Nurses

Claire Kirbyshire - Head Nurse

Claire has lived in West Sussex all her life and qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2001. She worked at a small animal practice in Haywards Heath before joining Hawthorn Vets in July 2005.

As head nurse, Claire has many roles behind the scenes including stock management. She has a keen interest in canine behaviour and especially enjoys holding nursing clinics.

Claire has a German shorthaired pointer called Stanley, whom she loves taking on long country walks.

Lisa Snelling

Lisa qualified as a veterinary nurse over 20 years ago and worked at practices in Haywards Heath, Emsworth and in the Guildford area before joining Hawthorn Vets in 1999. She initially worked full-time but now has a part-time role, fitting around the school runs. She loves her job especially the contact with the animals.

Lisa lives with Jake her son, her terrier called Tommy, Parsnip the cat and two guinea pigs called Scooby and Rosie.

Lisa plays hockey, enjoys walking, cooking, going to the cinema and spending time with Jake, friends and family.

Helen Price

Helen has lived in Brighton all of her life where she has recently bought her first flat.

She started veterinary nursing in 2003, working in practices in Brighton. Helen trained at the New Priory practice in Brighton, who provide our out of hours service, PETS (Pets Emergency Treatment Service).

She loves caring for animals and also very much enjoys helping clients at reception and in nurse clinic appointments.

She has a black Labrador, Woody and recently re-homed Misty an RSPCA kitten. She loves all types of music and plays the clarinet.

Natasha White

Natasha, who is Sussex born and bred, joined Hawthorn Veterinary Surgeries in November 2007. She trained to become a veterinary nurse at a practice in Carshalton and following qualification worked at the veterinary hospital in East Grinstead, where she gained vital experience in emergency and 24-hour care of patients.

Natasha enjoys all aspects of her job but when not working she loves to exercise, swim and look after her dog Max and three guinea pigs called Crunchie, Two-Face and Zippy.

Claire Mariner

Claire spent three years at Bath University studying pharmacy before realising that her true vocation lay with veterinary nursing. She has been nursing for many years, starting in New Malden, Surrey and then in Crawley where she became head nurse.

Claire joined the team here in 2003 as a full-time nurse but became part-time after the birth of her first daughter. She lives in Pulborough with her husband, two daughters and two cats called Chicken and Pigeon.