Compassion Through Action: A Practice Owner Who Puts Patients and People First

Stuart McMorrow
Vet
Westport Vets

The context

Working in veterinary practice can be incredibly rewarding, but it also brings significant emotional and physical demands. Providing exceptional patient care while supporting clients through difficult situations requires a dedicated, skilled and well-supported team. As the owner of Westport Vets, Stuart McMorrow recognises that the wellbeing of his colleagues and the standard of care delivered to patients are closely connected. The challenge is balancing the demands of running a successful, four-branch veterinary practice with ensuring that patients receive the best possible care, clients feel supported and staff have the resources they need to do their jobs properly. Having worked in veterinary nursing for almost 30 years, I appreciate how important it is to have a practice owner who genuinely values these things. Stuart understands that caring for animals begins with looking after the people responsible for them.

The action

Stuart isn’t someone who goes in for grand gestures or anything overly sentimental. His compassion is genuine, practical and reflected in the decisions he makes every day. Despite owning four busy practices, he remains a hands-on veterinary surgeon, working alongside his colleagues and caring for patients, taking time with clients and colleagues, when they need him. He genuinely wants to know when staff are unhappy or something isn’t working, encouraging honest conversations about what could be improved. He is approachable, down to earth and values the opinions of his team. Stuart understands that providing exceptional veterinary care requires having enough appropriately skilled staff, with the resources and support needed to deliver it. He continually supports improvements to Westport’s facilities and services, fully supporting our Operations Director, Fiona Leathers, in championing staff wellbeing, including developing a dedicated wellbeing team. For Stuart, doing things properly matters more than simply maximising profit.

The ripple effect

Stuart’s approach has helped create a practice culture where patient welfare, client care and staff wellbeing are genuinely valued. His willingness to listen means colleagues know they can raise concerns and share ideas, confident that their opinions matter. By recognising the importance of appropriate staffing, professional development and continually improving clinical services, Stuart supports his team in delivering the standard of veterinary care they want to provide. What makes Stuart special is that none of this feels like a performance. He is simply a genuine, approachable person who wants to do the right thing. Stuart doesn’t measure success solely through financial performance. He wants Westport to be a practice that gets things right for its patients, its clients and its people. To me, that is compassion in practice.

Voting opens 13 November.