Tiree’s Vet Practice, Owned by Tiree
In August 2025, Tiree’s vet retired. Despite every effort, the practice didn’t sell, so the community decided to take matters into their own hands.
Animal Care Tiree is an independent community-owned practiced. Not a private business, not a charity, not a corporate-offshoot – a proper community enterprise designed to keep veterinary services here for the long term.
How It Works
We don’t have one resident vet. Instead, we a group of experienced mixed-practice vets who rotate cover – providing service throughout the year.
Spring calving and lambing (mid-February to mid-May) gets intensive coverage. Vets rotate through in two-week blocks with seamless handovers, so there’s always someone here.
The rest of the year we maintain regular coverage with a week-on, week-off rota. Between visits, we provide telemedicine support – proper professional advice, not just an answering machine.
Emergencies are covered 24/7 through our on-call rota, whether someone’s physically here or providing remote guidance.
It’s not the same as having a vet living here full-time. But it’s reliable, professional care that works with the realities of island life and modern veterinary employment.
The Team
Tom Wallbank is our Senior Veterinary Surgeon. He coordinates the clinical service, ensures we’re meeting all the regulatory requirements, and provides a chunk of the coverage himself. Tom’s the person making sure this runs properly.
Hannah MacKechnie is Practice Manager. She’s your main contact – appointments, prescriptions, questions about your animal’s care. Hannah keeps the practice running between vet visits and provides support when vets are on-site.
Our locum vets aren’t random agency staff. You’ll see the same faces rotating through, people who get to know your animals and understand Tiree.
We may bring in additional vets during peak calving season when we need more hands.
Visitors
If you’re in Tiree with a pet and need veterinary care, we’re happy to see you. Check our coverage schedule on the homepage, or just give us a call. Emergency cover is available 24/7.
The Legal Structure
Company limited by guarantee with nine directors representing both Tiree Community Development Trust and Tiree Rural Development. Our Memorandum and Articles legally preclude dividend payments – any money we make goes back into the service.
Board of Directors:
- Rhoda Meek
- Rosie Garrigan
- Archie John MacLean
- Hannah MacKechnie
- Kirsteen MacKinnon
- Angus John MacKechnie
- Coinneach MacKinnon
- Mark Vale
- Martin Finnigan
Get Involved
Want to support the practice? Become a member – you’ll get better value care and help keep the service sustainable.
Got feedback on how we’re doing? We want to hear it.
Board positions will come up from time to time if you’re interested in governance.