Out of Hours Veterinary Surgeon

Out of Hours Veterinary Surgeon
Certificate Holder | Advanced Practitioner | Residency-Trained | Diplomate
Colchester Vets4Pets Referral Hospital

7 nights on / 14 nights off
£70,000 – £120,000 per annum, depending on experience 
(equivalent to approximately £48-£80 per hour)

We are looking for an experienced Emergency and Critical Care Veterinary Surgeon to join our multidisciplinary team at our purpose-built, RCVS Accredited Small Animal Referral Hospital in Colchester.

This is a senior clinical role for a confident ECC clinician who wants interesting cases, a well-supported night team, and a rota that leaves real time away from work.

The Role

You will manage emergency and urgent cases, support complex hospitalised patients, provide overnight inpatient care, and maintain a high standard of clinical decision-making out of hours. The caseload is varied and often demanding, with full backup from the day multidisciplinary referral team.

You will never work alone. On every shift you will work alongside:

• another advanced ECC vet
• two experienced ECC RVNs
• two night Veterinary Care Assistants

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome applications from:

• ECC Certificate Holders
• RCVS Advanced Practitioners
• Residency-trained ECC clinicians
• Diplomates in Emergency and Critical Care

You will be clinically confident, efficient under pressure, and comfortable leading the night team while working collaboratively with the wider hospital.

Why This Role Stands Out

• 7 on / 14 off rota, giving long, uninterrupted periods away from work
• No lone working: two ECC vets on the night team, with two ECC RVNs and two night VCAs
• A team of 6 dedicated ECC vets within a 30-vet multidisciplinary hospital
• At least two ECC vets rostered each day, with overlap during the busiest part of the night
• Colleagues across orthopaedics, medicine, cardiology, surgery, imaging, ECC and exotics
• Advanced facilities including CT, Mindray D30 defibrillator, Vapotherm high and low flow oxygen, environmentally controlled ICU cages, POCUS, endoscopy, operating microscope, Dualto electrocautery, slit lamp and CryoPen
• Support for further certificates and tailored CPD
• A hospital that treats ECC and night work as core clinical work, not an afterthought

If you want senior ECC work, proper overnight support and a rota that protects your time off, we would like to hear from you. To apply or for a confidential discussion, please send your CV to jf.nell@vets4pets.com.