Animal treatment centre expands

A NORTH WEST veterinary referral hospital which cares for more than 9,000 animals a year, is to expand to a second site after securing a £900,000 finance package.

The Chester-based ChesterGates Referral Hospital provides a range of specialist services including neurology, surgery, cardiology, internal medicine ophthalmology, MRI scanning and emergency care for domestic animals from across the country.

Due to soaring demand it needs extra space and will use the loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial to buy a 7,000sq ft building on the Dunkirk Trading Estate, close to its existing base.

The company, which employs 40 people, says it expects to grow both its sales and staff numbers as a result of the expansion.

The enlarged practice will be operational from next month and will be able to treat up to 12,000 animals every year. It will also house a new training college for veterinary nurses, with the first intake of students to coincide with the opening of the new building.

Run by RCVS and European Specialist in Veterinary Neurology, Geoff Skerritt, and his wife Judith, ChesterGates was established five years ago as a veterinary referral centre.

Judith Skerritt, business development partner at ChesterGates Veterinary Hospital, said: “Our practice is receiving referrals from across the UK and occasionally from overseas as more advanced treatments become available to help owners improve their pets’ quality of life.

“Expanding into new premises was crucial for our ambitions for the practice and Lloyds TSB understood our strategy and the potential of the business. The new rehabilitation centre will be the first of its kind in the North West.”

Peter Smallwood, relationship manager at Lloyds TSB Commercial, said: “This latest investment will give the practice the capacity to continue to expand on the back of its strong reputation and we worked closely with management to structure a funding solution which will support ChesterGates as it enters its next stage of growth.”