Life Adventure to the UAE with Sarah Ramsey in Dubai
‘Deflate it!’
Sarah’s photo
First, I would like to know a bit more about you. Are you and your family from where you work now? When did you qualify as a veterinarian and why did you choose this profession? Does it run in the family? I am British, my husband is from Northern Ireland, we met in Scotland. We were living in South London for a long time and started our family there before moving to West Sussex and from there to Dubai this summer. I qualified from Edinburgh in 2006. When I was little I wanted to be a ballet dancer, forensic scientist or vet, we always had loads of pets growing up and I was always happiest surrounded by animals. A day at the royal ballet in London put me off being a ballerine - it was so tough!! I was incredibly lucky to have great parents who supported my dream and helped that become a reality.
Then, I would like you to tell me about your day. What's a normal day at work for you? Do you work independently, for a private firm or for the government? My day starts at 5.30am ( I get woken by the imana calling people to prayer), I get up and go for a run or walk the dog, this is much more bearable now, in the summer even at this time it was low to mid 30s. I then get my kids ready for school and we leave by 7am, I am at work from 7.30 if I am on a hospital shift, or 8 if I am consulting or operating. I work at one of the 2 24h hospitals in Dubai. Unlike the UK there is no legal requirement to provide 24h cover so we see patients from all over the UAE. The practice was set up by a couple (Malcom Rose and Monique Strange) in 2014 and was the 1st 24h clinic in the middle east, they are passionate about providing first class care and compassion and are always striving to achieve excellence.
What are the constraints of your work? Is it a lack of medicine, transport, funds or instruments, or infrastructure? Or are your worries totally different? Alot of medicines that I used to use in the UK are not licensed here so that is very frustrating especially if there is a condition you are struggling to control/treat and you know you could do it easily with a certain drug. There are so many stray cats and dogs here and a lot of neutering programs were stopped during covid so there are even more. There is so much parvo, FIV/FeLV, calici, mycoplasma here too. Religious beliefs make it very hard to convince alot of people to euthanize very sick animals so that is quite upsetting. Pet insurance has only just started here so sometimes finances are very restricted. It is a very safe and welcoming place to live, I feel my kids can be kids here and have more freedom than they did back in the UK. They can spend so much time outside (not in the summer!) doing lots of different sports and experiencing lots of different cultures.
Are there ethical questions that surge from your work and can be extrapolated to other parts of the vet profession? Veterinary care and expertise varies widely and that is sometimes very hard to navigate. People will often go for many other opinions especially to save money and in some cases I do feel the animals suffer.
What do you most look forward to when finishing work for the day? Can you tell me a little about it? I look forward to getting home to see my family, being greeted by our pets. Playing in the pool with the kids, going for a walk or going to a local yoga class or the beach for a run or swim.
And, finally, what is your main worry outside work? Is there a common problem? Is there a political or social issue that you are free to talk about and interests you? Don't worry if you prefer not to answer this question. I worry about being a good mother and wife as well as wanting to be a caring and dedicated vet, it is hard to be all of those things and you feel that sometimes one or other is taking priority. I hope I am a good role model to my kids, they are both very kind and caring and have a natural affinity to the natural world and animals. I am lucky that this role gives me more time to be with my children but I still worry that I am not there enough and can't always make every event.
One final question: What is your dream? To travel and explore the world and see it through my kid's eyes, show them how to appreciate the planet and to be a good person. I want them to be happy and to find something to be passionate about.
