Staff Focus: Practice Partner Tom Doyle gains Advanced Practitioner status

I’ve always enjoyed treating eyes, and a few years ago began to take a closer interest in ophthalmology. After many years out of vet school I began studying again, gaining a “post graduate certificate”, attending conferences with other eye vets, practicing surgery, and “seeing practice” with specialist small animal ophthalmologists.

My colleagues have also been very obliging in sending interesting eyeballs (and their owners) in my direction and putting up with my enthusiasm for new eye equipment. Earlier this year I gained “Advanced Practitioner Status” in Ophthalmology, awarded by our Royal College to general practitioners with extra qualifications and skills in a particular area.

I see a huge variety of problems, from thorns and cat scratches to the surface of the eye, to eye-threatening ulcers to complicated medical eye cases. It’s great to be challenged with new cases, and most importantly to able to offer a higher level of care to our patients.