BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Practice Management and Development (BSAVA British Small Animal Veterinary Association)

This is more than just a management book! Written by a range of experienced authors who have designed and built surgeries, managed veterinary staff, bought and used the equipment, and ‘cleaned the floors’, this Manual brings ideas and guidelines that will be useful in improving and running a small animal veterinary business, whether established or new. 

Following a brief foray into the construction planning process, each area of the practice, both clinical and non-clinical, is considered in detail -- its design, equipment and maintenance, and the organization and management of the clinical and support teams.  The second part of the Manual deals with communication and people management issues, including leadership skills and self-management, together with the ethical and legal framework within which vets and vet nurses work. Thirdly, the business aspects of veterinary practice are explored, including planning, finance, marketing, the client experience and clinical governance.

As well as being a daily source of information for veterinary surgeons and managers in companion animal practice, the Manual help support studies for certificates in practice management. It will aid preparation for PSS and VMD inspections, and will be of benefit to all practitioners wanting to improve their quality of service, premises and facilities, and the management of their clinical and support teams. Examples of forms, protocols and SOPs are given throughout and the book has a wealth of images to complement and enhance the text .

The first BSAVA Manual of Practice Improvement was published in 1972; this completely new Manual will inspire and support a new generation of veterinary surgeons in their careers in small animal practice.

Carole Clarke MA VetMB CVPM MRCVS
Carole graduated from Cambridge University Veterinary School in 1981, and set up in small animal practice in Norfolk with her husband, David in 1984.  The practice, a veterinary hospital and nurse training practice, now employs more than 30 people, including seven other vets. It relocated in 1990 to former mill buildings and has recently been refurbished.  Having been the first to gain both the Investors in People award in 1996, and IiP Gold recognition in 2010, the practice also holds the Health and Wellbeing Award. It won a National Training Award in 1999 for its programme of mentoring and empowerment of staff, and has twice been Pet Plan Practice of the year. Concentrating on strategic and management issues, Carole has published many articles and spoken at international conferences on management topics.  She is a past president of VPMA (2001-2) and was awarded the CVPM in 1996.

Marion Chapman
Marion started her career as a veterinary nurse in a busy small animal practice, moving on to work in the veterinary pharmaceutical industry.  This was followed by 3 years with a large petfood manufacturer, during which time she gave presentations at various marketing seminars and ran communication skills workshops. Marion then went on to work for one of the main veterinary wholesalers, spending much time at practices discussing business management.  After obtaining her Certificate in Marketing, she was employed for 6 years as a regional manager for a multi-site practice in London. She currently works as a practice manager at Elands Veterinary Clinic, a small animal first-opinion and referral practice in Kent.  Marion has been a speaker at BVNA Congress and has also spent 3 years on the council of the Veterinary Practice Management Association.