Damian Strudwick BVetMed GPCert(SAS) MRCVS
Delegate on the General Practitioners Certificate in Small Animal Surgery, Wyboston 2009

" After only the first few modules of the soft tissue course in the first year I had started doing procedures I would not have even thought about beforehand. It's amazing how you seem to either suddenly have cases coming through the door that are relevant to the most recent topic covered, or maybe you just recognise different or better ways of treating them which may involve more surgery. Either way I started doing more advanced soft tissue surgery like skin flaps and TECAs very quickly, and now having finished the second year I'm taking on more and more orthopaedics including fractures, luxating patellae etc.

Through attending the course I have also gained much more knowledge and can give clients that extra bit of information about procedures or other problems which gives them more confidence in my work.

I am now, month-on-month, the highest turnover vet in my practice. I would strongly recommend this course to anyone with an interest in surgery, particularly if you're planning on taking the RCVS CertSAS as well as, or instead of, the ESVPS exam.

Thanks again for the course "

Jenni Simpson BVMS MRCVS
Delegate on the General Practitioner Certificate in Small Animal Medicine, Dublin.

" Working in mixed practice for seven years, I felt it was time to brush up on my small animal medicine and to date, this course has not disappointed.

The monthly meetings may seem a big commitment at the start but the course flies by and I look forward to speaking to my course mates about cases, experiences or general “chit chat” over dinner!

The speakers are really approachable and the material is very relevant to work in general practice. I have learnt a lot and more importantly, have a new enthusiasm for my small animal medicine so now my colleagues pass on their cases to me!

I would have no reservations in recommending this course to anyone whether you sit the ESVPS exam or not.

Many thanks to Improve "

Alison Moores BVSc(Hons) CertSAS DipECVS MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Soft Tissue) European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery
Anderson Sturgess Veterinary Specialists

" Improve CPD’s modular surgical course is ideally suited to the veterinary surgeon with a strong interest in surgery and the motivation to significantly improve their knowledge, problem solving and surgical skills. As experienced clinicians and educators, who have usually worked in both first opinion and referral practice, the lecturers aim to impart information learnt from many years of managing soft tissue cases. I recognise that it is important to provide this information in a way that is relevant to the practising veterinary surgeon. My teaching methods include investigating clinical cases in a ‘problem-based’ approach e.g. the dysuric dog; teaching thoracic surgery based on a series of radiographs and clinical case scenarios; providing general tips on how to perform a surgical procedure or improve technique; and giving opinions on the recent literature. The emphasis is always on sharing my experience, backed up by case examples and practical sessions, rather than just listing information that could easily be found in a textbook. The modular course means that delegates quickly become immersed in the course, are keen to ask questions and are able to get feedback on cases they have been managing as the course goes along "

Stephie Vere Hodge BVetMed GPCert(SAS) MRCVS

This delegate attended the Small Animal Surgery course and was inspired to write this poem

In walked a dog with a lump on her leg "It's doubled in size", the owner worryingly said. So out came a needle, syringe and a slide, Under the skin it had nowhere to hide. We waited for results, hoping it'd be fat, A shell out, some stitches and back to chasing the cat! But with a spindle cell tumour of intermediate grade, Hopes of a quick fix started to fade. "Can you do surgery?" the owner was trusting in me, This case would be a challenge I was beginning to see. "I can easily remove it", I confidently replied, But it's how to attempt closure that I'd have to decide! There won't be enough skin; I know that for sure, We could leave it to granulate, but that'd be a bore. It'd be a shame to amputate, though she'd still get about, And you said cost of referral rules that option out. So out came my notes from the GPCert, For since the practical days I was a skin graft convert! While I measured and planned to harvest skin from the flank, The owner sold her car, as there wasn't enough in the bank. Thus when it came to the day I was feeling the heat To ensure this patient went home still with four feet! The three hours of surgery were intense but went well, Though post op I emphasised that you never could tell, What a graft would do over the first few days, As the tissue could react in a variety of ways. Initially for dressings she had to be sedated, I referred oft to my notes and anxiously waited. I started to relax at around fourteen days, For by then it could go wrong in just a few minor ways! But actually the graft took one hundred percent And I look back amazed at how smoothly it all went. Since doing my Cert and practical training I'm enjoying work more and my practice is gaining. So heartfelt thanks to all at Improve For helping me find my surgical groove!

Before Surgery: After Surgery:

Ian Gibbs BVSc GPCert(SAS) MRCVS
Attended the General Practitioners Certificate in Small Animal Surgery course in Harrogate and achieved success in the exam in 2009

" It was initially a little daunting to self fund my way through the two year modular small animal surgery course, but in retrospect it has been money well spent.

Employers were more than happy to accommodate my monthly trips to 'big school', pleased I was taking such a structured approach to further education. The highly experienced lecturers were brilliant, tailoring their knowledge to practical use in a first opinion situation and the four- day practical course was a joy, not only for the hands on experience, but also for the after school discussions in the local pub with like minded individuals - many of whom I'm still in contact with now.

My surgical ability has grown and grown, and I am now regularly performing more complex soft tissue surgeries such as TECA's, perineal urethrostomies and even a successful ectopic ureter surgery. Orthopaedically I have continued to improve with a couple of simple fracture repairs, femoral head excisions and patella luxations under my belt.

The GPCert SAS made me far more employable when the family relocated to Cornwall, and now I am one of the bigger fee earners in the practice as well regularly assisting the referral surgeon in properly big surgeries such as spinals.

Over all the course has pushed my horizons much wider and I am now preparing to sit my RCVS certificate exam after passing my surgical casebook. Fingers crossed! "

Brian Faulkner BSc BVM&S MBA GPCert(BS) GPCert(SAM) MRCVS
Attended the General Practitioners Certificate in Small Animal Surgery course in Harrogate and achieved success in the exam in 2009

" I am a 15 year graduate and thought I needed to brush up a little on my medicine knowledge, and even though, as the boss, I was fairly confident that I knew what I was doing. I am really glad that I did and it was worth every penny, even though, as the practice owner, I was paying for it myself!
I enjoyed the course for many reasons. First of all, it made sure I did CPD on a monthly basis for at least 2 years without having to plan very much! Secondly, the delegates all got to know each other and I always looked forward to seeing my colleagues at the lectures. Thirdly, the course covered an incredible breadth of small animal clinical knowledge, always with an eye on how that knowledge could be applied.

I decided to take the exam as an extra incentive to make sure that I made the most of the course and thought that it would be good to formally recognise the knowledge and skills I have in the subject. I found the case studies straightforward, but the exam was trickier than expected – so much so that I failed it first time! With my pride severely wounded, I wondered about giving up on getting the GP certificate qualification but I decided to give it another try the following year and was delighted to pass it!

The course definitely helped me reflect on my approach to both diagnostics and therapeutics and I hope that is reflected in my own clinical work as well as being more open minded about integrating new approaches within my practice "

Rachel Hattersley BVetMed MRCVS
General Practitioners Certificate in Small Animal Surgery, Cambridge

" Just wanted to write and let you know about my experience with the modular soft tissue course! I am very happy to say that I am now in the third year of a surgical residency and have found the information I learnt on the course has been invaluable in giving me a good grounding for my soft tissue training.

I found the 2pm – 8pm once-a-month format worked very well with my schedule in practice and having regular CPD kept me motivated and interested.

The practical sessions were invaluable, and it was great to have it all condensed in to one time period as it made it much easier to take time off.

It was also very useful to be able to discuss cases we had seen with the course tutor, and to meet like-minded people on the course who were at the same level as I was. It was great to be able to work out problems and discuss complications etc together as it put things in to perspective knowing other people were in a similar situation!

From the point of view of my practice, my bosses both said they felt it had been a really worthwhile investment as the money I was able to generate for the practice through the procedures I had learned on the course was significantly greater than prior to the course "