UPDATE: Please be aware that our opening hours have changed on Monday 19th September. Please contact us for any emergency care.
MEET THE
Patient Care Assistants TEAM
Our Patient Care Assistants play a key role in providing the very best care to our patients. They’re caring, compassionate and dedicated to supporting our highly experienced team of Veterinary Specialists and Nurses.
Katy Ingram
Senior Patient Care Assistant
Level 3 Animal Care Diploma
Veterinary Support Assistant Diploma
Katy moved from Warwickshire to Surrey where she got her first animal nursing assistant job before moving to Rayleigh and starting at Southfields. Katy has a particular interest in Orthopaedics and would like to start animal nursing within the next few years.
In her spare time, she loves to explore new places around the UK, visit food markets, particularly in London, and she is currently trying to learn Italian.
Lauren Chalkley
Senior Patient Care Assistant
Megan Adams
Patient Care Assistant
BSc (Hons) in Bio Veterinary Science,
Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Equine Management.
Megan obtained her Bio Veterinary Science degree and Level 3 Diploma in Equine Management at Writtle College and University. This allowed her to delve into the intricacies of animal health, gaining an understanding of biological systems and veterinary principles.
In her spare time, Megan enjoys taking her dog Bella to very beautiful hiking areas . She regularly attends the gym and enjoys horse riding.
Megan also likes spending time with friends, boxing and swimming.
Louise Beeson
Patient Care Assistant
Level 3 BTEC Animal Management with Science Extended Diploma
Level 2 Dog Grooming Assistant Certificate
Louise joined Southfields in September 2022, From an early age she has always had an interest in Animals and knew she wanted to dedicate her time helping care for them. She has worked in the veterinary industry for two and half years in a first opinion practice. Louise also worked for a boarding and rehoming kennels for nearly three years and would like to achieve her VCA qualifications and go on to train as a veterinary nurse to extend her knowledge and provide the best possible care to Animals.
Outside of work she enjoys taking her dog Gizmo on long beach walks, spending time with Family and friends and dining out.
Daniel James Clayton
Patient Care Assistant
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Animal Management
Best Nursing Certificate – Pearson
Daniel has spent his life with animals from a very young age. He has many animals at home and has rescued many animals including dogs, cats and rabbits. Daniel has focused his education on the Veterinary sector. He undertook a BTEC in Level 3 Animal Care and Management and started studying to become a Registered Veterinary Nurse at Anglia Ruskin University. Daniel's ambition is to complete his studies and qualify as a Registered Veterinary Nurse.
In his spare time, he enjoys playing bass guitar and piano. His other interests include sports such as running, tennis, horse riding and sailing. Daniel also has a love for computers and enjoys building them and playing video games.
Jamie Dwight
Internal Medicine Patient Care Assistant
BSc in Bio Veterinary Science
Jamie loves spending time with animals and has her own little zoo at home including her dog, 4 cats, chickens, rabbits and a guinea pig!
Before joining Southfields, she completed a degree at the Royal Veterinary College in Bio Veterinary Science.
After graduating, she worked on a farm for a year, whilst also volunteering with different farmers to help with lambing and dairy farming. Jamie learned so much from these experiences, and really found a love for the outdoors and farm animals!
Jamie joined the Southfields team as an Internal Medicine Patient Care Assistant, where she hopes to progress onto veterinary nursing qualifications to further her career in the veterinary industry.
Outside of work, she spends a lot of her time reading and visiting different bookstores as she loves books so much! She also loves going for hikes, spending time with family and friends, board games, romcoms, and eating out!
Sophie Garn
Patient Care Assistant
City & Guilds Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship for Veterinary Care Assistants
Prior to joining Southfields Veterinary Specialists, Sophie worked with trainee assistance dogs as a care and welfare assistant. Before this, she worked in a veterinary hospital for four years and qualified as a veterinary care assistant during this time. Sophie has also volunteered as a care assistant at a rehoming centre and a local animal sanctuary for rescue farm animals. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her two rescue dogs, Ivy and Bluebell. Sophie joined the team at Southfields in August 2021.
Rhianna Gibbs
Patient Care Assistant
Level 2 Animal Care, Level 3 Animal Management, Level 2 Zoology
Rhianna completed an internship for 6 months in Colchester Zoo working with African elephants learning about enrichment and habitats building.
She has had work experience with all different types of animals going from farm work to marine life.
Rhianna has a passion for all types of species and knew she wanted to work within the animal industry since she was little.
She loves spending time with her 5 cats Fudge, Jerry, Belle, Coco and Melda. Listening to music and watching horrors.
In the future Rhianna hopes she can extend her knowledge in different departments within the veterinary world and develop her nursing skills.
Samuel Huckle
Oncology Technician
Before joining Southfields, Sam worked for the NHS for over 10 years as part of their oncology service, learning about chemotherapy care and cancer treatments.
Sam's interests include oncology and his love for animals brought him to Southfields. Sam loves chihuahuas and also has an interest in amphibians. Sam has a pet axolotl, cat and dog.
Brooke McAlister
Patient Care Assistant
OCR Level 3 Cambridge Technician Diploma in Health and Social Care
Psychology A Level
Brooke always had a passion for caring, she started working at Brentwood Nuffield Hospital in the Radiology department where she became a Healthcare Assistant,
She loved interacting with the patients and helping with all the procedures, however she always had a passion for animals since she was little.
Throughout the years Brooke has grown up with cats, dogs, stick insects, fishes, rabbits, Guinea pigs, lizards and a tarantula, however she will always have a soft spot for dogs. She loves spending time with her dog, Tonka, who is a blue staff. She loves taking him for long walks over the field, snuggling up in bed together or even staying at home and spending the day together. It’s because of him and all of her past animals she had growing up that makes her want to make a difference and pursue her dream to help animals in need.
It has always been her dream to work with animals and now she is excited to make that dream come true and eventually do all the needed training to become a Veterinary Nurse.
Briney Miller
Diagnostic Imaging Patient Care Assistant
Level 2 BTEC Technicals Animal Care diploma
Briney has always been interested in Animal Care and enrolled in the Level 2 BTEC Technicals Animal Care course at Capel Manor College. After completing her diploma, Briney moved into the veterinary industry and worked at a rehoming centre. Briney joined Southfields in June 2019 as one of our Nursing Assistants.
In her spare time, Briney enjoys reading and walking her dogs.
Sue Noller
Theatre Technician Patient Care Assistant
Level 2 VCA
Sue worked in retail and in a college before following her dream of working with animals by being a nurse assistant at an exotics practice for a year.
She was then offered an apprentice VCA position and after qualifying worked in a charity vets for 15 years.
She is interested in animal welfare and dog behaviour and training, and at home lives with her partner and son.
She loves walking and has raised money for animal charities by climbing Kilimanjaro and trekking in South Africa.
Katie Prasser
Neurology Patient Care Assistant
Bronze & Silver British Veterinary Receptionist Association (BVRA) Awards
A degree in Animal Science BSc (Hons)
Katie loves to read books in her spare time as well as look after her many house plants.
She also loves spending time with her dog – whether it be going out for a walk, obedience and agility training, or cuddling up on the sofa.
Katie has a degree in Animal Science BSc (Hons) which she is very proud of, which has helped nurture the love she has for animals. She finds learning about various animals fascinating and is excited to continue learning at Southfields.
Leah Purton
Patient Care Assistant
Care Certificate. Mental Health First Aider.
Leah previously worked within the NHS for four years where she received her care certificate qualification and completed the Mental Health First Aid for Adults. In her spare time Leah enjoys live music, seeing new shows and spending time with family and friends.
Lucy Spencer
Patient Care Assistant
Lucy has a great passion for animals. She is known for being well organised and a great team player.
Lucy previously completed Animal Management at Writtle College, loving every minute of the course.
In her spare time, Lucy likes running and working on her fitness. She also loves spending time with her horse at the stables.
Sharron Ward
Ophthalmology Patient Care Assistant
VCA
Sharron has been a part of Southfields since 2015 and has 20+ years experience working in the veterinary industry.
She began working as a receptionist, but has since progressed to work in a variety of roles that involve being more hands on with animals and has completed diplomas in Animal Welfare, Ethics, & Law and Herpetology.
Outside work, Sharron enjoys wildlife photography and crafts. She lives with Pixie the cat, Shelley the tortoise, and a white budgie named Angel.