The Helston community is coming together in an effort to fight for Helston’s oldest veterinary practice after staff were told it was being put at risk of closure.

The future of Head and Head Veterinary Practice - which is almost 150 years old, having been founded in the late 1870s – is under threat after it parent company, Vet Partners, notified staff of a two-month consultation period a few weeks ago.

At the same time, it informed the team that 27 roles were at risk of redundancy. Staff told the Packet the news came as a “bombshell” to many.

Now the practice has been inundated with emails of support by customers devastated at the thought of losing the family company, with many clients reaching out to express their gratitude for the care they had received and the importance of preserving the legacy of the Head family, as well as late partner Johnny Alston, who passed away last year.

Emails can be sent to info@headandhead.co.uk

In a statement released to the Packet and shared on social media last week, Head and Head addressed recent rumours, saying that while the practice has experienced financial difficulties over the past two years it was dedicated to finding a solution, adding that patient care was unaffected.

It said: "You may have seen posts on other Facebook pages or heard speculation about the future of Head & Head Veterinary Practice, and we would like to provide an update so you, our valued clients, are fully aware of what is happening.

“The practice has been struggling financially for the past two years but we are working with our dedicated, hard-working team members on ways to safeguard our future.

“We value the support of all of our wonderful clients whilst we work through options for the practice. The care of patients is unaffected, with both routine consultations and emergency care provision continuing as normal.

“We will update you again at the earliest opportunity, but in the meantime thank you for the many well wishes we have received.”

Staff at the vets have told the Packet they had no idea the practice was struggling financially until just a few weeks ago, describing the consultation and two-month deadline for a decision as “a bombshell.”

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In a statement to the Packet, the vet practice’s parent company, Vet Partners, said it was working with team members to “safeguard the future of the practice,” which included putting 27 roles at risk of redundancy.

A spokesperson for Vet Partners said: “We are working with our team members at Head & Head Veterinary Practice in Cornwall on ways we can safeguard the future of the practice.

“Head & Head Vets has been struggling financially for the past two years, but, along with our dedicated practice team, we are exploring all avenues to avoid closure.

“We value the support of all of our wonderful clients whilst we work through options for the practice. The care of patients is currently unaffected, with both routine consultations and emergency care provision continuing as normal.

“We are now in a consultation period with colleagues to find ways of making the practice sustainable going forward. As a result, we have unfortunately had to place 27 roles at risk of redundancy.

“Considering options like this is incredibly difficult for an employer that highly values its people, and our focus at the moment is supporting colleagues and avoiding job losses where possible.”

According to its website, Head and Head was founded in the late 1870s by Charles Hoadley, the first qualified vet to work in Cornwall. He was later joined by his son in law, Alfred Head, and his brother Stanley Head.

When Charles retired, the brothers decided to name the practice after themselves, and Head and Head was born.

The practice has continued to expand and thrive over the years under the watchful eye of a number of veterinary professionals, including another member of the Head family, John Head, who was one of the first vets in Cornwall to introduce regular preventative herd health visits for farm clients.

Head and Head spent 77 years at premises in Coinagehall Street, before moving to a more modern site at Water-Ma-Trout in 1988, where it remains today.