Bridge Referrals

12/11/2025

So happy to be able to support such a great charity! 🐾💙

‼THIS WEEK!!

Our next mobile vet clinic will take place in Boldon Colliery on THURSDAY the 13th of November 2025. Kindly sponsored by the amazing Bridge Referrals who have been an invaluable support to our small charity this year.

Details below:

First come, first served - drop-in vet consultations for those on low income. If your pet needs to see a vet and you are struggling to meet the costs, we are here to help. ☔ Please don't let the weather deter your plans. There will be plenty of indoor space.

Thursday 13th November - Boldon Community Centre, New Rd, Boldon Colliery NE35 9DS - 10am to 3pm.

If you have any questions about this service, please email the team on [email protected]

Thank you

12/11/2025

We’re proud to be a sponsor of the RSPCA Sunderland Hartlepool and South Tyneside's Frost & Fizz fundraiser this year and one of their mobile vet clinics which will be held at Boldon Community Centre on Thursday 13th December from 10am - 3pm! 🐾

Such a wonderful cause doing incredible work for animals in need! 🩵🐾✨

We’re very much looking forward to celebrating on 22nd! ✨

As our winter ball fundraiser, Frost & Fizz, is now just around the corner, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our amazing and generous event sponsors, who have helped the evening come to fruition:

Bridge Referrals - a local referral centre that endeavours to provide pet owners and veterinary practices of the North East a range of advanced treatments at realistic and affordable costs, without compromising on excellent service and standard of care.

Late Life Planning North - bringing together over four decades of financial expertise and life experience. The company was established to offer trusted, independent guidance to help individuals plan confidently for later life.

Grand Hotel Sunderland - our venue hosts for the evening, and an overall, friendly and professional team who offer second to none hospitality and support. A fab, local venue by the gorgeous coastline.

Training in Care - a Skills for Care endorsed ‘Centre of Excellence’, with 25 years of experience in providing quality, bespoke training across England.

Durham Business Club - a local networking-based organsiation who connect businesses in County Durham and the wider North East - fostering lasting relationships, sharing knowledge, and supporting local enterprise.

We are truly grateful for your incredible support, friendship and championing of our small charity. Thank you all so very much - and we can't wait to celebrate with you on the 22nd!

11/11/2025

Breed screening at Bridge Referrals!🐾

📆Friday 21st November!
🐾£220 per dog
✅Certificates given at time of appointment

Karl, our Cardiologist, is one of the only vets in the North East accredited to carry out breed heart screening in dogs via Echocardiogram - offering expert care to help protect future generations. Karl sees many different heart conditions - some that dogs acquire as they age, and others they are born with (congenital). Acquired conditions can sometimes be caused by other diseases or infections, but many have a genetic component, just as most congenital heart diseases do.

When a disease has a genetic component, it can be passed on to future generations, perpetuating the problem. Naturally, we want puppies to grow up free from disease, with the best chance of living a long and healthy life. This is where breed screening comes in.

📧To book your dog in, simply email your name and contact details, along with your dogs name/age/breed to [email protected]. Our admin team will then contact you to arrange an appointment time.

06/11/2025

Handsome Cosmo attended our last Pet Blood Bank UK session! ❤️ this was his first time giving blood and he was the bravest boy! 👏

He lay so patiently whilst giving his donation, in fact he almost fell asleep he was that relaxed! He was then given lots of snacks for being such a good boy, he got his photo taken, and got to pick a toy for himself! 🥹🩵

His lovely owners then took him out for Sunday lunch with them and of course he got lots of leftovers!! As you can see he was looking very happy with himself sporting his Pet Blood Bank bandana! 😍

Cosmo will be attending the next session which will be held on 📆 Sunday 14th December!

If you know a large, happy, confident dog, help spread the word, tell their owner they could be a lifesaver! ❣️

For more information head to the Pet Blood Bank website- https://www.petbloodbankuk.org/pet-owners/dog-blood-donation/

06/11/2025

Free Nurse CPD at Bridge Referrals - 2026 dates! 🩺✨

Hosted by - Janette Bailey-Woods RVN, NCert (Anaesthesia & ECC),VTS (Anaesthesia & Analgesia) Lead Anaesthesia Nurse ✨

📆Thursday 15th January - 7pm
Hypoventilation in the anaesthetised patient - Why it happens, consequences of hypoventilation, and what we can do to improve ventilation

📆Thursday 12th March - 7pm
Pulse oximetry, understanding SpO2's limitations and how we can maximise SpO2 use

📆Thursday 14th May - 7pm
How to implement balanced anaesthesia techniques

📍Bridge Referrals, Boldon Colliery NE35 9LZ

📧To sign up, please email [email protected]

Our last one was a great success, we look forward to seeing you all again in the new year! 👋

05/11/2025

Veterinary Nurse - Rotational Role ✨🐾🩺

We are looking for a highly motivated, full-time Registered Veterinary Nurse to join our growing team at Bridge Referrals. This is an exciting opportunity to rotate across departments and gain hands-on experience in a range of referral disciplines.

You will become an integral part of Team Bridge, contributing to our mission of making Bridge Referrals the leading choice for patients, clients, and veterinary professionals across the North East.

About the Role:
This rotational nursing role involves working across various departments, including internal medicine, surgery, diagnostics, and ophthalmology. You’ll assist with surgical procedures, inpatient care, and the management of complex cases in a supportive, team-focused environment.

Key Responsibilities:
✨Assist in planning and preparation for surgical cases
✨Monitor anaesthesia and post-operative recovery
✨Deliver exceptional inpatient care across all departments
✨Maintain accurate patient records and ensure excellent communication
✨Participate in CPD, research, team meetings, and in-house development
✨Support new nurses during induction and mentoring
✨Contribute to the smooth patient journey from admission to discharge

Skills and Experience:
✨Registered Veterinary Nurse (RCVS)
✨Strong communication and teamworking skills
✨Adaptability and a proactive, positive attitude
✨Able to work efficiently under pressure in a busy referral setting
✨Confident with IT and clinical record keeping
✨Referral experience desirable, but not essential

5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays | Paid Birthday holiday | Paid lunch break | Generous sick and parental leave policies | Employer contribution pension scheme | CPD allowance + in-house training | RCVS and VDS fees paid | Generous staff discount scheme | Cycle to work scheme

Salary: Starting from £29,700+ (depending on experience & qualifications)

If you’re keen to develop your nursing skills in a multidisciplinary setting and would like to know more about what the role involves, we’d love to have a friendly chat!

To apply for this position please email your CV with a covering note to [email protected]

05/11/2025

🧠✨ MRI Appointments Available Today!

If your pet needs advanced diagnostic imaging, we have MRI slots available today at Bridge Referrals. Our team is ready to help get to the heart of what’s going on - quickly and with care! 💙

📍 Bridge Referrals, Boldon Colliery
🩺 Referrals can be made by primary care vets on our online referral platform, simply head to our website!
📞 Call us on 0191 580 8330 if you require more information!

05/11/2025

Breed screening for dogs available with Karl Bovenizer on Friday 21st November! 🫀🐾

To book your dog in please email your contact details to [email protected] along with your dos name/breed/age! 🐾 Our admin team will then contact you with an appointment time!

Appointments will last 45 minutes and you will be given a certificate on the day.

Karl, our Cardiologist, is one of the only vets in the North East accredited to carry out breed heart screening in dogs via Echocardiogram – offering expert care to help protect future generations. Karl sees many different heart conditions — some that dogs acquire as they age, and others they ar...

04/11/2025

Upcoming Ophthalmology CPD! 🩺

Join us on Tuesday 11th November at 7pm for our next CPD evening - 👁️ What are my options for treating corneal ulceration?

Hosted by: Sarah Harrison, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Ophthalmology

⏰7pm
📍Bridge Referrals, Boldon Colliery, NE35 9LZ
🥪Food & drinks available on the evening

📧 To sign up, simply email: [email protected]

04/11/2025

Publication (and cute kitten) alert! 🐱💡

The beautiful Leroux was referred to our soft tissue team at the start of 2024. He was only 8 weeks old at the time and had been born with a physical condition resulting in an inability to pass urine properly. An initial conventional surgery to address this was not successful and a procedure called a perineal urethrostomy was performed by our Specialist surgeon Mark.

This surgery is more commonly performed in adult cats and very little is published regarding long-term outcomes when it is performed at such a young age. Leroux has been carefully monitored over the nearly two years since surgery and we are delighted to report that the surgical site developed well as he grew, and he remains happy and free of clinical signs!

In order to raise awareness of the potential for excellent long-term outcomes of this surgery, even at such a young age, Leroux's case was written up and has now been published in a peer-reviewed veterinary journal: https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vrc2.70239

31/10/2025

🎉 We’re celebrating 3 amazing years of Bridge Referrals! 🎉

It’s hard to believe how far we’ve come since opening our doors three years ago! 💙

A huge thank you to all our wonderful clients and referring vets for your trust and support - it truly means the world to us! 🐾

And of course, an extra special thank you to our incredible team - our vets, nurses, admin, and support staff, who make Bridge Referrals the caring, dedicated, and friendly place it is today! ✨

Here’s to 3 years of teamwork, growth, and helping pets live their happiest, healthiest lives - and to many more to come! 💚💙

📸Here's a snap of four of our five directors before we all got stuck in to the delicious food to celebrate! 🎉

Special shout out to our wonderful Emma Mace for making that AMAZING cake! 😍