Companion Care Basingstoke Vets and Veterinary Practice

José qualified in Madrid in 1994 and moved to England shortly after for what was supposed to be a 12 month professional development experience. 26 years later he is now the Practice Director at the Basingstoke Companion Care Surgery which he, his wife Fran and the team opened in 2004. 

His wealth of experience comes from being able to work with excellent colleagues, great professionals and invaluable nurses throughout the years, initially in the North of England and then in a Veterinary Hospital on the South Coast and, since 2004, in his Practice in Basingstoke.

In his free time José loves being outdoors and you will often find him walking or running with Luna, his 7 year-old Springer Spaniel, while training for his next marathon.

Married for over 20 years with 2 children, José’s family is the real passion in his life

Carlos gained his Veterinary Degree in 2014 from the University of Cordoba in Spain. He became a Joint Venture Partner/Practice Director in 2022. Carlos likes to travel and experience different cultures and before joining our team here at Basingstoke, he travelled extensively undertaking studies and veterinary internships in both Italy and Croatia.  

Carlos enjoys all aspects of practice and is particularly interested in soft tissue surgery, endoscopy and dentistry.

When he is not at work Carlos relaxes by listening to music and watching films. Camping is something he also enjoys as he appreciates nature and being outdoors.

Adrián qualified in 2014 from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. After finishing his degree he went to Romania where he did a 4 month internship focussing on internal medicine.

In February 2015 Adrián joined a small animal practice in the UK where he remained before joining Companion Care Basingstoke in April 2018. He became a Joint Venture Partner/Practice Director in 2022. Adrián has a particular interest in diagnostic imaging - an area in which he would like to specialise. Back at home in Spain, Adrián has his family dog, a miniature Schnauzer called Nika. He misses Nika very much and loves spending time with her when he goes back to visit his family.

In his free time Adrián enjoys a variety of sports including football, golf and hiking. When he is not playing sport he enjoys catching up with friends and discovering all of the beautiful places that the UK has to offer.

Fran qualified in Madrid in 1994 and moved to England shortly after to start her professional career. She worked near Manchester for two years, before moving down South. Fran helped to develop the first Joint Venture Companion Care practice in Portsmouth.

She took a career break to raise her two children and has now come back to work part-time. Although she has always been a helping hand during busy times since we first opened our surgery in 2004.

Norma graduated from the University of Lugo, Spain in 2001. Soon after she moved to England, where she worked in a small animal practice in Surrey for 11 years. Norma then relocated to Hampshire with her family and joined our practice. She enjoys medicine, particularly feline medicine and ultrasonography.

In her spare time, Norma enjoys walking in the Hampshire country side with her son Iago and her two dogs Gringo and Bowie. She also helps run the family-owned pub. To relax Norma enjoys nothing better than listening to classical music whilst she crochets .

Mafalda qualified in 2002 from the University of Tras os Montes e Alto Douro, in Portugal. She interned in Oporto in a referral hospital for one year, later joining as a permanent vet.

In 2007 Mafalda joined a veterinary practice still operating in post-war Angola where over and above the medical care she provided, she had the experience of a lifetime in all possible and unimaginable ways.

Having moved to the UK in 2011, Mafalda worked in Scotland, Portishead and Long Eaton finally settling in the south following her maternity leave, and joining us in 2015.

Mafalda likes all aspects of veterinary medicine but is particular keen on feline medicine.

In her free time, Mafalda enjoys music, cooking and spending time with Koffee, the cuddliest of cats, and his nemesis, Anna, the little human who burst into his life not that long ago.

Manu qualified from the University of Extremadura in 2022; he also studied in Italy and Croatia.

He enjoys all aspects of veterinary medicine and is keen to expand his knowledge in the fields of neurology and physiotherapy.

Manu likes to keep active - working out in the gym or trying new sports but he equally enjoys putting his feet up and enjoying a good film.

Natalie has been working with us since the surgery opened back in October 2004 and she qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2009. Natalie is energetic and enthusiastic about her job and is very keen on orthopaedic surgical cases. She loves to help owners and their pets. At home she is kept busy with her young family and her menagerie of pets including dogs, Lola and Freddie, cats Millie and Mollie and guinea pigs, Ginge, Speedy and Betty.

After leaving school Jade went to college to study Animal Management and the obvious career progression from there was for her to continue her studies for a Veterinary Nursing Diploma. Jade joined our team at Companion Care Basingstoke as a Student Veterinary Nurse at the end of 2017.

She became a full qualified Veterinary Nurse in August 2018 and was promoted to Head Veterinary Nurse in September 2020. Jade is particularly interested in exotics and her favourite duty at work is caring for our inpatients. At home she has two dogs, a Staffie cross called Harper and a Jack Russell cross called Roxie. Jade is also a qualified swimming instructor and in her free time can be found at her local pool teaching children to swim.

Meg is passionate about animals; she joined our Reception team in April 2016 and then joined our Nursing team as a Student Veterinary Nurse. Meg qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in January 2021.  Meg has wide-ranging experience for as well as her Veterinary Nursing Diploma, she has a BSc Hons degree in Animal Management and plenty of practical experience gained in diverse environments from working at a wildlife rescue to a company that trains animals for TV and film; she has also worked in a pet store.

At home she is kept very busy with Bilbo the Border Collie, Pumpkin the cat, Axel the guinea pig , Milo the crested gecko, three lovely chickens, Nugget, Pigeon and Brownie and last but not least her young son Oliver.

When she gets a moment to herself she enjoys running and reading.

After working as a travel agent Katy decided on a change in career to follow her dream of working with animals and became an Animal Nursing Assistant in 2015. The following year she began her Student Veterinary Nurse training qualifying in 2018. In her free time Katy enjoys socialising with friends, cooking, yoga and hiking with her Jack Russell Winnie, a stray that she rescued in 2019.

After studying at Sparsholt College, Kieran qualified as a Veterinary Nurse in 2022. He has worked in small animal first opinion and referral and mixed practice. Kieran likes all aspects of nursing but particularly enjoys working in theatre, whether that be preparing the patients for surgery, monitoring their anaesthetic or scrubbing in to help the surgeon. In his spare time he enjoys socialising and walking his dog and horse riding when he gets the chance.

After working for British Airways, Fiona hung up her wings and headed to London to take up a position in an International investment bank. After five years she decided city life was not for her and in 2001 returned to the country to follow a career in veterinary practice. Fiona joined Basingstoke Companion Care in February 2015 having previously managed a variety of practices including equine, a small animal first opinion and a referral hospital. Fiona is 'owned' by a broken-coated lurcher called Noodle (also known as HRH by members of the practice team).

Anne joined Companion Care Basingstoke in October 2013 as a part time Receptionist. Prior to having her children, Anne was an HR Business Consultant working in Retail and the Pharmaceutical industry. Anne loves the variety and challenges that working in a vets provides and learns something new every day.

Outside of work Anne is married with two young boys who keep her busy. She has 2 cats, Millie and Tigga, and is about to welcome a new kitten into the family very soon. Anne’s hobbies include socializing, decorating and music.

Helen joined our Reception team in 2019 after taking a career break to raise her daughter. On leaving school she trained and qualified as a British Horse Society Riding Instructor. Aside from her equestrian background Helen also has experience in customer service roles including being a telephone controller for the RSPCA. Outside of work Helen enjoys riding.

Before joining our Reception team in 2019, Kristin had spent the previous 6 years working in London as a manager in the event industry.  She grew up with a variety of pets from cats and budgies to gerbils and 8 years ago she rescued a puppy who she called Cooper; Cooper is now a trained search dog for the German Red Cross.  Kristin is kept very busy being a mum of two toddlers but any free time she has, she enjoys being outside and exploring nature.

Originally from Johannesburg South Africa, Garrett moved to the UK in early 2019 to be closer to family after five years working as a veterinary receptionist in Dubai UAE. 

Garrett enjoys being creative and with a background in sound engineering, will often take the time to work on a few music production projects.

Currently working towards completing his private pilot’s license, when free time presents itself he can also be found taking walks in the countryside with his wife or spending some downtime at home with their two cats, Jack and Bebe.

Lisa joined the practice in July 2021 as a Float Receptionist/Animal Nursing Assistant. She qualified as an Animal Nursing Assistant (ANA) in 2005. Lisa loves all aspects of nursing and she particularly enjoys kennel work and inpatient care.
Outside of work Lisa is a busy mum to five children and Ted the Chorkie!

Marika is originally from Poland and has been living in the UK for over 8 years. After studying Animal Management she worked as an Assistant Manager in a  local pet store before joining us here at Companion Care early in 2023.

Marika has a wide variety of pets including her dog, her cat, her rabbits and her reptiles.  She is always looking to improve her knowledge of animal care and her role at the Practice as a Receptionist/Kennel Assistant gives her that opportunity.

In her free time Marika enjoys meeting with friends, photography, exercise cooking and traveling.