Penkridge head receptionist Jenny Hodgkins celebrates 40 years at EC Straiton Vets

FOUR decades of dedication to Staffordshire’s pets and their owners is being celebrated by a much-loved member of a local veterinary practice team.

Jenny Hodgkins first stepped through the doors of EC Straiton Vets as a trainee nurse on a six-month contract in September 1986 – back when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister and the year the film Out of Africa cleaned up at the Oscars - but she impressed the team so much they offered her a permanent position.

She accepted the role and combined on-the-job training at EC Straiton’s veterinary hospital in Penkridge, which is part of VetPartners, a vet-led group with veterinary practices and animal healthcare businesses across the UK and Europe, with day release learning at college.

She passed her exams with flying colours to become a fully qualified veterinary nurse in 1990, and her dedication and high levels of care led to her being promoted to head nurse.

Despite loving caring for pets, Jenny decided on a career change after starting a family and on returning from maternity leave became the practice’s head receptionist, which is her current role.

She is one of the friendly team that answers phone calls or welcomes clients when they arrive at the hospital, which offers routine and emergency care to pets, horses and farm animals.

Jenny, who celebrated her 40th anniversary with cake, said that her supportive colleagues, the practice’s friendly and loyal clients and her love of animals have kept her in a role she loves for so long.

Jenny said:

“I have enjoyed every minute of my 40 years at EC Straiton Vets and over the years have created so many wonderful memories. I have been very lucky to work with such a lovely team, who are highly dedicated and always put the care of pets above all else.

“I wanted to be a veterinary nurse because I love animals and delivering hands-on care to patients was very rewarding, but working on reception is just as fulfilling because you are the first point of contact with clients and you are there for people when they are worried about their pet.”

During her career, Jenny has seen all kinds of cases come through the door and says that no two days are the same when working in a vet practice.

She added:

“The best thing about working at a vet practice is seeing a very sick pet recover and be able to go home to their family and knowing you have been part of that is a great feeling.

“I have been involved in many memorable cases, but earlier this summer I was able to use my nursing knowledge to help a client who called us because their dog suddenly became lethargic while walking on Cannock Chase. I was able to alert them that their pet could have been bitten by an adder and advised them to bring the pet to us straight away.

“The dog was very poorly and spent two days in hospital, but because they received prompt treatment, they went on to make a full recovery. It was so good to follow the case from the beginning to a happy ending.”

EC Straiton Vets has been delivering the best possible care to pets, horses and farm animals in Staffordshire for 84 years, and has a dedicated team of vets and nurses at its veterinary hospital in Penkridge and branch surgery in Rugeley. For pets, it delivers a range of services to help keep pets happy and healthy, from routine preventive care to complex surgeries.