An extensive range of products for
veterinarians and farmers

About S J Hales

SJ Hales Ltd t/a Veterinary Speciality Products started selling their i-protex™ bandage contact lenses to vets in 1995, since then they have gone from strength to strength and moved premises in 2003 to provide the necessary space for an ever-enlarging product range.

The company ethos revolves around the core concept of providing vets with high quality technical ophthalmic and general surgical equipment at prices that are appropriate for the profession. We work extremely hard with our suppliers to ensure that our range contains items suitable for every budget, and we try our hardest to provide the very best service. Our small size means that we have a very personal relationship with our customers and every employee understands the importance of meeting our customers' expectations.

We believe that equipment should allow practices to offer the best diagnostic and surgical capacity for their clients. One aspect of this revolves around the need for correct understanding of how to use various items in order to ensure both accurate diagnosis as well as getting maximum benefit from the investment.

Where does the company go from here? Well for a start it is looking to increase its presence in other speciality areas. We are really excited about the prospects for new imaging equipment. We have been pleased with the level of interest generated by our digital fundus cameras and video indirect ophthalmoscope and keep looking to increase our capacity in this area, clients really appreciate being able to visualise the retina, and it allows them a fascinating insight into the skill of the practitioner. They get used to seeing wonderful images on their television screens, and like to think of themselves as armchair experts when chatting to their friends. It also helps the vet to be able to explain clearly exactly what and where the lesion is, which in this litigious world is becoming increasingly important with a number of hereditary eye conditions. I am also hopeful that it may offer the way forward for teleconsulting, allowing a vet to seek advice from a specialist by e-mailing images, or possibly even a live feed, and facilitating decisions on when to refer.

Such ideas remain in the future for the moment but possibly not for much longer as broadband and high speed internet connections are freeing up the possibility of concepts such as these and bringing them nearer to day-to-day reality. Meanwhile Veterinary Speciality Products will continue trying to source the necessary equipment at the best prices to allow vets access to the technology.