The Team
Dr. James Higson
BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS CertAVP(GSAS) MRCVS
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery
Veterinary consultant orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeon
Director VetXS External Surgery Service
Dr. Higson graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science in Nottingham in 2013. He spent 5 years in general practice before deciding that he wanted to concentrate on small animal surgery. He joined the team at vetXS in January 2019 to specifically pursue his interest in referral work. Dr. Higson particularly enjoys total hip replacement, complex fracture repair and cruciate surgery with a particular spot in his heart from complex wound reconstruction (axial pattern flap and myocutaneous flaps). Dr Higson holds the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in General Small Animal Surgery, CertAVP(GSAS) and he is an RCVS recognised Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery. Dr. Higson operates at all our host practices and also performs our total hip replacements at our partner hospital Halifax VetsforPets.
Dr. Higson hails from Clitheroe, Lancashire, and when not operating on patients enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, dogs Luna and Neville and Sirius the cat. When he gets time, he enjoys blacksmithing, brewing and beekeeping.
Dr. Mark Sutton
BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS (Hons) MRCVS
Veterinary Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue Surgeon
Director of vetXS External Surgery Services
Mark studied at the University of Nottingham and qualified with first class honours in 2014. After working near North London for a few years, he moved back home to work as the lead surgeon at an independent practice in Cheltenham. Whilst there, and in addition to developing his extensive surgical experience, Mark became a partner in the business and took an active role in helping it to flourish and grow. When the senior partners sadly decided to sell the practice to a corporate, Mark decided to take his talents elsewhere - happily leading him to vetXS!
Mark has worked for vetXS for 2 years now, and will be a familiar, friendly face to all of our regular client practices. He is kind, compassionate and caring, and his easy-going nature will put both owners and their pets at ease. Mark enjoys all aspects of surgery, from TECAs and BOAS to TPLOs and fractures - there aren’t many things he won’t tackle! He is just a few months away from completing his certificate in Small Animal Surgery - an award that will nicely complement his depth of experience and knowledge.
Outside of work, Mark enjoys cooking, writing, renovating and running. He completed the Leeds Ironman in 2025, but has yet to successfully complete writing his first novel - so watch this space!
Tom Yates
Technical Assistant
Tom joined vetXS in 2018 and in a short space of time has made himself an invaluable team member. Tom has many years experience in retail and joining our surgical team was a completely new departure for him. Tom was presented initially with a real challenge to learn about his new role and all that it entailed. Tom passed this test with flying colours and he now acts as a primary assistant for all the vets surgical procedures.
Tom's duties also encompass the cleaning, sterilisation and maintenance of the vast array of surgical equipment that vetXS carries. Tom takes on the bulk of the driving duties which enables the vets to run a mobile office, maintaining communication with referring practices whilst vetXS in on the move.
Tom enjoys playing the guitar and drums in his spare time and lives in Wakefield with his wife Jenny, sons Jack and Benjamin and Salem the cat.
Nathaniel Ellis
Nathaniel has worked in practice since 2012.
He has vast experience in first opinon, emergency and referral practices within Yorkshire.
In his spare time, he enjoys looking after his wide variety of animals at home, which include snakes, lizards, ferrets, tarantulas and cats.
Lynn Gregg
BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS CertAVP(GSAS) MRCVS
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery
Veterinary consultant orthopaedic and soft tissue surgeon
Director VetXS External Surgery Service
Dr. Higson graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science in Nottingham in 2013. He spent 5 years in general practice before deciding that he wanted to concentrate on small animal surgery. He joined the team at vetXS in January 2019 to specifically pursue his interest in referral work. Dr. Higson particularly enjoys total hip replacement, complex fracture repair and cruciate surgery with a particular spot in his heart from complex wound reconstruction (axial pattern flap and myocutaneous flaps). Dr Higson holds the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice in General Small Animal Surgery, CertAVP(GSAS) and he is an RCVS recognised Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery. Dr. Higson operates at all our host practices and also performs our total hip replacements at our partner hospital Halifax VetsforPets.
Dr. Higson hails from Clitheroe, Lancashire, and when not operating on patients enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, dogs Luna and Neville and Sirius the cat. When he gets time, he enjoys blacksmithing, brewing and beekeeping.
BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS (Hons) MRCVS
Veterinary Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue Surgeon
Director of vetXS External Surgery Services
Mark studied at the University of Nottingham and qualified with first class honours in 2014. After working near North London for a few years, he moved back home to work as the lead surgeon at an independent practice in Cheltenham. Whilst there, and in addition to developing his extensive surgical experience, Mark became a partner in the business and took an active role in helping it to flourish and grow. When the senior partners sadly decided to sell the practice to a corporate, Mark decided to take his talents elsewhere - happily leading him to vetXS!
Mark has worked for vetXS for 2 years now, and will be a familiar, friendly face to all of our regular client practices. He is kind, compassionate and caring, and his easy-going nature will put both owners and their pets at ease. Mark enjoys all aspects of surgery, from TECAs and BOAS to TPLOs and fractures - there aren’t many things he won’t tackle! He is just a few months away from completing his certificate in Small Animal Surgery - an award that will nicely complement his depth of experience and knowledge.
Outside of work, Mark enjoys cooking, writing, renovating and running. He completed the Leeds Ironman in 2025, but has yet to successfully complete writing his first novel - so watch this space!
Technical Assistant
Tom joined vetXS in 2018 and in a short space of time has made himself an invaluable team member. Tom has many years experience in retail and joining our surgical team was a completely new departure for him. Tom was presented initially with a real challenge to learn about his new role and all that it entailed. Tom passed this test with flying colours and he now acts as a primary assistant for all the vets surgical procedures.
Tom's duties also encompass the cleaning, sterilisation and maintenance of the vast array of surgical equipment that vetXS carries. Tom takes on the bulk of the driving duties which enables the vets to run a mobile office, maintaining communication with referring practices whilst vetXS in on the move.
Tom enjoys playing the guitar and drums in his spare time and lives in Wakefield with his wife Jenny, sons Jack and Benjamin and Salem the cat.
Nathaniel has worked in practice since 2012.
He has vast experience in first opinon, emergency and referral practices within Yorkshire.
In his spare time, he enjoys looking after his wide variety of animals at home, which include snakes, lizards, ferrets, tarantulas and cats.
