For all of us closely involved with the formation of the new practice, it has occasionally been frustrating trying to manage the day-to-day practicalities of making two reasonably-sized businesses work as one while at the same time driving things for
ward to realise the benefits of coming together.
Of course Rome wasn't built in a day and the last few weeks have certainly felt like we are really starting to get somewhere.
Sometimes it takes a crisis to highlight the progress that has been made and this was exactly the case last week.
Anyone travelling south on the A1 last Wednesday will have experienced major delays and will no doubt be aware of the accident responsible for the hold-up.
The call came through that a horse box travelling south had tipped over and initial reports were of seriously injured and dead horses.
It is testament to the capabilities of the new practice that we were able to respond in the way that we did, dispatching Rosie and Vicky, specialist equine vets, to the scene immediately. The terrifying shock of any such disaster left everyone fearful of the carnage that they would find.
The sombre procession of nose-to-tail traffic passing our Fairmoor premises only served to reinforce the serious nature of the accident; the road south was completely blocked and all traffic diverted though Morpeth town centre.
Reports from people coming into the surgery did little to help the mood with varying accounts of up to four horses involved, two of which were definitely dead. Fortunately it appeared as though no human fatalities had occurred.
The feeling of helplessness changed in an instant with a phone call from Rosie.
There were only two horses involved, one had been treated on the roadside and though shocked was well enough to travel home.
The second horse had been less fortunate and had sustained very serious injuries that would require intensive treatment.
Transport was on its way and the casualty would soon be arriving at our Fairmoor branch.
Nurses Inge and Sophie immediately clicked into gear, preparing the equine diagnostic room to admit the traumatised patient.
Covering all possibilities, they prepared large volumes of sterile fluids and plasma expanders to replace the patient's inevitable blood loss, surgical kits, suture materials and dressings of all kinds to tackle the expected wounds and blankets to protect against the hypothermia that always comes with severe shock.
Their meticulous preparation ensured that valuable time, that could be the difference between life and death, would not be lost after the patient had arrived. In what seemed like an instant, the wagon pulled up and we were initially relieved to see the horse walk off, sedated but at least still on all fours.
