About Us
Churnet Valley Vets is an independent small animal practice that was established by Pat Kinch in early 2000. We believe that the best care for your pet can be achieved when owner, vet and nursing staff work together. We aim to know our patients and their owners individually and to offer the continuity of care that your pet and you both expect and deserve.
We believe our strengths are:
FRIENDLY & FAMILIAR
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As a small practice we can guarantee (annual leave excepted) that you will see the same vet each time you come so that you have continuity and consistency of treatment for your pet - there is nothing more frustrating than having to tell the same story to a different vet every time you attend!
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You get to know the staff, and we get to know you!
QUALIFIED AND ALWAYS LEARNING
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Our Vet, Pat, qualified in 1989 and we only use qualified locum vets (for annual leave) that have several years’ experience.
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We employ qualified Veterinary Nurses and are a training practice for the Veterinary Nurse Apprenticeship. The nurses answer the telephones and are willing to give free professional advice about your pet.
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We take continuing education and personal development for all our staff very seriously - our vet and nurses frequently give up their weekends and evenings to attend training courses on all aspects of veterinary care.
GOT YOU COVERED
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We offer email support following consultations, and we always actively follow up our cases.
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We use a dedicated out of hours service called Vets Now. They are specialists in emergency situations and provide a sort of animal A&E. If you have any concerns out of hours you don't have to worry about waking a vet who, you know, has been working the day before. The staff at Vets Now are up and working all night and are only too happy to allay your fears or give you advice to get you through the night until we are open in the morning. Likewise they will see and treat your pet if necessary.
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We have surgeries until 6.30pm Monday to Friday so that our clients can make appointments after work any weekday.
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We offer a Saturday morning surgery to provide more flexibility for those with weekday commitments.
FACILITIES
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We run a modern well-equipped surgery and constantly update both our working practices and equipment to maintain the highest standards of care.
We hope this website gives you an insight into the kind of practice we run. The whole team is dedicated to the very best healthcare for your pet in the friendliest atmosphere. We know we can always improve and any suggestions would be welcome.
Meet The Team
Pat Kinch BVSc MRCVS
Pat is a Bristol University graduate, qualifying as a Veterinary Surgeon in 1989. He initially worked in a mixed animal practice, then specialised in small animal practices before moving to Leek in 1992 to work in a local practice and then set up Churnet Valley Vets in January 2000. He is very proud of what has been achieved at Churnet Valley Vets, he has great nurses and long standing clients from the local area and beyond. He has always been a keen cyclist and not only graduated with a degree from Bristol but also a Bristol Red for his cycling racing achievements. He has broken a number of world records on a recumbent bike. Over the past decade he has competed in triathlons and Half Ironman competitions. He lives with his wife, Jacqui and their two dogs Jess & Elvis. Outside of veterinary medicine, Pat’s interests are current affairs, music and of course, cycling.
Dawn Edwards RVN
Dawn has worked at the practice forever! She qualified in 1998, originally working in a neighbouring vets. She has worked at Churnet Valley Vets with Pat since the practice opened in 2000. Dawn lives with her partner, Darren, and they have two daughters, Isabelle and Scarlett. They live with their golden retriever Daphne.
Jo Kirrane RVN
Jo is a qualified veterinary nurse who has worked in veterinary practices for over 20 years in total, qualifying in 2000. Jo lives with her bull mastiff Gracie. Jo enjoys reading, walking her dog and music. She is a member of two local choirs and sings soprano, performing classical choral works at the Victoria Hall in Hanley.
Debbie Brown RVN
Debbie is a local lass and joined the Churnet Valley Vets team in October 2011. Debbie has worked for many years in veterinary surgeries before finally biting the bullet and becoming a qualified veterinary nurse. Whilst she doesn't have any pets of her own, she and her husband Steve look after their daughter's cockerpoo Honey.
Katie Barker RVN
Katie has worked at the practice on-and-off since 2007, and has known Pat since she first started nursing. Katie lives with her husband Steve, their children and their many, many animals......they have dogs, cats, horses, goats, sheep, pigs and donkeys to name just a few....!
Georgia Thomas SVN
Georgia first came to Churnet Valley Vets aged 15 when she came for her school work experience. It must not have been too bad, as in early the spring of 2022, she returned to the practice as our full time Veterinary Nurse Assistant training to be a Veterinary Nurse. Georgia loves all animals, especially dogs and has a soft spot for spaniels. She has a cocker spaniel called Willow. She also has more family pets in Archie the Springer Spaniel and two Maine Coon cats. When she is not at work, Georgia horse rides and helps out at a local farm lambing. Georgia lives with her partner Alex and his Patterdale, Chase
