Page 52 - Eclipse - RVC Alumni Magazine - Autumn 2020

GOING THE EXTRA MILE...
Becoming a TV vet during COVID-19
Hermione Hillen, BVetMed 2017
Igraduated from the RVC in 2017 and following graduation joined the PDSA on their graduate programme, with my time split
between the Southampton and Bournemouth hospitals. During my year on the programme, I developed a love for charity medicine and
on completion of the graduate programme chose to continue my career at the PDSA. I moved to the Croydon hospital in South London and this is where I’ve been ever since.
The last few years as a newly qualified
vet have been a real rollercoaster. As any recent vet graduate would know, it is a steep learning curve and at times it can be all too overwhelming. However, it’s been a privilege to fulfil my childhood dream and work within a team of like-minded people, who want to improve animals’ lives and the lives of their owners.
The last few months have been a bizarre time. Being a vet can be a challenging role at the best of times but working on the frontline during a pandemic takes it to a whole new level. We have all had to adapt to a world of social distancing and PPE but lockdown has offered me some quite unique and unexpected opportunities – including an appearance on Channel 4!
Back in May,
Channel 4
approached the
PDSA about an opportunity to have one of their vets filmed for a documentary: ‘Britain’s Unsung Heroes’ – a programme following people working through lockdown. Following a few messages over WhatsApp with my colleagues at PDSA head office, it was confirmed –
I was jumping in at the deep end in the world of TV.
Only a few days later, a two-man crew arrived at my house and continued by filming my day at work. What could go wrong!? The day flew by and I spent the next two weeks worrying whether I’d been wearing my PPE appropriately, shown good social distancing or made correct clinical choices. I breathed a huge sigh of relief when it aired a couple of weeks later and a flurry of reassuring messages came in from friends and family.
Despite my apprehensions about being filmed at work, I was proud to be able
to represent the veterinary community
on national TV. All veterinary teams have been working so hard throughout the pandemic and although the programme’s title may be a bit cringy, it does sum it up, we are ‘Britain’s Unsung Heroes’.
If anyone needs a TV vet, or
a wannabe Kate Humble type character, sign me up!! You can see more photos from my TV experience on my Instagram – @hermionethevet
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