OPEN NOW!

We’re delighted to introduce Emergency Vet Team (EVT), providing dedicated out-of-hours emergency veterinary care for pets when they need it most.

Supporting both veterinary practices and pet owners, our experienced team is here to provide compassionate, high-quality emergency care outside normal practice hours.

Find out more: Visit the EVT website to learn about our services and how to access care. Or if you’re a veterinary professional interested in using EVT for your practice, register you interest below.

Small Animal Veterinary Referrals

Bridge Referrals is an independent, family-owned multidisciplinary veterinary referral centre in South Tyneside. We provide advanced clinical services in orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, oncology, and cardiology to primary care veterinary practices across the North of England and Southern Scotland.

Our experienced clinicians work collaboratively with referring vets to deliver the highest standards of care, combining specialist expertise to achieve the best outcomes for every patient. Sustainability is embedded in the way we operate, reflecting our commitment to responsible, forward-thinking veterinary practice.

Key Services

Cardiology

Diagnostic imaging

Internal medicine

Neurosurgery

Oncology

Ophthalmology

Orthopaedics

Physiotherapy

Soft tissue surgery

Mission statement

“Providing excellent service and exceptional standards of care for our patients, clients and
community by bridging the gap between first opinion practices and referral centres. We forge
relationships with our referring vets making referring a patient a friendly and seamless process”

Blog

General
October 29, 2026

Meet Joni, Head of Orthopaedics at Bridge Referrals

We’re delighted to welcome Joni to the Bridge Referrals team as our Head of Orthopaedics! Joni brings a wealth of experience in small animal surgery, with a particular passion for complex orthopaedic procedures, innovative surgical techniques and continually improving outcomes for patients. Head of Orthopaedics - Joni Viitanen Joni graduated in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Slovakia, in 2015. Following his graduation, he gained valuable experience in mixed general practice before completing a rotating internship at a referral hospital in Cambridgeshire. He then went on to undertake a three-year residency in small animal…
Kaitlin Hattle
General
October 22, 2026

Meet Sophie Rawlinson: Leading the New Emergency Vet Team

The Emergency Vet Team (EVT) is delighted to welcome Sophie Rawlinson as its Out-of-Hours Service Lead!   Sophie graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2017 and spent nine rewarding years working in a busy clinical practice, transitioning to full-time emergency and out-of-hours care in early 2020. During her career, Sophie has gained experience across a variety of roles, including the new graduate scheme, charity medicine provision and dedicated emergency care. Alongside her clinical work, she has spent the past six years as an associate lecturer with the University of Nottingham, mentoring final-year veterinary students during their out-of-hours rotations. She…
Kaitlin Hattle
General
October 8, 2026

Introducing Cristi, Our New Imaging Specialist 

We are delighted to welcome Cristi to Bridge Referrals as an Imaging Specialist. Cristi graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, Romania, in 2018, before moving to the UK, where he worked in small animal practice. His career has since focused on diagnostic imaging, encompassing both clinical and consultancy roles, where he has developed extensive experience across a broad range of imaging modalities, with a particular interest in ultrasonography. Cristi Glavan, DVM MRCVS PhD RCVS Recognised Specialist in Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging Cristi became an RCVS Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging in 2024 and is actively involved in research, education and…
Kaitlin Hattle