Bridge Referrals, a veterinary referral centre, has expanded its advanced care services for pets in the northeast with two new operating theatres. Siemens Financial Services (SFS) helped the centre acquire critical imaging equipment.

Pet ownership in the UK has grown significantly in recent years, rising from 41% in 2020 to a peak of 62% in 2022[1]. In 2023, 57% of UK households owned a pet.[2] The resulting demand for veterinary services includes a need for advanced care for more complex conditions or injuries. Veterinary referral centres play an important role in providing this type of care. Highly trained advanced practitioners provide a range of services that are normally not available at a general veterinary practice.

Based in Tyneside, Bridge Referrals is one such independent, multi-disciplinary veterinary referral centre. The centre endeavours to offer pet owners and veterinary practices in the northeast a range of advanced treatments at affordable costs.

Since opening its doors in 2022, Bridge Referrals has grown rapidly with revenue increasing by 50% annually and a total of 72 employees (the team was 20-strong to start with). The centre’s key services include cardiology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, neurosurgery, oncology, ophthalmology, soft tissue surgery and orthopaedics. An important part of its success is the use of innovative technologies for operating efficiency and superior customer service.

New imaging equipment

Bridge Referrals was in the process of opening two new operating theatres, expanding its total to four. One of the theatres was specifically built for x-ray and fluoroscopy services. Bridge Referrals assessed various specialist suppliers but opted for a fluoroscopic c-arm (a mobile X-ray imaging device for surgical procedures) from Siemens Healthineers. The centre felt that the functionality and advanced capability of this equipment would keep it at the forefront of fluoroscopy in veterinary care. The c-arm was available for purchase through PLH Medical, an approved supplier of Siemens Healthineers equipment.

Bridge Referrals were open to a finance solution to make its ambitions a reality. PLH Medical introduced Bridge Referrals to Siemens Financial Services (SFS), Siemens’ veterinary leasing specialist. SFS stepped in to offer a tailored financing option for Bridge Referrals to acquire the equipment. Iain Kennair, Operations Manager, Bridge Referrals, explains, “Given the size of the investment, financing from SFS helped ease the burden of purchasing the equipment we needed. They also took care of the whole process for us, from raising a PO to organising delivery, and made it hassle free.

“Our centre is still in its infancy and it’s a big project to manage, so SFS’ help in overseeing the acquisition of our new equipment was invaluable, allowing us to concentrate on other parts of the business that needed our attention. We weren’t anxious about lead times for the project, since SFS made sure everything arrived on time.”

Hassle-free investment

To enable the purchase of the C-arm, SFS suggested a Sale & Lease Back agreement. Bridge Referrals made the initial purchase and SFS reimbursed the sum, which Bridge Referrals can now repay in agreed monthly instalments – both the principle and the VAT.

SFS financed the c-arm for nearly £80k+, adding in other small value equipment for the operating theatre, up to a total value of £150k+. All this equipment is embraced in a single leasing arrangement. The new state-of-the-art equipment enables the centre to deliver top-quality service to customers, expanding its range of procedures and accommodating a larger number of patients

Sally-Anne Whybrow, Healthcare Business Development Manager at Siemens Financial Services UK, comments, “I’m delighted to see how Bridge Referrals is investing to fuel further growth – and to play an enabling part in that expansion. Not only is the centre providing an essential service, but the team is also doing so with core values in mind, supporting the community with high quality, good value pet care. I hope SFS can find further ways of supporting Bridge Referrals.”

Siemens Financial Services will be at the London Vet Show from the 14th to the 15th of November, discussing how smart financing solutions can support the growth of veterinary practices and alleviate budgetary pressures. Connect with us on LinkedIn or get in touch here.
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