Katherine Limebear

Experienced veterinary practice leader with over 30 years' experience across first-opinion and specialist referral environments, including extensive senior operational, people-management and multidisciplinary team leadership experience. Currently a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Hamilton Specialist Referrals, with responsibility for clinical-floor operations, workflow, staffing, resource deployment, stock and consumables, equipment, Health & Safety, governance and service improvement. A highly organised, proactive and practical manager with strong financial awareness and experience supporting budgets, procurement, supplier relationships, rotas, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, team development and process improvement.

An RVN and Veterinary Technician Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine, with lifelong horse ownership and personal involvement in the equestrian sector.

Clinical Nurse Manager — Senior Leadership Team at Hamilton Specialist Referrals (2024-09 – Present)

Work as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, collaborating with the Hospital Director, Clinical Directors, Heads of Service and Clinical Team Leaders to support daily and strategic hospital decision-making.

• Lead the Clinical Floor to maintain safe, effective and efficient workflow, including deployment of staff and resources, prioritisation of work and timely completion of procedures across multiple services
• Line-manage the Clinical Nursing Lead, Clinical Team Leaders, Dispensary Team and Radiography Team, supporting performance, development, training plans, recruitment, induction and succession planning
• Work with Clinical Team Leaders and HR/resource colleagues to develop staffing plans, respond to changing service demand, manage rotas and ensure appropriate staffing and skill mix
• Drive positive relationships across clinical disciplines and between referral and out-of-hours services, promoting collaboration, communication and a healthy team culture
• Work with clinicians and Clinical Directors to understand service capacity, facilitate clinician diaries and support the effective growth of the hospital
• Ensure teams work consistently to SOPs and agreed standards, identifying opportunities to streamline services, improve productivity and reduce operational friction
• Oversee operational aspects of drugs and consumables purchasing with the Dispensary RVN, including budget adherence, preferred/default suppliers and appropriate stock levels
• Work with Facilities and Operations Manager to ensure equipment is managed effectively and that equipment maintenance or repair has minimal impact on hospital services
• Support Health & Safety compliance, including adherence to internal and legislative requirements, and contribute to clinical governance, audit activity, significant-event and near-miss processes
• Lead and support new hospital and business initiatives, communicate priorities through regular team meetings and maintain effective relationships with whole hospital team
• Use clinical and operational experience to coach and mentor leaders and teams, identify development opportunities and support staff to fulfil their potential

Medicine Nurse Team Leader at Hamilton Specialist Referrals (2024-01 – 2024-09)

Developed the nursing team for a new and growing Internal Medicine department.

• Managed workflow and emergency management for all services on a rota and ensured efficient flow of medical patients throughout the hospital
• Held direct line-management responsibility for nurses and radiographers across Internal Medicine, Imaging and Oncology
• Worked across clinical services to support efficient delivery and developed advanced skills in others

Workflow Team Leader at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists (2023-10 – 2024-01)

• Led nursing teams and assumed responsibility for efficient throughput of cases across all departments
• Line-managed Neurology, Imaging and Workflow nursing teams
• Worked with clinicians, nursing teams and leadership to oversee daily scheduling, manage emergencies and prevent delays
• Developed the weekday nurse rota and managed annual leave and TOIL requests

Neurology Lead Nurse at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists (2022-07 – 2023-10)

• Developed the nursing team and identified operational improvements enabling the department to meet turnover and case-number targets
• Ensured efficient patient flow for neurology and wider surgical, imaging and medical procedures
• Communicated with clinicians and Senior Leadership Team regarding service capacity and acceptance of new cases
• Led team meetings, quarterly meaningful conversations and role reviews, while maintaining appropriate stock control

Out of Hours Team Leader at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists (2020-01 – 2022-07)

Managed a large nursing and patient-care-assistant team to ensure smooth transition from day to twilight/night teams and continued patient flow through a busy 24-hour referral hospital.

• Managed patient allocation, staff availability and emergency admissions across wards, theatres, imaging, medical procedures and ECC
• Completed appraisals and regular catch-ups; recruited new team members and ensured induction, mentorship and training
• Developed rotas, managed annual leave and TOIL, contributed to CPD decisions and adjusted staffing to meet hospital needs and financial budgets
• Worked with HR/People business partners on performance and attendance matters and maintained effective communication with Senior Leadership Team

Deputy Head Medicine Nurse at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists (2017-04 – 2020-01)

Assisted with management of the medicine nursing team to ensure efficient running of the department.

• Ensured appropriate stock control and maintenance of equipment
• Completed appraisals for nurses and technicians in the medicine and laboratory team
• Maintained high clinical standards in a busy specialist referral environment

Senior Veterinary Nurse at Anderson Moores Veterinary Specialists (2009-04 – 2017-04)

• Created a mentor scheme for new nursing staff with competency checklists and development monitoring
• Developed SOPs to ensure clear and effective communication of protocols and consistent clinical standards
• Provided medicine nurse training and supported nursing development

Multidisciplinary Veterinary Nurse at Anderson Sturgess Veterinary Specialists (2008-04 – 2009-04)

Rotated throughout medicine, surgery, imaging and cardiology, developing broad multidisciplinary referral-hospital experience.

Part-time Senior Theatre Nurse at Mildmay Veterinary Centre (2004-02 – 2008-02)

Managed the nursing team and theatre procedure list to ensure efficient daily running.

VMG Practice Finance I and II (currently completing)

Veterinary Technician Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine in Small Animal Internal Medicine (2019)

Certificate in Veterinary Nursing in Emergency & Critical Care in Emergency & Critical Care – Vets Now / City & Guilds (2012)

NVQ Assessor D32/33 – Sparsholt College of Agriculture (2000)

Diploma in Veterinary Nursing in Veterinary Nursing – Bicton College of Agriculture (1995)

BTEC First Diploma in Small Animal Care in Small Animal Care – Bicton College of Agriculture (1992)