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BOOK REVIEW
BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Practice Management and
Development
Edited by Carole Clarke and Marion Chapman
Published by the BSAVA, 2012, paperback, 544 pages, Price 85.00
(BSAVA members 55.00), ISBN-13 978-1-905319-40-4

The foreword sets out the objectives of this book: [to support]
practice owners and managers in improving the clinical standards
of their practice through better design and management. Is this
a valid objective to be achieved from such broad-based aspect of
practice?
How can a book address broad, intangible, esoteric concepts
such as strategy along with specific, narrow-scope, tangible
aspects of practice developments such as, say, floor coverings? It
does this by giving a taster and an introduction. In doing this it
is successful.
The first half of the book is a practical guide to small animal
hospital management. It walks through a practice from before a
site is even chosen through to the point that the practice decides
to develop specific interests.
This is a very valuable part of the book. It is well-illustrated
with an appropriate level of detail in each chapter and on each
concept. It will be a natural part of anyones preparation before
commencing the build or redevelopment of a practice and should
be a staple on a practice managers bookshelf. The photographs
are clear and relevant and the context is such that the book can
remain current.
The second half of the book is an introduction to more general aspects of generic management, and covers everything from
leadership and communication to employment law and health
and safety.
While the authors have all dealt admirably with their respective
chapters, it is a tough ask to provide even a simple explanation of
finance or about managing people in 30-50 pages. The chapter
headings the editors chose are a reasonably comprehensive introduction to the general management topics that a practice manager or owner should know about. The authors introduce some
useful information and theories, and as a taster and introduction
in terms of what more is required, it serves its purpose.
The weakness is with the chapters dedicated to niche areas
of practice development. Why endoscopy, electrocardiography
and ultrasonography and why not, say, orthopaedics, physiotherapy and exotics? Some, more specific areas of practice development, such as dentistry and lab, deserve inclusion as they
are not really niche and feature as part of the RCVS practice
standards scheme. The inclusion of many of the others almost
invites consideration of another manual for the development
of specific interests as part of practice development and, as
well-written and informative as they are, make the book a little
too long.

Journal of Small Animal Practice

Vol 54

November 2013

The editors and chapter authors deal well with dynamic

concepts such as IT and employment law. The editors must have
realised that the specific content of both chapters would be obsolete by the time the book came to press, but were equally aware of
the necessity of inclusion due to their importance for the day-today operations of a veterinary practice. Both chapters deal with
the topics sympathetically providing more guidance than specific
content and gave the reader a framework which should remain
relevant.
This is a valuable book and one that fills a necessary gap on the
bookshelf. That it tries to cover so many topics is not a weakness,
but a demonstration of just how comprehensive and interlinked
practice management and development is.
The book is well-written, informative and a valuable resource
for any small animal practice.
Ray Girotti
Ray is the Practice Manager at Fitzpatrick Referrals in Surrey.
He received his MBA in 2002 and his CVPM in 1997. He has
a special interest in practice development and referral practice.

2013 British Small Animal Veterinary Association

615