About Me
I improve animal and human welfare through spoken and written word.
I empathise, educate and persuade to ensure positive, pragmatic and tailored outcomes.
My 14 years in small animal practice produces copy and opinion that is rooted in lived experience and real world situations.
My finger is on the pulse of what the pet owning public want and the veterinary profession needs.
Let me translate your needs through my words, whether you're in the veterinary world or wanting to address those in it.
Siân was a breath of fresh air to work with. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and her writing was engaging, with a perfectly delivered tone. I wouldn't hesitate to commission further content writing and look forward to collaborating again in the future.
Lacey Daniels RVN, Editor of 'Petlink' Magazine
My Values
As a member of a regulated profession, I take the advice I give very seriously, inside and outside the consulting room.
Advocacy for animals and their welfare comes first, with evidence based unbiased information that a client should expect from a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
I also consider improving human wellbeing to be a major part of a vet's role. This includes the wider public, but also I passionately believe in improving the lives of the very particular group of people drawn to working in the veterinary sector.
Social justice is key for me; promoting sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion in all I do. If your business and organisation feels the same way as I do, we will be a great match working together!
Recent Articles
"My pet is so healthy, they've never been to a vet!" - what your vet is thinking
PetLink Magazine
I look down at the elderly staffie on the table in front of me and inwardly sigh. True to the breed, this gorgeous dog is wagging his tail and looking at me like I'm the most interesting person he's ever met, but I can see he's struggling.
The muscle wastage and long nails that speak of having not been able to walk properly for a long time. The thickened pigmented skin that says long standing itching. The scarred ear canals that resulted from years of ear infections left to their own devices. The truly awful breath that tells me I really don't want to see just how bad the teeth are.
We as vets see this presentation, or those very similar, almost every day. They may come in for a booster. They may be here because the owner has decided all that weight loss over the last six months might be a bit odd. They often come in for euthanasia because the client has decided that enough is enough. In every scenario, our ability to effect positive change for this animal is less than it would have been had we seen them sooner.
Full article in Issue 1, March 2025 of PetLink magazine
Why a cat who’s short of breath is an emergency
vethelpdirect.com
Cats do breathing as they do everything else – a little bit differently to dogs and hiding problems from the humans looking after them!
If you ever notice a change in the way your cat is breathing, your vet will often ask you to come down sooner rather than later. What is the reason behind this dramatic response?
Read moreSPVS – Sara Jackson/VetLED Workshop on Difficult Conversations with Clients
vetled.co.uk
The last session on a Friday might be considered the graveyard slot by some, but for those fortunate enough to attend the workshop on ‘Managing Difficult Conversations with Clients’ from Sara Jackson of VetLed, it proved anything but.
Using principles of Non-Violent Communication, Dr Jackson encouraged a pause before responding in tricky or potentially threatening client interactions. Delegates were taught the framework of ‘observation, feelings, needs and requests’, a way of using ‘I’ statements to humanise the interaction between two seemingly opposed people that is much more likely to result in a civil and positive outcome. The concept of being civil and polite is part of the VetLed ‘Civility Saves Lives’ campaign, which itself is part of a broader movement within healthcare globally looking at tackling incivility in the workplace. Evidence shows that being involved in or observing rudeness reduces feelings of safety for team members and ultimately negatively impacts patient care, and Dr Jackson illustrated this point with examples from her own career as an ECC advanced practitioner.
The interactive workshop allowed discussion of experiences with difficult client interactions with the opportunity to reflect on these with the example of the non-violent communication framework. The general consensus was that not only would this benefit work relationships but those at home too; one attendee happily stating that this had revolutionised his relationship with his wife!
The session finished with the acknowledgement that as vets, our feelings in the interactions were as important as the clients, an essential point as we look to combat the crisis of burnout in our profession. The hope is that with the practice of this communication strategy the escalation of potential conflict can be halted, and delegates left the session feeling buoyed by this new knowledge.
Please visit https://www.vetled.co.uk/civility for more information on this subject, and how VetLed can help your practice team.