Rota squabbles, greedy labradors, grateful clients and mince pies: it must be Christmas on call!

‘Life isn’t fair!’ I think we’ve all felt that pang of disappointment on viewing the Christmas rota. Having also been the one drafting them I can vouch that nailing jelly to the ceiling would have been easier than trying to keep everyone happy. My top tip for managers is to keep the previous year’s rota so that anyone drawing the short straw one year is spared the next. New team members can also offer invaluable insights into how other practices have cracked this perennial problem.

I’ve worked many festive periods over the years, yet none more vividly remembered than being called out on Christmas day as a new grad, to two, minimally handled, belted Galloway heifers with dead calves already well stuck when I arrived on farm. I was lucky, there were decent handling facilities and back up, which made all the difference. I know that lone working can be a particularly anxious experience for recent grads and it’s so important to ensure that support is available if needed.

It can feel hard to muster up seasonal goodwill when dragging oneself out of bed at 3am to see an emergency. But the one thing Christmas cases tend to have in common is appreciative owners who often later make the most vocal advocates for the practice. Memories of sharing mince pies and a cup of tea with clients and team members on call at Christmas are some of the best. Moments of mutual humanity and respect, coupled with relief at a health drama averted. A time to reflect that we are all so much more than our job titles or ‘dog/cat owner’ or ‘farmer’ labels. My all-time choc tox favourite must be the friendly labrador that hoovered up entire box of foil-covered truffles. A swift owner response, a dose of medicine, and barely 20 minutes after ingestion the offending items were evicted, satisfyingly still intact.

Whilst lone working isn’t easy, some of the more challenging shifts I worked were in the week leading up to Christmas when a flurry of euthanasias seemed inevitable as families accepted their pets were not well enough to see through the festivities. Spreading out these cases amongst the team, checking in with those involved and allowing some recovery time afterwards can make a big difference to how practice teams navigate the emotional toll involved.

I’ve also been the vet at home, fielding the practice phones for on-call vets. As I juggled domestic life with little people, my colleagues were out touring the Welsh hills juggling pagers and 10 pence pieces whilst searching for red phone boxes to call me back. I recall the delight at getting my first brick-like cordless handset, unaware then that it was just the start of an exponential growth in phone technology.

Modern communication can seem soulless and relentless at times but at Christmas it excels. I hope everyone on call over the festive period finds a little time to touch base with someone important to them. Don’t forget Vetlife is always there with a listening, supportive ear and practical help if needed. Despite the general seasonal jollity, many people do feel lonely at Christmas, especially when on call. Look after yourselves and each other and I wish #TeamVet all the very best for the festive season.