New owners take reins after Inverness veteran vet goes out to grass
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
One of Inverness’s oldest independent vets has come under new ownership.
Husband and wife Angus and Keely MacLellan are taking the reins of Eastgate Veterinary practice after the retirement of Ed Jolley.
Stalwart vet Mr Jolley owned the practice for more than 40 years after taking it on from his father.
“Mr Jolley did such an excellent job with running this practice for the last 45-ish years,” said vet Mr MacLellan.
“This is evident by clients having such a high regard for him. Customers tell me that I’ve got big shoes to fill.”
Mr MacLellan (33) began working at the practice in 2009 when he was a student under the watchful eye of the renowned previous owner.
“I went away for a few years, but when I came back in 2016, Mr Jolley asked whether I would like to take the practice on,” said Mr MacLellan, who has renamed it MacLellan Vets Eastgate.
“Luckily, I have had such a long association with the practice that a lot of our clients know who I am.”
Mr MacLellan, who is originally from Fort Augustus, wants to reassure the loyal clients of the practice that he will be keeping the same ethos, drive and standards that Mr Jolley achieved.
The MacLellans are hoping to make improvements to the premises, so that they are able provide more services and make the layout more accessible.
“A big part of it is changing the layout of the practice and making it more efficient, so that we can get a better experience for all the pet owners,” Mr MacLellan said.
“We are going to bring in more equipment which will improve our capabilities and capacities.
“The vet practice has expanded previously in a piecemeal fashion, which means that the layout is not ideal and that’s why we are going to improve it so it will flow better.”
They also hope to expand the size of the waiting room and add in a hot drinks machine for customers waiting for their pets.
Part of the reason the couple have taken on the practice is for it to remain independent.
“Mr Jolley was adamant that it would stay an independent practice as there is a wide trend in the UK for practices to end up corporately owned,” Mr MacLellan added.
New practice manager Mrs MacLellan said: “It’s exciting and something we have been working towards for a long time.”
Mr MacLellan’s love of animals started when he was young.
“I’ve got a deep love of animals. You need to love animals to be a vet. Beyond that [I enjoy] the constant challenges and interesting cases.
“It’s a wonderful feeling when you see an animal better after they have been unwell. You feel like you are getting a sense of achievement and doing something right.”
The practice will continue to run open surgery from 9am-10am, Monday-Saturday.
“We’re always available when people need us,” Mr MacLellan. “We have an out-of-hours number too if there is ever an emergency.”
The practice is open to new registrations. Its opening hours are Monday-Friday 9am-5pm and 9am-11am on Saturdays.
