Companion Care Basingstoke

Jose qualified in Madrid in 1994 and moved to England shortly after for what was supposed to be a 12 month professional development experience. 16 years later he is now the Practice Director at the Basingstoke Companion Care Surgery which he and his team opened in 2004.

His wealth of experience comes from having had the possibility of working with excellent colleagues, good professionals and invaluable Nurses throughout the years, initially in the North of England and, afterwards, in a lovely Veterinary Hospital on the South Coast.

Having sport very high on his list of priorities, his family is the real passion of his life.

Fran qualified in Madrid in 1994 and moved to England shortly after to start her professional career. She worked near Manchester for two years, before moving down south. Fran helped to develop the first Joint Venture Companion Care practice in Portsmouth.

She took a career break to raise her two children and has now come back to work part-time. Although she has always been a helping hand during busy times since we first opened our surgery in 2004.

Norma graduated from the University of Lugo, Spain in 2001. Soon after she moved to England, where she worked in a small animal practice in Surrey for 11 years. Recently she has relocated to Hampshire with her family. She enjoys medicine and Ultrasonography, particularly feline medicine.

In her spare time, she enjoys the Hampshire country side with Gringo the dog and Iago her son. She also helps run the family owned pub. To relax Norma enjoys nothing better than listening to classical music whilst she crochets .

Louise graduated from Bristol University in 2007 and has been working in small animal practice in the Midlands for the last seven years. In September 2015 she relocated to the South to be nearer her family. She enjoys both medicine and surgery but has a particular interest in Ultrasonography.

Outside of work she is kept busy with her young son Archie and four dogs (three Border Collies and a rather less obedient terrier!). Her husband works on a mixed livestock farm and she enjoys helping out whenever she can. She also enjoys cooking and walking.

Carlos gained his Veterinary Degree in 2014 from the University of Cordoba in Spain. He enjoys travelling and experiencing different cultures and before joining our team here at Basingstoke he travelled extensively undertaking studies and veterinary internships in both Italy and Croatia.

Carlos enjoys all aspects of practice and is particularly interested in surgery.

When he is not at work he relaxes by listening to music and going to the cinema. He likes to keep fit running and playing tennis. When the opportunity presents itself he heads off to the mountains or the beach with his board to surf the snow or the waves.

Adrián qualified in 2014 from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. After finishing his degree he went to Romania where he did a 4 month internship focussing on internal medicine.

In February 2015 Adrián joined a small animal practice in the UK where he remained before joining Companion Care Basingstoke in April 2018. He has a particular interest in diagnostic imaging - an area in which he would like to specialise. Back at home in Spain, Adrián has his family dog, a miniature Schnauzer called Nika. He misses Nika very much and loves spending time with her when he goes back to visit his family.

In his free time Adrián enjoys a variety of sports including football, golf and hiking. When he is not playing sport he enjoys catching up with friends and discovering all of the beautiful places that the UK has to offer.

Mafalda qualified in 2002 from the University of Tras os Montes e Alto Douro, in Portugal. She interned in Oporto in a referral hospital for one year, later joining as a permanent vet.

In 2007 Mafalda joined a veterinary practice still operating in post-war Angola where over and above the medical care she provided, she had the experience of a lifetime in all possible and unimaginable ways.

Having moved to the UK in 2011, Mafalda worked in Scotland, Portishead and Long Eaton finally settling in the south following her maternity leave, and joining us in 2015.

Mafalda likes all aspects of veterinary medicine but is particular keen on feline medicine.

In her free time, Mafalda enjoys music, cooking and spending time with Koffee, the cuddliest of cats, and his nemesis, Anna, the little human who burst into his life not that long ago.

Kim qualified in 2015 with a Foundation Degree in Veterinary Nursing from Harper Adams University. She joined Companion Care in September 2015 and transferred to Basingstoke to join our nursing team in January 2016.

Kim has a particular interest in caring for cats and she is especially interested in small furies, owning a few herself. She also very much enjoys inpatient care and surgical cases.

Outside work, Kim likes eating out, spending time with friends and caring for her rats, Merlin and Oswald and her Syrian hamster, Juno.

Adena has been working with us since we opened in October 2004.

She qualified as Veterinary Nurse in May 2009 after training at Sparsholt College for 3 years.

She returned to the practice in June 2012 from maternity leave – her little girl Lana keeps her busy out of work as well as her pet rabbit Rex.

Natalie has been working with us since the very beginning of our surgery back in October 2004.

She qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2009.

At work she is very keen in orthopaedic surgical cases and loves dealing with the general public and their pets. Outside work she likes socializing and shopping!

She has 2 rabbits at home, Molly and Monty.

After leaving school Jade went to college to study Animal Management and the obvious career progression from there was for her to continue her studies for a Veterinary Nursing Diploma. Jade joined our team at Companion Care Basingstoke as a Student Veterinary Nurse at the end of 2017.

She became a full qualified Veterinary Nurse in August 2018. Jade’s favourite duty at work is caring for our inpatients. At home she has two dogs, a Staffie cross called Harper and a Jack Russell cross called Roxie. Jade is also a qualified swimming instructor and in her free time can be found at her local pool teaching children to swim.

Jasmine joined the practice in August 2015 became a fully qualified Veterinary Nurse in August 2018. Jasmine has a BSc Hons Degree in Animal Management and before joining the practice she worked in the ambulance service. She always wanted a career with animals and so made sure she gained plenty of work experience within different sectors of the animal industry.

Like most of our colleagues, Jasmine has had many different pets from hamsters and rats to dogs and horses. She currently has a horse and a rescue cat called Daz

In her spare time Jasmine likes to spend time with her horse and socialising with friends.

Emma has been working in veterinary practice since 2010 and joined Companion Care in 2013. She qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in summer 2017. Emma has a keen interest in Radiography and caring for inpatients. In her spare time Emma enjoys spending time with her baby daughter and going for long walks with her Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Roxy and riding and competing on her horses.

Jessica joined our nursing team in July 2018 after passing her BSC Hons degree in Veterinary Nursing at Moreton Morrell (part of the University of Coventry). Jessica gained her practical experience in a veterinary practice in Oxford. She has a strong interest in dog behaviour and training and in her free time likes walking in the countryside surrounding her home. Jess is very creative and makes beautiful quilts - she also loves to knit and paint in watercolours.

Charlotte joined our team as a Veterinary Care Assistant in 2016. Before joining the practice she completed an extended Diploma in Horse Management and Animal Biology. Charlotte is now a Student Veterinary Nurse and has started studying towards her Veterinary Nursing Diploma.

Charlotte finds inpatient care particularly rewarding; she enjoys learning and has a keen interest in Emergency and Critical Care and enjoys in house laboratory work and learning about pet nutrition.

Charlotte loves travelling and in the past has rescued and rehomed stray dogs in Europe At home she has a beautiful furry family of her own – a horse, dog and three cats!

Meg joined our Reception team in April 2016 and is passionate about animals. She has wide-ranging experience for not only does she have a BSc Hons degree in Animal Management but she also has plenty of practical experience gained in diverse environments from working at a wildlife rescue to a company that trains animals for TV and film; she has also worked in a pet store.

At home she is kept very busy with Bilbo the Border Collie, Martha the cat (photographed here), Axel the guinea pig , a crested gecko, a tank full of tropical fish and last but not least her young son Oliver.

When she gets a moment to herself she enjoys running and yoga, wildlife photography and going to musical festivals.

Annabel has always had an interest in animals and has owned a wide variety of pets. Before joining our practice in June 2015, she completed work experience at a dog groomers and at another veterinary practice. Annabel is looking forward to starting her Animal Management course at Sparshalt College in September after which she hopes to go on to do her Veterinary Nursing Degree.

In her spare time Annabel enjoys walking her dog, caring for her cat and two rabbits and riding and competing on her pony Charlie.

After working for British Airways, Fiona hung up her wings and headed to London to take up a position in an International investment bank. After five years she decided city life was not for her and returned to the country to follow a career in veterinary practice. Fiona has managed a variety of practices including equine, small animal first opinion and a referral hospital.

Due to her peripatetic lifestyle, Fiona currently has no pets of her own, but she would love one day to have another Giant Schnauzer and she has a hankering for a rescue lurcher! In the meantime she takes full advantage of working in a veterinary practice and can often be seen sneaking into reception to make a fuss of the pets that come to visit us.

Anne joined Companion Care Basingstoke in October 2013 as a part time Receptionist. Prior to having her children, Anne was an HR Business Consultant working in Retail and the Pharmaceutical industry. Anne loves the variety and challenges that working in a vets provides and learns something new every day.

Outside of work Anne is married with two young boys who keep her busy. She has 2 cats, Millie and Tigga, and is about to welcome a new kitten into the family very soon. Anne’s hobbies include socializing, decorating and music.

Kate joined our team in December 2014 after moving to Basingstoke from Fareham, where she worked at a veterinary practice for 10 years. She lives with her partner Graham and Border Collie, Skye.

Outside of work Kate enjoys walks with Skye and then finding her way around Basingstoke! She has two grown up children and a grandson who lives in Spain.

Helen joined our Reception team in 2019 after taking a career break to raise her daughter. On leaving school she trained and qualified as a British Horse Society Riding Instructor. Aside from her equestrian background Helen also has experience in customer service roles including being a telephone controller for the RSPCA. Outside of work Helen enjoys riding and she also volunteers as a Museum Guide at The Greenham Common Control Tower.

Tia worked in a hospital before joining our Reception team in late 2019. She used to be scared of dogs until she met a chocolate Labrador called Max who changed her mind completely and she now adores all furry creatures; she has her own dog, a small labradoodle called Luna.  Tia is looking forward to meeting all of our patients no matter how big or small.

Before joining our Reception team in 2019, Kristin had spent the previous 6 years working in London as a manager in the event industry.  She grew up with a variety of pets from cats and budgies to gerbils and 8 years ago she rescued a puppy who she called Cooper; Cooper is now a trained search dog for the German Red Cross.  Kristin is kept very busy being a mum of two toddlers but any free time she has, she enjoys being outside and exploring nature.

The last 6 years I worked as a staffing manager in the event industry in London before relocating to Basingstoke a year ago to raise my 2 little children.

I grew up with cats, budgies and gerbils. 8 years ago I rescued a little puppy that I named Cooper. He is a trained search dog for the German Red Cross.   

If I manage to get free time -  with two toddlers -  I like to be outside exploring nature. 

Originally from Johannesburg South Africa, Garrett moved to the UK in early 2019 to be closer to family after five years working as a veterinary receptionist in Dubai UAE. 

Garrett enjoys being creative and with a background in sound engineering, will often take the time to work on a few music production projects.

Currently working towards completing his private pilot’s license, when free time presents itself he can also be found taking walks in the countryside with his wife or spending some downtime at home with their two cats, Jack and Bebe.

Daisy is currently studying Veterinary Nursing at the University of Middlesex and has been on placement with the practice since January 2019. Prior to this Daisy worked in a pet store. She joined our Reception team in the summer of 2019 and this combined with her Veterinary Nursing degree allows her to pursue her love of caring for pets. She has two dogs, called Teddy and Alice and a rescued Degu called Sammy.