Vet of the Year Claire McCabe shares the secrets of her success
April 24, 2023
As a 12-year-old just starting secondary school, Claire McCabe made a promise with a pal that they’d both become vets.
It could have been, like so many others, a childhood pact easily forgotten.
But Claire pursued her dream career, is now Clinical Director of Craemill Veterinary Clinic and reached the very pinnacle of the profession by winning Vet of the Year at the Petplan Veterinary Awards 2023.
Last month’s prestigious award comes two years after Craemill became a part of IVC Evidensia.
And as it marks its 50th anniversary this year, she hopes the showcase of the award and the continued backing of the market leader will help drive the Northern Irish practice to even greater success.
Growing up on a farm, veterinary matters were always second nature.
“I was lambing from the age of six and my dad always said my small hands were really valuable,” said Claire.
“When a friend said she wanted to become a vet during our first year at secondary, it put the thought in my head as I was living and breathing it every day. We joked that we would set up a practice together, but I was totally focused on achieving that.
“Everything was geared to getting the exam results I needed, and I started seeing practice first hand at the age of 14. That was the practice my parents used for all their veterinary care for the farm, Firmount Veterinary Clinic in Antrim.”
Claire went on to study at the University of Liverpool and graduated in 2004.
While at vet school, she met and married fellow student Colin McCrea and initially returned to Northern Ireland to help with some holiday cover at his dad Noel’s practice, Craemill.
Two weeks turned into nine months, but she had fallen in love with working at the PDSA in Liverpool and when the offer of her dream job there came up, it was too tempting to turn down.
“It was like all my Christmases had come at once and I moved back over to Liverpool for a few years,” said Claire. “Over the years I pursued my specialist interests of orthopaedics and dermatology, but we both knew that we would come back to Craemill. That was very much home.”
Colin began working in Craemill in 2006 and Claire returned in 2010, knowing it had a real place in the community.
Started by Noel in Coagh in the early 1970s, a second practice was set up in Cookstown a decade later and after Colin and Claire’s return, a third branch was opened in Magherafelt.
Rather than mixed vets doing all the work, they chose to diversify into 100% Small Animal and 100% Farm Animal vets compared to traditional rural practice composed of mixed vets.
After Noel’s death in 2016, Colin and Claire took over the practice and it has continued to grow, with nine vets among the 25-strong staff.
“One thing that has never changed is the family feel of the practice,” said Claire, who additionally took on a position of Claims Advisor with the Veterinary Defence Society in 2020.
“We have extremely loyal and bonded clients, some who have been coming here for 50 years.
“That’s so special, seeing their pets from the first vaccinations as a puppy, to older age management and then the next generation coming through.
“I love the diverse opportunities being a vet has given me in addition to my clinical role, including teaching vet students seeing practice and supporting student vet nurses as a clinical coach.
“I give primary school talks and hopefully provide reassurance and advice to VDS members facing challenging situations. My mum was a teacher so maybe this is where my interests have stemmed from.”
Part of the connection with clients comes from knowing the same vets, nurses and reception staff will be there. And with the veterinary profession facing immense staffing challenges, retention has been a high priority for Craemill.
“The last few years have been very difficult, with burnout affecting the practice and the wider profession,” said Claire. “We’ve certainly had stressful days and when you have a number of those it can certainly make you question your career.
“I feel very passionate about making sure my team are okay.
“My door is always open if people want to come and talk about anything at all. If someone is struggling or their personal circumstances are changing, I’ll try my best to help.
“It might be a change of hours or rota or job description as we want them to know they are really valued, and we want them to stay. I think our willingness to adapt has really helped retain staff.”
Becoming a part of the IVC Evidensia network in January 2021 has been seen as integral to help Craemill grow while continuing to provide a high level of service.
Claire was one of the three Petplan Veterinary Awards Vet of the Year finalists. And recognition for IVC Evidensia also came for Kristen Lorimer, of Blue House Veterinary Centre in Staffordshire, who was a Practice Manager of the Year finalist.
Claire already had a busy day at the BSAVA Congress before the evening ceremony at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester.
“I had been at loads of lectures, and it was a bit of a whirlwind to get ready for the dinner,” she added. “I wasn’t expecting to win, but my heart was pounding when the award category came up.
“I feel both honoured and overwhelmed to get an award for a job I love doing every day. That’s like the icing on the cake.”
It could have been, like so many others, a childhood pact easily forgotten.
But Claire pursued her dream career, is now Clinical Director of Craemill Veterinary Clinic and reached the very pinnacle of the profession by winning Vet of the Year at the Petplan Veterinary Awards 2023.
Last month’s prestigious award comes two years after Craemill became a part of IVC Evidensia.
And as it marks its 50th anniversary this year, she hopes the showcase of the award and the continued backing of the market leader will help drive the Northern Irish practice to even greater success.
Growing up on a farm, veterinary matters were always second nature.
“I was lambing from the age of six and my dad always said my small hands were really valuable,” said Claire.
“When a friend said she wanted to become a vet during our first year at secondary, it put the thought in my head as I was living and breathing it every day. We joked that we would set up a practice together, but I was totally focused on achieving that.
“Everything was geared to getting the exam results I needed, and I started seeing practice first hand at the age of 14. That was the practice my parents used for all their veterinary care for the farm, Firmount Veterinary Clinic in Antrim.”
Claire went on to study at the University of Liverpool and graduated in 2004.
While at vet school, she met and married fellow student Colin McCrea and initially returned to Northern Ireland to help with some holiday cover at his dad Noel’s practice, Craemill.
Two weeks turned into nine months, but she had fallen in love with working at the PDSA in Liverpool and when the offer of her dream job there came up, it was too tempting to turn down.
“It was like all my Christmases had come at once and I moved back over to Liverpool for a few years,” said Claire. “Over the years I pursued my specialist interests of orthopaedics and dermatology, but we both knew that we would come back to Craemill. That was very much home.”
Colin began working in Craemill in 2006 and Claire returned in 2010, knowing it had a real place in the community.
Started by Noel in Coagh in the early 1970s, a second practice was set up in Cookstown a decade later and after Colin and Claire’s return, a third branch was opened in Magherafelt.
Rather than mixed vets doing all the work, they chose to diversify into 100% Small Animal and 100% Farm Animal vets compared to traditional rural practice composed of mixed vets.
After Noel’s death in 2016, Colin and Claire took over the practice and it has continued to grow, with nine vets among the 25-strong staff.
“One thing that has never changed is the family feel of the practice,” said Claire, who additionally took on a position of Claims Advisor with the Veterinary Defence Society in 2020.
“We have extremely loyal and bonded clients, some who have been coming here for 50 years.
“That’s so special, seeing their pets from the first vaccinations as a puppy, to older age management and then the next generation coming through.
“I love the diverse opportunities being a vet has given me in addition to my clinical role, including teaching vet students seeing practice and supporting student vet nurses as a clinical coach.
“I give primary school talks and hopefully provide reassurance and advice to VDS members facing challenging situations. My mum was a teacher so maybe this is where my interests have stemmed from.”
Part of the connection with clients comes from knowing the same vets, nurses and reception staff will be there. And with the veterinary profession facing immense staffing challenges, retention has been a high priority for Craemill.
“The last few years have been very difficult, with burnout affecting the practice and the wider profession,” said Claire. “We’ve certainly had stressful days and when you have a number of those it can certainly make you question your career.
“I feel very passionate about making sure my team are okay.
“My door is always open if people want to come and talk about anything at all. If someone is struggling or their personal circumstances are changing, I’ll try my best to help.
“It might be a change of hours or rota or job description as we want them to know they are really valued, and we want them to stay. I think our willingness to adapt has really helped retain staff.”
Becoming a part of the IVC Evidensia network in January 2021 has been seen as integral to help Craemill grow while continuing to provide a high level of service.
Claire was one of the three Petplan Veterinary Awards Vet of the Year finalists. And recognition for IVC Evidensia also came for Kristen Lorimer, of Blue House Veterinary Centre in Staffordshire, who was a Practice Manager of the Year finalist.
Claire already had a busy day at the BSAVA Congress before the evening ceremony at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester.
“I had been at loads of lectures, and it was a bit of a whirlwind to get ready for the dinner,” she added. “I wasn’t expecting to win, but my heart was pounding when the award category came up.
“I feel both honoured and overwhelmed to get an award for a job I love doing every day. That’s like the icing on the cake.”
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