Six months after opening, South East Veterinary Referrals in Kent is now planning for growth and recruiting a specialist team to complement its neurology expertise.
From a custom-built veterinary hospital in Sevenoaks, South East Veterinary Referrals has already treated more than 140 neurology cases that have required MRI scans, and it has now invested in a scanner that will be on-site seven days a week.
The practice, which currently has a team of four, plans to expand its range of services into areas such as soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery, ophthalmology, oncology and dermatology, in addition to recruiting a neurology intern.
Francesca Taylor, referrals director at South East Veterinary Referrals, said: “Since we opened last November, demand for our service has outstripped our expectations and we’ve seen more cases and carried out more MRI scans than we ever envisaged.
“This has enabled us to quickly establish a strong reputation across Kent and beyond for our neurology services. We’re ready to emulate this success in other areas.
“We are now beginning to plan our future, with a focus on finding people who are the right fit for our ‘personal touch’ service.
“We’d like to offer other disciplines such as internal medicine, ophthalmology, oncology or dermatology with specialists who share our passion for providing first-class, specialist treatments in a truly independent practice, where everyone has the ability to set their own agenda. It’s feasible that we could triple the size of our team in the next two years.
“In addition, our internship in neurology is a unique opportunity to offer someone who already has a major interest in this area the chance to work alongside Dr Cappello, who is one of the best known and most experienced neurologists in Europe.”
Dr Cappello has dedicated his career to advancing the field of veterinary neurology, developing advanced techniques in imaging, surgery and treatments while working and studying around the world.
He said: “Our ethos is about being the only independent specialist veterinary hospital in the area that can diagnose and manage neurological issues by providing vets and pet owners with accurate and affordable advice and treatment.
“Vets from across South East England are now referring pets to us that might be suffering from seizures, pain, difficulty walking and problems with balance and orientation, which can all be linked to neurological issues.
“The very first case we saw was a young dog called Floki with an abnormal gait and unusual walk, affecting the left hind limb more than the right. Floki, from Hawkinge near Folkestone, had already been to a referral centre that suggested it could be hip dysplasia, but the clients were sceptical and brought him to us.
“The neurological examination revealed a mild hemiparesis on the left side limbs and the MRI scan revealed a large accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the right part of his brain, most likely due to a congenital malformation of the brain. We will now monitor this and scan Floki again in the coming months, and if it’s worsening, we will consider surgery to divert the excess fluid away from the brain.
Dr Cappello added: “Now we are in a position to expand our range of services and the areas we work in, which is an exciting prospect, and we’re keen to hear from other specialists who would like to take control of their own careers in a fast growing and independent practice that has the ambition to become the South East’s leading referrals service.”
