About Us
Meet The Team
Equine Team
Sue Taylor BVMS MVM MRCVS
Senior Partner - Equine Vet
I am the daughter of Mick Taylor, the founder of the practice, hence I grew up with veterinary medicine around me, helping my father from a very early age.
I qualified from Glasgow vet school in 1976, and then spent a year as a postgraduate studying equine orthopaedics leading to an MVM. Following several years living in Newmarket working as a locum, I returned here in 1980 and have been here ever since. I have been one of the race course vets at Wolverhampton from 1980, Uttoxeter race course since 1988, I am now part of the team at Haydock and also at Aintree for the bigger race days such as the Grand National.
I find all my job fascinating, but I have a special interest in equine performance/ lameness and in farriery (I am an examiner for the Worshipful Company of farriers). I have ridden all of my life and own several thoroughbred horses.
In my (limited!!) spare time I train point to pointers and hunter chasers; often having them from youngsters, breaking them in and then taking them through their training. I also breed the occasional thoroughbred foal. I live with my rescued lurcher Jasper, my whippet Tiny Tim and my partner Paul who manufactures saddlery.
Andrew Mills BVet Med MRCVS
Partner – Equine Vet
I graduated from The Royal Veterinary College in London in June 2007 and joined Connaught Veterinary Group straight away. I joined the partnership in 2016. I currently work mainly for our equine department but do still do some companion animal work, spending my days out and about on visits and covering some evenings in practice. I have a particular interest in equine dentistry (with my equipment purchases being a running joke as ‘boys toys’ – the hazards of being the only male!) and I am part of the team that covers Wolverhampton racecourse.
Outside of work I spend my time cycling and I am currently on a fitness drive and spending my spare time running up the Wrekin to try and get the best time in the practice (being beaten by Isla at the moment but not for long!!). I have a wife, Beverly (also a vet at Connaught House) and two daughters, Faith and Constance. We live with our pet Jack Russell, Bobbie and our parrot Bertie.
Gayle Capps BVSc MRCVS
Equine Vet
I qualified from Bristol vet school in 1999 and worked in a mixed practice in Bedfordshire for three years, before moving to The George Veterinary Group in Wiltshire for the best part of ten years, initially doing small animal and equine, but ultimately solely equine. We moved to Shropshire in 2012, because we fell in love with the countryside whilst being here on holiday! The house we bought will keep our DIY skills and gardening skills busy for years to come. I have been at Connaught since the move.
I have two children who also keep me busy, a long-suffering husband who works in London, and a very daft retriever called Alfie who comes out on visits with me.
Chiara Morelli DVM MRCVS
Equine Vet
I graduated in Perugia Italy in 2017 with a thesis regarding equine leukaemia and lymphoma.
Prior to my degree I had completed an equine internship in surgery and medicine within the large animal department of the University of Perugia and joined a project researching draft and racehorses. In the meantime, I participated in hospital activities within the medicine and surgery department, with particular interest in internal medicine.
In 2019, I completed an externship in a large equine hospital in Belgium and then started an 18 month hospital and ambulatory internship at Sussex Equine Hospital. In 2021, I started work as an equine ambulatory vet in South Yorkshire. In 2022 I worked as a locum vet in the Isle of Man in Wendover until I joined Connaught House.
I have a special interest in equine internal medicine and my final aim is to successfully apply for the European College of Equine Internal Medicine residency programme and become a specialist. In the meantime, I started my Equine Internal Medicine Certificate in January 2023, and hope to complete by January 2025.
In my spare time I like keeping myself fit with any type of exercise such as the gym and climbing. I love reading and surprise(!), as all Italians do, I love cooking!!
Jan Lake
Equine Manager
I began working at Connaught House in 1998, starting on reception and then migrating to the offices upstairs to focus on the Equine Department. I now spend my days tracking down the equine vets and keeping them focussed on the job in hand – even I cannot stop them from going AWOL at times (!) – as well as dealing with the administration the equine department brings with it.
In my spare time I breed and show Maine Coons, and I am often seen walking into the practice with one of my beloved cats in tow.
Lucy Crawford
RVN (Equine) J-SQP
I trained as an Equine Veterinary Nurse in Newmarket and worked at a large equine referral hospital in Berkshire. I joined the Connaught team in 2019 on both the equine and small animal deparments.
I have a keen interest in equine behaviour and I have completed further qualifications in this area. I have recently qualified as a Registered Animal Medicines Advisor in equine medications.
You will fine me assisting the vets with with their day to day work such as x-raying, lameness work ups and minor surgery. I also do the nurse visits such as taking bloods, giving injectable medication, bandage changes, laser therapy and advising clients.
I own a Jack Russell called Bertie who keeps me busy. I enjoy dressage, eventing and horse racing.
The Practice Standards Scheme is a voluntary scheme administered by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). The RCVS sets minimum practice standards, which include emergency cover, hygiene, staff training, certain types of diagnostic and surgical equipment, and complying with the legal requirements of running a business. The RCVS carries out regular inspections and spot checks to ensure the standards are maintained.
There are 3 levels of standard, the highest being awarded the classification of ‘Veterinary Hospital’. Connaught House Veterinary Hospital is proud to have been classified as a Veterinary Hospital since 1977. The Partners are under no obligation to maintain this level of practice standard, but do so in order to continually improve the practice to provide the best possible care for your pet.
Fees
All fees, foodstuffs and drug charges are subject to VAT at the current rate. Fee levels are determined by the time spent on a case and according to the drugs, materials, consumables and diets used.
Methods of Payment
Fees are due for settlement at the end of each consultation, the discharge of your pet or upon the collection of drugs/diets. You may settle the account using:-
- cash
- cheque with current bank card
- credit/debit card in-person or by telephone
Estimates
We will provide a written estimate with regard to the probable costs of a course of treatment. Please bear in mind that any estimate given can only be approximate: Often a pet’s illness will not follow a predictable course and unexpected costs may be incurred owing to the condition’s complexity.
Settlement Terms
Any account with an outstanding balance will receive an invoice via the post. Invoices are due for payment by return. Where further reminders have to be sent we may add charges to cover the cost of administration. If accounts remain unpaid they will be referred to an outside agency for collection and further charges will be levied in respect of costs incurred in collecting the debt. Any cheque returned by our bank as unpaid, any card payments not honoured and any cash paid which turns out to be counterfeit will result in the original balance of the account being restored and any bank and administration charges added. In some circumstances, particularly if you have no long term credit rating with our business, we will ask for a deposit before commencing a treatment plan.
Insurance Settlement Terms
The business supports the principle of veterinary health insurance and on behalf of its clients will endeavour to deal with the administration. We do not make a charge for this service however, it is your responsibility to settle our account in full and then reclaim the fees from your insurance company. We advise that you inform your insurance company and request a claim form before a treatment plan starts. In the event of long term conditions, claim forms should be submitted regularly.
Inability to Pay
If for any reason you are unable to settle your account in full at the normal time, we would ask you to discuss the matter as soon as possible with a member of staff. Please note that part-payments may only be sanctioned by a senior member of the business. We reserve the right not to supply any medicines, diets or consumables for veterinary care if an account is not settled in full at the time of consultation or discharge.
Complaints and Standards
We hope you never have recourse to complain about the standards of service received from Connaught House Veterinary Group. However, if you feel there is something you wish to complain about, then please direct your comments in the first instance to the practice manager.
Ownership of Records
Case records are the property of, and will be retained by, Connaught House Veterinary Group. Copies of the records will be given, on request, to a veterinary surgeon who is taking over the case.
Ownership of Images
The care of your animal may involve the production of a variety of recordings and images e.g. X-rays, ECG’s. Even though we make a charge for carrying out and interpreting the results, ownership of the images remains within the practice.