Meet the Team | Westside

Welcome to Westside

Your independent practice serving your pets in Battersea, Clapham and Wandsworth. You’ll find lots on the site about us and what we offer, as well as opening hours and details of our out of hours provider. Feel free to contact us anytime, or just drop in.

Our History

Westside has been running since 1987. The practice has always strived to provide a professional, friendly and humane service to our clients, both human and animal. Recent years have seen a considerable upgrade in facilities in the treatment area, client records are now fully computerised for efficiency and because the practice is small we can also maintain a personal relationship with our patients. Hopefully – “The best of both worlds”.

Meet the Westside Vets Team

Our team of vets have over 50 years of combined experience, we pride ourselves of on the level of expertise and patient care we routinely provide.

Rory Cusack - MVB MRCVS

Owner & Veterinary Surgeon

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After graduating from University College Dublin, Rory worked in farm practice in Ireland and the UK.After a year in America he worked in practices in London and the home counties before buying the recently established Westside in 1989. He has climbed Kilimanjaroo [With Sandra] and is a keen scuba diver and a recent convert to cycling.

Chlöe Morris - BVSc MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

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Cornish girl Chloe is a 2000 Liverpool graduate. After stint in Wales in mixed practice and a London practice, she joined Westside in 2004. Having 2 kids [both boys], Chloe has had a hectic time over the last years and she is now back in the practice in a big way.Interests include running, tennis and a thriving social life.

Sandra Lawson-Ince

Practice Manager

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Graduate school of life Sandra, as many of you will know, is very special. With a background in catering, cruise ships, animal welfare, she has had an association with the clinic going back many years. She will often be your first point of contact us, and while not entirely conventional, you will find her caring and keen to get things done. In spite of various old orthopaedic problems, Sandra will insist on undertaking various physical challenges which can involve mountains, bicycles and endurance events.

Jenni Court

Veterinary Nurse

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Jenni is the newest member of our team, joining us in June 2016. Having already worked at two practices since 1999 she qualified at her last practice in 2005. Jenni loves all animals but has a particular soft spot for cats, especially timid and geriatric . Also an interest in small furries. Jenni has two rescued cats, Ronnie and Reggie and has recently taken on a stray Herman tortoise “Mick”!! Outside work Jenni loves socialising, travelling and photography.

Bruno Martins

Veterinary Nurse

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Bruno has recently joined the Westside Team. He qualified as a Registered Nurse over in Portugal in Feb 2009. He has worked in many busy clinics in Portugal and has a calming way with the animals. Bruno has decided to come and work in the UK and share his skills with us. He also has a big interest in orthopaedic surgery. His passions are Traveling, cooking and Rugby. An interesting fact is that Bruno has also volunteered at his local firefighter center in Portugal,

Kate Diamond RVN BSc (Hons)

Senior Veterinary Nurse

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Kate qualified in 1999 and hails from South Africa, she is something of a polymath and has worked in several practices including work for major animal charities.

She recently obtained a Bsc in Natural Sciences Hons(Geology) at the Open University. A compassionate nurse, she will always be on your animals side.

Kate has a particular interest in digital imagery. Outside of work Kate enjoys food,drink and photography and has just started to produce t-shirt with ink works of endangered species.

Sam Goodman

Receptionist

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Sam has experience in a variety of roles within the pet an vet industry over the past 12 years. She worked at the Royal Veterinary College in Hertfordshire as an Accounts Assistant for 4 year before moving to London at the end of 2015, joining the Westside team in February 2016.

Sam is here to greet you on your arrival at the clinic and will do her best to help you with all you questions. Her responsibilities also covers completing Pet Insurance and Pets Passport. At the moment she is studying hard to become a suitable Qualified Person.

Outside of work her time is spent caring for and spending quality time with her beloved cats “Mystique” and “Ninja”. Sam enjoys baking cakes and regularly visits her family and friends in Hertfordshire.

Valerie Morand-Duval

Veterinary Surgeon

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Adding a touch of Gallic verve, Valerie has been on the team for almost 10 years. A 1992 Paris graduate, she had 14 years in practice in Paris and Normandy before moving to London with her family.

Valerie has developed an interest in all aspects of small animal medicine and in 2010 gained a GP certificate in Feline medicine.

Outside of work she is occupied with Family, fitness, travel and inevitably cuisine! (makes a mean selection of cakes for the staff)

Yuri Belicanta MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

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Yuri was born in southern Brazil and spent an early childhood surrounded by horses, cows and gauchos before emigrating with his family to Italy. He graduated from the University of Padova and after realising that chasing alpacas in a field wasn’t for him, he went on an adventure to India to work for an animal charity. Having survived that, he started working as a small animal vet in the UK and has been here for quite a few years now. His main interest in veterinary medicine is ‘fixing the problem’, no matter what it is. Outside of work Yuri spends time lost in a musical world, playing piano, harpsichord and listening to old records. Another passion he has is Argentine Tango, which he teaches with his partner and has taken him to do dance performances and competitions.

Victoria Hogg - BVetMed MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

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Vicky graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, London, in 2007. She worked at a 24hr small animal hospital in Lincolnshire before moving to practice in London, joining the Westside team in 2010.

Her clinical interests lie in all aspects of medicine and surgery, with a special interest in neurology and pain management, including acupuncture.

Outside of work Vivky enjoys being out and about with her beloved dogs “Wilma” & Ottilie”, working on house renovation projects and anything involving gardening!

Jack Sales

Reception/nursing assistant

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Jack has been working at the practice for 4 years. He has gained many skills over the years from working in a variety of vet practices in London. He will always welcome you with a smile and is very happy to help with all your questions. Jacks’ interest are his beloved Mini Cooper and developing his own clothing label.

Emma David

Receptionist

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When coming into the surgery you will often be greeted by Emma on reception. She loves all animals but is particularly besotted with dogs and has spent the last 12 years working with them. She has had lots of training with dog socialisation and behaviour and enjoys getting stuck in and watching our vets operate and assisting in minor procedures. In her spare time she if ofter seen being dragged through Richmond Park by here own mad rescue dogs. In her downtime she can be found in Coffee shops writing or desperately scrubbing various coloured hair dyes off her bathroom floor before it’s spotted by her landlord.

Rachel Heygate BVM - BVS - MRCVS

Veterinary Surgeon

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Rachel graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2012. She worked in a 24 hour hospital in Rutland treating both farm and companion animals for 5 years. Rachel moved to practice in London after spending some time travelling in New Zealand and joined the Westside team in October. Outside of work she can be found outdoors on her bike and training for triathlons.

Alice Connelly

Receptioist

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Alice is an original Battersonian. Before joining us she worked in, customer services, at the London Dungeon. We think you will enjoy her compassion, good humour and enthusiasm. She lives locally with her Mum, Partner and her tiny dog “JIMMY”

Gill Shala

Nurse

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Gill has returned to our nursing team after taking time out to bring up her two lovely boys. She is Good fun, calm, kind and vey competent. We are very happy to have her back at Westside.