About River Vets

A different kind of veterinary care.

River Veterinary Care is an independent small-animal practice in Bell Villas, Ponteland — built around modern facilities, gold-standard medicine, and the kind of personal care your pet deserves.

We're open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and your pet will always be seen by the same small team who already know them.

Alex Hirst with two cocker spaniels in the woods

"We set out to build the kind of practice we'd want for our own pets — one where time, transparency and continuity aren't extras."

Alex Hirst — Founder & Lead Vet

River Vets reception in Bell Villas, Ponteland

Our story

Independent, local, uncompromising.

River Vets opened its doors as something of a quiet rebellion — a return to the way veterinary practice used to feel. No corporate templates, no production-line consults, no rotating roster of locums. Just a small team who know your pet, working in a building purpose-built for modern medicine.

Founder Alex Hirst spent years in the industry watching the personal side of veterinary care get squeezed by scale. He set out to prove that an independent practice could offer everything a referral hospital does — keyhole surgery, advanced orthopaedics, in-house diagnostics, 24-hour inpatient care — without losing the warmth of a village vet.

What's grown from that is something we're quietly proud of: a practice with one of the highest review averages in the region, a waiting list of new patients, and a team of vets, nurses and care assistants who genuinely love what they do.

24/7

365 days a year

4.9★

89 Google reviews

In-house

no external out-of-hours

What we believe

Three things we won't compromise on.

The principles every consult, surgery and follow-up at River is built on.

01 / Time

Long enough appointments.

Twenty-minute consults as standard, longer when they need to be. Your pet doesn't run on a stopwatch — neither do we.

02 / Continuity

The same faces, every time.

From the first phone call to the post-op check, you'll see the same small team. We don't do locum lotteries.

03 / Transparency

Honest answers and honest pricing.

Clear quotes, plain-English explanations and a written plan you can take home. No surprise add-ons at the till.

Meet the team

The people you'll get to know by name.

A small, dedicated team of vets, nurses and care assistants — led by founder Alex Hirst.

Alex Hirst

Founder · Lead Vet

Holds an advanced GP certificate in small animal surgery and is highly skilled in keyhole and orthopaedic procedures.

Emily Dunn

Head Registered Veterinary Nurse

Qualified in 2016 and spent two years in Sri Lanka working with street dogs. Loves theatre nursing and teaching.

// Katie

Katie Bell

Registered Veterinary Nurse

Meet Katie, one of our RVNs! Katie has been with River Vets from the very beginning, so many of our clients will already know her well. As a Registered Veterinary Nurse, she is a valued member of the team and is passionate about providing excellent care and support for both pets and their owners.

Zoë McAlister

Registered Veterinary Nurse

With 10 years of experience in the veterinary field, Zoë has a special interest in anaesthesia and inpatient care. Outside of work, Zoë enjoys spending time with her family and caring for her collie, cat, and two ponies.

Ellie Watson

Veterinary Nurse

Ellie is one of our dedicated nurses who has recently qualified as a veterinary nurse and is excited to take the next step in her career. Outside of work, she shares her life with her dog, Piper, and three horses.

Freya McClelland

Student Veterinary Nurse

Started as a volunteer gaining veterinary nursing experience and quickly became a vital member of the team. Outside of work she enjoys time with her two labradors Bella and Luna.

Rachel Gallon

Animal Care Assistant

Rachel's favourite part of the role is caring for patients, ensuring they are comfortable, happy, and well looked after during their stay. Outside of work, Rachel enjoys bird watching, reading, crocheting, and spending time with her many pets at home, including her iguanas Patty and Selma.

Vicki Wright

Practice Co-ordinator

Vicki has over 15 years of experience in the veterinary sector and enjoys helping clients and their pets, with a keen interest in medications and parasite treatments. Outside of work she enjoys time with friends and family in the countryside, horse riding, attending horse trials, on farms, or walking coastal routes with her dog, Rocky.

Erin Barratt

Client Care Advisor

Erin enjoys welcoming clients and their pets and is often the first friendly face you'll see when you visit the practice. Originally from Sheffield, she misses her family dog, so she always appreciates the chance to give visiting dogs a cuddle and treats. Outside of work she enjoys exploring the Lake District, music festivals and spa days.

Jo Henderson

Practice Manager

Jo has a background in administration and hands-on animal welfare. When she isn't working, she enjoys exploring Northumberland with her three dogs, a Cocker Spaniel, Collie, and Labrador and spending time with her Shetland sheep, especially during lambing season.

Join us

We're growing.

If you'd love to be part of an independent practice doing things properly, get in touch.