We have created this information sheet to ensure that your time doing EMS with us is as beneficial as possible and to minimise any uncertainties you may have about what is expected of you.

  • You are expected to arrive before 11:30 am on Saturday (as we close at 12:30 pm). If you don’t drive, you can take a train or bus from Edinburgh to Dundee, then a bus from Dundee Bus Station, which is approximately a 15-minute walk from the train station. The Stagecoach bus 59 runs roughly every hour and stops a short 5min walk from the practice in Blairgowrie.
  • Single tickets are £5.60 or you can visit  Stagecoach website for further information.

  • 8:30 am – 5:00 pm Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8:30 am to 6:30 pm Monday and Wednesday and 9:00 am – 12:30 pm on Saturdays. Sundays and nights are reserved solely for emergencies.
  • We expect you to come downstairs around 8:30 am to assist the nurses with inpatient care, including walking dogs, helping to clean the kennels, and managing the laundry.
  • You may go upstairs for lunch, which is generally between 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm, unless you are out on calls.
  • Please liaise with the nurses between before 5:00 pm for the evening handover of inpatients, as the nurses are typically on shift until 5:00 pm.
  • You are expected to assist with inpatients and emergencies outside of regular hours, or at least you should always be contactable.

As you are aware, we will not be charging for accommodation. In return, we expect your assistance with inpatient care during nights and weekends. While we are open to discussing the following terms, we would like to establish the following expectations:

Student responsibilities

  • Supervision: Students must remain responsible to the nurses and the duty vet at all times.
  • Daytime tasks: Before performing any tasks (e.g., inserting IVs, monitoring anaesthesia, or carrying out clinical/procedural activities), please consult the nurses.
  • Critical care patients: If there are critical care patients hospitalised overnight or on weekends, you would required to be present on the premises most of the time, or as deemed appropriate by the duty vet.
  • Animal care: Students will be responsible for walking dogs regularly to relieve themselves, cleaning litter trays, and ensuring general animal welfare.

Out of hours duties

  • Toilet breaks: You will need to take dogs outside for toilet breaks throughout the day and evening. Poo bags are available in the kennels—please always use them.
  • Leash and walking: Patients should always be taken out with a slip lead (not their kennel lead) and walked within the surgery grounds.
  • Medication and monitoring: You may be asked to administer medications, set up fluids, or simply feed and monitor patients.
  • Documentation: Please ensure that hospital sheets are updated whenever you perform any tasks.
  • Free time: If there are no inpatients, you are free to explore the surrounding areas. However, at least remain close by and be available to assist the duty vet in case of an emergency. There may be no patients at lunchtime on Saturday, but by Sunday night, there could be several!
  • Night time emergencies: Emergencies can occur at any time, even in the middle of the night. Please coordinate with duty vet and duty nurse if additional support is required during the night.

  • The flat must be cleaned and tidied before you leave. If any items are damaged, you must report to the Nursing Team.
  • The flat above the practice is very spacious, and you will have your own room with a double bed. We are happy to provide bedding and cleaning products, but you will need to bring your own towels.
  • Wi-Fi is available within the practice.
  • There is a washing machine in the flat.
  • A microwave is available.
  • The bathroom in the flat has a shower but no bath. Please keep these facilities clean and tidy, as they are used by other staff members as well in an emergency
  • You will receive a back-door key to the surgery – please do not lose it, as there are no spare keys.

Alarm System

The building has an alarm system, with the control panel located at the bottom of the stairs just inside the back door. Normally, the alarm is not set while students are staying in the flat. The cleaners and the duty vets will generally lock the external doors at night. If you hear noises downstairs, it is most likely the duty vet entering to attend to an emergency. You may also hear the beep of the back door. Drug deliveries may arrive in the early hours, but they will only have access to the large animal pharmacy area.

There is a large Tesco in Blairgowrie, about a 10-minute walk from the practice.

  • When you leave the flat at the end of your stay, please ensure it is thoroughly cleaned. This includes cleaning the worktops, cupboards, cooker, and floors. Cleaning materials, including a mop and bucket for the floors, should be available in the flat. All bed linen must be removed and washed, and then placed in the cupboard once dry. A vacuum cleaner can be borrowed from downstairs; just ask the nurses or cleaners.
  • There may be an inspection of the flat before you leave. If it is not cleaned properly, you will be charged for the cleaners’ time. There have been issues in the past with students leaving the flat untidy.

Often, when students arrive on their first morning, they may feel slightly lost due to the busy atmosphere, and it’s common that there isn’t enough time to show them around fully. This is why you arrive on a Saturday—so you can familiarise yourself with everything beforehand.

  • If you are particularly interested in small animal practice, feel free to ask any of the vets if you can observe consultations or operations, which generally start at 8:30 am. If the consultation has already begun, please do not enter without permission. Thank you.
  • For large animal or equine visits, these are displayed on the Thrums day book also available on most computers in the practice. Small animal operations and consultations can be found on Robovet, available on every computer within the practice. You will need to log in to access the various screens (student).
  • Even if you are primarily here to observe small or large animal practice, remember that there may be occasional quiet periods in each area (though this is rare!). It’s important to take advantage of any opportunity to see a broad range of practice. At this stage, students should maximise their exposure to various types of practice, regardless of whether they have already completed the minimum requirements.
  • Currently, consultations are held throughout the morning and afternoon. If you’re interested in joining the vet for this visit, please ask them, and they will inform you of the departure time.
  • Lastly, we’ve unfortunately had a small number of students book time to see practice and fail to show up, which prevents others from having that opportunity. While plans may occasionally need to change, we kindly ask that you provide as much notice as possible if this happens.

If you have any doubts or queries, you can always contact the duty vet.

Often, when students arrive on their first morning, they may feel slightly lost due to the busy atmosphere, and it’s common that there isn’t enough time to show them around fully. This is why you arrive on a Saturday—so you can familiarise yourself with everything beforehand. The Nursing team and Vets are here is help and guide you.

  • If you are particularly interested in small animal practice, feel free to ask any of the vets if you can observe consultations or operations, which generally start at 8:30 am. If the consultation has already begun, please do not enter without permission. Thank you.
  • For large animal or equine visits, these are displayed on the Thrums day book and are also available on most computers in the practice. Small animal operations and consultations can be found on Robovet, available on every computer within the practice. You will need to log in to access the various screens.
  • Even if you are primarily here to observe small or large animal practice, remember that there may be occasional quiet periods in each area (though this is rare!). It’s important to take advantage of any opportunity to see a broad range of practice. At this stage, students should maximise their exposure to various types of practice, regardless of whether they have already completed the minimum requirements.
  • Lastly, we’ve unfortunately had a small number of students book time to see practice and fail to show up, which prevents others from having that opportunity. While plans may occasionally need to change, we kindly ask that you provide as much notice as possible if this happens.

8:30 am: Nurses arrive and begin organising the patients. Please assist if there are a lot of patients, as they will need to be walked out in the morning. If it hasn’t already been decided, the vets will assign someone to go on the large animal call. Admits for small animal operations and procedures will also take place.

9:00 am: Operations start (sometimes later!). Large animal visits typically begin as the vet sets off.

Throughout the morning, consultations will take place.

Afternoon

Consultations will continue throughout the afternoon. There are also consultations at the Forfar branch, and you can ask the vet attending if you can accompany them.