe and controlled animal restraint to the intricacies of some of the nursing techniques that are required.
Corrinne Mills
Corrinne first joined the practice in 1987 on a part time basis and finally became full time in 2007. Whilst the rest of the practice staff work during the days Corrinne is on duty in the evenings and whenever a patient is hospitalised over night it is Corrinne who stays in attendance right through the night thus ensuring that no patient is ever left unattended.