One of Scotland’s leading veterinary referral centres has added to its expert team by recruiting a highly-experienced heart specialist to launch its new cardiology service. Veterinary Specialists Scotland (VSS), in Livingston, has appointed cardiology specialist Anne French to lead its new heart unit as it expands the wide range of services on offer at its state-of-the-art referral centre.
Anne says she is excited by the challenge and confirmed that Linnaeus-owned VSS will now be able to deliver the most advanced clinical treatments and services for patients and referring vets. She explained: “The cardiology service specialises in the investigation of known or suspected heart disease and the treatment of cardiac disease.
“We’re here to ensure the highest standard of diagnosis and care, and I’ll be working closely with our internal medicine and soft tissue services to achieve this. We are offering specialist-led investigation and treatment of heart murmurs, arrhythmias, dyspnoea, syncope, collapsing episodes and exercise intolerance.
“Our advanced clinical treatment services include pacemaker implantation, treatment of patent ductus arteriosus with minimally invasive transcatheter embolisation and the management of pulmonic stenosis by minimally invasive balloon catheter dilatation.
“Our equipment and facilities are first-class and include digital radiography and fluoroscopy, cardiac gated computed tomography, colour flow Doppler echocardiography and 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring.
“It is a fabulous set-up here at VSS and we are excited to be able to contribute to the treatment and care of cardiology cases across Scotland and the North of England.”
VSS hospital director Greg Barbour added: “We are delighted to welcome Anne French to our team and we’re looking forward to seeing the positive impact our new cardiology service will make in delivering the highest levels of care for both general and advanced cases.”
Anne French graduated in Veterinary Medicine from University College Dublin, Ireland, and spent several years working in small animal practice in the UK and Zimbabwe before deciding to specialise in veterinary cardiology. She obtained UK and European cardiology qualifications and completed a PhD while lecturing at the University of Edinburgh.
In 2012, she moved to the University of Glasgow where she was appointed professor of veterinary cardiology, head of the department of small animal sciences, clinical director of the small animal hospital and completed an executive MBA. Anne has spent the last two years as head of the clinical sciences department at Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St Kitts.
VSS is a specialist-led multidisciplinary referral centre offering industry-leading services in cardiology, internal medicine (feline and canine), neurology, orthopaedics, and soft tissue surgery, supported by specialists in diagnostic imaging and anaesthesia and analgesia.
For more information about VSS and the services it offers, visit their website or search for Veterinary Specialists Scotland on social media.