Our Team Langford Vets encourages a community spirit and excellent learning opportunities.

American, European and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care

Helen graduated from Bristol University’s Veterinary School in 2007 and has always been keenly interested in Emergency and Critical Care. After working as a small animal vet in general practice, she undertook an internship and residency in Emergency and Critical Care at the Royal Veterinary College in London and became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2012. She is also a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and a Recognised Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Helen is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and has an interest in veterinary education, specifically the teaching of Emergency and Critical Care.

As Hospital Director at Langford Vets, Helen was previously Lead for Emergency and Critical Care, the service that first inspired her to follow a career in Critical Care. Our Intensive Care Unit has state-of-the-art facilities and all critically ill patients in the hospital are managed in our ICU. During her on clinic time Helen enjoys working alongside our team of experienced ICU nurses and collaborating with the other speciality services in the hospital, to provide the highest level of care for our critically ill patients. In 2025 Helen became Hospital Director.

Helen is particularly interested in coagulation disorders, toxicology, sepsis, dermatologic emergencies, mechanical ventilation, respiratory physiology and physiological derangements in critical illness.

Helen is actively involved in the running of both the European and American Colleges of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and is passionate about teaching emergency medicine to both veterinary students and qualified vets at different stages of their careers.

Publication List
Clinical Conundrum: A sick puppy with skin lesions.

Hammond, E and Wilson HE

Companion (2021), May 4-7

doi:10.22233/20412495.0521.4

Ventilating the furry ICU patient.

Wilson HE

Physiology News (2021) 121, 10-13

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.121.10

Suspected phenobarbital-induced pancytopenia in a cat

Lyraki M and Wilson HE

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports (2020) 6(1), 1-4

https://doi.org/10.1177/2055116920916945

Bilateral bronchial stent deployment for palliative treatment of a compressive intrathoracic mass.

Borgeat K, Simpson K, Reese D, Wilson H, Potter J, Ogen D

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Open Reports (2018) 4(1), 1-6

https://doi.org/10.1177/2055116917753816

How to utilize blood gas analysis in practice.

Wilson HE

Companion (2014) (10), 16-23 doi: https://doi.org/10.22233/20412495.1014.16

In vitro study of the effects of dog food on the adsorptive capacity of activated charcoal.

Wilson HE and Humm KR.

Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (2013) 23(3), 263-267

doi:10.1111/vec.12037

Ehrlichia canis infection in a dog with no history of travel outside the United Kingdom.

HE Wilson et al.

Journal of Small Animal Practice (2013) 54, 425-427

doi:10.1111/jsap.12088

Surgical treatment of an intracranial epidermoid cyst in a dog.

De Decker S, Davies E, Benigni L, Wilson H, Pelligand L, Rayner EL, Shihab N, Volk HA. Veterinary Surgery (2012) 41(6), 766-771

doi:10.1111/j.1532-950X.2012.01010.x

Signs of left heart volume overload in severely anaemic cats.

HE Wilson et al.

Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery (2010) 12, 904-909

doi:10.1016/j.jfms.2010.06.010

Holly qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2008. Holly spent 2 years at a busy tier 3 veterinary hospital in Staffordshire post qualifying. She joined Langford Vets in 2011, where she began her role as a night nurse and went on to work within the ICU. In 2013 holly gained her certificate in emergency and critical care and stepped into the head ICU nurse role at Langford vets. She achieved a veterinary technician specialist status in emergency and critical care in 2015 and in 2021 completed her DipAVN. Holly stepped down as head ICU nurse in 2020 to enjoy a more clinical role within the ICU team.

Rachel qualified in 2012 with a First-class honours degree in Veterinary Nursing, from Middlesex University.

She has since worked at a range of practices, including general practice, charity, referral and university, including a year abroad in Australia. It was here, working in the ICU of Melbourne University Hospital, that she discovered her interest in emergency and critical care.

Rachel joined Langford Vets Small Animal Hospital in 2017, initially as a neurology and surgery ward nurse, before joining the Intensive Care team as a core ICU Nurse in 2018.

Rachel passed the Vets Now Certificate in Emergency and Critical Care in 2019, with 3 distinctions. In 2023, Rachel gained specialist status as an AVECCTN (Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians and Nurses) board-certified Veterinary Technician Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care (VTS ECC).