Trusted specialist partners for vets and pets throughout Oxford and beyond

Meet the team

Dr Hannes Bergmann

DrMedVet, DipECVS, MRCVS
ECVS and RCVS recognised Specialist in Small Animal Surgery

Hannes graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna in 2001, and was awarded a Doctorate degree for his research in canine pain management at the School of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover. He then went on to receive his surgical training at the University of Berne and became a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2008. Hannes holds both the European and RCVS Small Animal Surgery Specialist Status, and has been working at multidisciplinary referral centres for many years. In 2015, he started his own surgical referral service and moved to his new premises in 2023. Hannes is also lecturing on numerous surgical topics in the UK and abroad.

Helen Cox

RVN REVN Registered Veterinary Nurse – Head Nurse

Helen has always been passionate about animals and started her training as a veterinary nurse in a mixed Veterinary practice. She qualified as a small animal veterinary nurse in 1997 and then moved to the equine unit to complete her equine veterinary nursing qualification, qualifying in 2001.

She has worked in a first opinion practice progressing to head nurse role and gained her clinical coach qualification to support student veterinary nurses through their training. Helen then went on to expand her nursing in a referral environment and became clinical lead for OVS at a local practice.

Helen is excited to be part of a dedicated nursing team, helping to lead the team at OVS and provide a gold standard of care to our patients and clients.

She loves working in a surgical environment, being involved in patient care and has a keen interest in anaesthesia.

Helen shares her home with her partner, two beautiful daughters, 2 cats called Tom and Tilly plus her collie cross dog called Topsy. In her spare time, she enjoys riding their horse Chico and going for long dog walks (sometimes the cat will join).

Nicky Heilling

RVN CFVHNUT VNECC – Veterinary Nurse

Nicky qualified as a RVN in January 2009, she has obtained her Level 4 certificates in Canine and Feline Nutrition and Emergency in Critical Care.

Nicky has a keen interest in Radiography and Imaging, so working with Hannes will give her lots of experience and insight into these fields.

Nicky lives locally with her 2 children, 2 dogs Jess and Lottie and a turtle called Squirt. She enjoys walking with her doggies and at the weekends works for a charity taking bloods from blood donor dogs.

Carrie-Ann McPhail

Veterinary Nurse

Carrie-Ann  qualified as a RVN in November 2021 after working her way through the roles within the veterinary world starting as a receptionist in 2012 then going to to be an Animal nursing assistant then finishing as a RVN.

Carrie-Ann lives  locally with her husband , 2 beautiful children and their dog Jeffery. She also has 2 cats called Meme and Wheeler. Then if that is not enough 2 Tortoises called Egg and Ianie and a Rabbit called Babbit. All of Carrie-Ann’s pets have been rescued over the past 9 years . 

She enjoys taking Jeffery for family walks, In her spare time she fosters for local animal sanctuary’s.

Vicky Harvey

Client Care Advisor/Receptionist

Vicky has many years of experience in client care, ranging from the travel industry through events and hospitality to working previously in a veterinary referral practice.

Her love of animals drew her to the veterinary world where she found the perfect match combining her passion to deliver excellent customer service with lots of dog and cat cuddles!

Vicky’s happy place will find her on a long country walk with her family and rescue dog Lily.

Freya-Grace Cooper

Animal Nursing Assistant

Freya has recently joined the OVS team after having 2 years experience at a first opinion Veterinary practice. She has taken on the role of Animal Nursing Assistant, this means when the animals come into our care Freya assists with all things from theatre prep to the care after the procedures are carried out.

She lives locally with her parents plus their family of animals, Dotty  the dachshund  their two cats Lilly and Lola and the Hamster Ralph.

She enjoys walks with Dotty  and at the weekends plays for a local hockey team. 

Ella Barnett

Animal Nursing Assistant

Ella is new to the veterinary industry wanting to start a career in Animal care, she is taking on the role of Animal Nursing Assistant, this means when the animals come into our care Ella assists with all things from theatre prep to the care after the procedures are carried out. Ella is kind and caring and all animals love her, a real asset to the team.

She lives locally with her parents and their 2 dogs Ollie and Sox, she also has a horse called Bandit which she hacks with in her spare time.