Introducing Our Practice Team

Dr Emily Thomson-Gamble

Veterinary Surgeon

MA, VetMB, GPcert(SAP), Dipl(CABT), MRCVS

Emily qualified as a veterinary surgeon in 2001 from Cambridge University, where she also obtained a first class degree in Zoology. After a year in a rural mixed practice, Emily made the decision to specialise in small animal medicine and surgery. She has worked as the senior vet in two practices in Greater London and has practiced in Weybridge since 2007.

Emily opened St George’s Vet Centre in 2011, converting Holland House from offices into a well-served veterinary surgery and installing the latest digital X-ray and a fully equipped operating theatre. She is incredibly proud of her Independent practice, which she feels offers a personal, caring service amongst the increasingly corporate veterinary landscape.

Emily is interested in all aspects of veterinary medicine and surgery and has obtained several postgraduate qualifications. She aims to offer her clients a highly empathetic and compassionate service for their beloved animals.

Due to her working hours, Emily only has one pet at the moment, a rescued, one-eyed, ex-polo pony called "Zoom"! She and her husband are looking forward to owning a working Labrador when time permits.

Sofia Matias

Veterinary Surgeon

Cert(SAS), MRCVS

Sofia grew up in Portugal, surrounded by rescue dogs and cats. After qualifying as a veterinary surgeon in 2006, she discovered a love of surgery and completed further surgical studies to a high level. Sofia's skill in the operating theatre was recognised in 2015 when she was awarded a Certificate in Small Animal Surgery. In particular, she is a skilled Laparoscopic (Keyhole) surgeon. The patients of St George's benefit hugely from her skilled Laparoscopic surgery, which ensures surgical wounds for operations such as spays and cryptorchid castrations are far smaller, and the operations far less invasive, leading to quicker recoveries.

The patients at St George's are beloved members of the family but not all animals are so fortunate. Sofia devotes a huge amount of time at weekends volunteering at rescue centres to neuter the abandoned animals, ensuring that they can then find a loving home. Her love and empathy for these rescue animals has led to her accumulating a menagerie of dogs and cats. These include Arya, a stunningly beautiful German Shepherd Dog who was sadly born with a brain deformity and suffers from seizures and Maddy, a gorgeous Staffie who suffers from elbow arthritis. Her latest rescue was the huge but delightful Maya, a 47kg Spanish Martin.

Sofia currently "only" owns three cats but she used to own seven (as she could not turn away a rescue animal in need.)

Dr Fernanda Holden

Veterinary Surgeon

Fern’s love for Veterinary Dentistry started when she was living and working in Singapore with her young family and things consolidated when she moved back to the UK. She trained further in Dentistry in the USA and more recently went to Sweden to train in Advanced Dentistry.

Mel Goldsmith

Head Nurse

RVN

Mel brings a wealth of experience to her role as Head Nurse and is a huge asset to St George's Vets. She has decades of expertise in veterinary nursing as well as being a fount of knowledge for clients regarding everything from feeding puppies to insurance forms! She qualified in 1999 and worked as Head Nurse in a veterinary practice in West London, where she met Emily.

Mel has four children and has cared for twenty-six foster children whilst still working as a locum veterinary nurse part-time and helping Emily open St George’s Vets in 2011. She is now the full time Head Nurse at St George’s Vets as well as the Practice Manager.

Mel has two dogs, a Cavapoo named Millie and a Border Collie named Misti. She has four rescue cats, thirteen chickens, two tortoises and a Bearded Dragon.

Mel is active in supporting several animal charities and will often foster pets for local charities.

Mel’s family are also animal lovers and her brother breeds reptiles (many of which are endangered species) whilst her youngest daughter plans to become a Veterinary Surgeon.

Jasmine Steed

Receptionist

Jasmine joined the practice as a receptionist in 2016, she is very passionate about animals & loves meeting all the different animals & clients, she enjoys hearing clients talk about the funny antics their beloved pets get up to, she knows only too well due to owning two wonderful cats of her own Trevor & Crabby who keep her busy and entertained.

Katy Goldsmith

Receptionist

Katy is passionate when it comes to animals and their wellbeing. She also has experience looking after animals from dogs all the way to reptiles and chickens. At just 7 years old Katy assisted her mum Mel (who is head nurse at St Georges) to hand rear multiple litters of rescue kittens and care for them and their mother. In early 2022 Katy delivered four rescue kittens while assisting the mother on her own! Ever since a very young age Katy has been around all kinds of animals due to her uncle being a reptile breeder! Katy loves listening to clients sharing stories of their lovely pets and what they get up to at home!