About Bridge Referrals

Darren Long BVetMed(Hons) PGCertSAM(Distinction) MRCVS

Director
Referral clinician in Oncology and Internal Medicine
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine

Darren graduated from the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, with Honours, in 2010. He started working in mixed practice before deciding to move into referral practice where he has undertaken further training in small animal internal medicine and oncology. He has worked in referral practice for over a decade now and enjoys the wide variety of medicine and oncology cases he sees. He has a keen interest in oncology, and is working towards a European advanced masters degree in canine and feline clinical oncology.

Darren has attended courses in interventional radiology at the Universitat autonoma Barcelona Veterinary school and is trained in procedures including tracheobronchial, urinary tract and intravascular stenting including embolisation of intrahepatic portosystemic shunts. This same procedure can also be used as part of cancer therapy to selectively occlude arteries feeding a tumour as well as targeted local chemotherapy.

Most recently he has introduced the use of electrochemotherapy to Bridge referrals to increase the array of options we have to treat the various types of cancer that we see.

He has always had an enthusiasm for teaching and he taught clinical anatomy to veterinary students at the Royal Veterinary College and takes responsibility for the education of veterinary students and nurses within the medicine and oncology departments. He has presented at numerous conferences including the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) congress and is passionate about the further education and autonomy of veterinary nurses, empowering them to become maximally involved in the management of the patients we see.

Outside of work, Darren is kept busy with DIY, keeping his huge number of houseplants alive, cooking, getting outdoors and keeping fit. He has a cat called Layla and a young Border Terrier called Lewis who is typically a bit of a handful. Darren and the rest of the team at Bridge Referrals look forward to getting to meet your companions!

Emma Mace BVetMed CertAVP (GSAS) MRCVS

Director
Orthopaedic Surgeon
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery

Emma was born and bred in the south and after graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in London she decided to make the move to the North East with her husband Chris to start her veterinary career. She spent six years in practice where her love for surgery and orthopaedics was founded. After completion of her surgical certificate, Emma pursued her passion for orthopaedics becoming a referral clinician and this is where she has been ever since. Emma is enthusiastic and always keen to learn and improve, she enjoys all aspects of surgery, in particular the varied caseload that referral work encounters, no day is ever mundane in the surgery department.

Emma is a big advocate of a positive working environment and culture, she believes that everyone should be nurtured and encouraged to reach their full potential as well as feeling that they are an integral and an important part of the team. We all spend so much of our lives working, so it is important that people feel fulfilled in their job roles.

Emma has two young lively daughters Olivia and Isabelle who keep her very busy. In her spare time she enjoys playing netball, her favourite position is GA and has played for a local team and league ever since moving to Newcastle. At home, Emma enjoys baking and trying new recipes, she particularly enjoys making her girls their birthday cakes each year. Emma has an obsession for the colour pink so is easily identifiable as she walks round the corridors in her bright pink surgical scrubs and pink crocs.

Jack Sillito BVMS PGCertSAS MRCVS

Director
Orthopaedic Surgeon
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery

Jack qualified from Glasgow University in 2009 and originally worked in mixed practice in Scotland before returning to Glasgow University to complete an Internship. In 2012 he moved to the North East to work in a practice taking Orthopaedic referrals and has worked in a referral setting ever since. Jack enjoys orthopaedic and neurosurgery cases with a particular interest in stifle pathology and complex fractures.

As one of the founders of Bridge Referrals, Jack will ensure that we support continued development for all our staff. We want everyone to feel like they have our backing to achieve their ambitions and learning goals. This not only means that Bridge Referrals is a better place to work and grow, but that we provide the best level of care possible to our client’s beloved pets.

Outside of work Jack likes to spend time with his wife Sarah and their two young children Isla and Finn. They have two labradors to take for walks in the countryside around the North East and 4 chickens which require fewer walks but provide more eggs.

Sarah Harrison BVMS CertVOphthal MRCVS

Director
Veterinary Ophthalmologist
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Ophthalmology

Sarah developed her interest in veterinary ophthalmology when seeing practice in South Africa whilst studying for her veterinary degree at Glasgow University. After gaining her degree she worked in both mixed and companion animal practice, whilst obtaining her RCVS certificate in ophthalmology. Since gaining her certificate she has worked in referral ophthalmology taking referrals from all over the North of England. Sarah enjoys all aspects of ophthalmology but particularly enjoys corneal and intraocular surgery. She is a self-confessed ‘eye nerd’ and enjoys teaching others in her favourite subject.

Sarah is fanatical about sustainability at work and at home, with an emphasis on reducing our environmental impact and conserving biodiversity. She has a certificate in environmental management and is an associate member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. She leads the sustainable development at Bridge Referrals and is passionate at passing on her knowledge and influencing others.

In her spare time, Sarah enjoys spending time with her family, friends and three cats. She is a Mum of four, and regularly visits Scotland to see family. She is a volunteer veterinary advisor for several wildlife and domestic animal charities and is a trustee for The Tynemouth Seal Hospital charity. When the weather allows, she is a keen snowboarder, stand-up paddle boarder and gardener.

Alison Kennair BVMS CertAVP (GSAS) MRCVS

Director
Soft Tissue Surgeon
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Surgery

Alison qualified from Glasgow University in 1995 and has had a varied career path, starting in mixed practice before travelling and then settling into small animal practice. This progressed into referral work after gaining her certificate in small animal surgery. She enjoys seeing a variety of soft tissue cases and also has an interest in neurology and neurosurgery. Her particular interests include minimally invasive procedures, surgical oncology and spinal surgery.

As one of the founders of Bridge referrals, Alison is committed to staff well being and a positive team culture. This along with doing our best for a sustainable future, will make Bridge a great place to be for our clients and staff.

Outside of work, Alison is passionate about nature and exploring the great outdoors, with her family and two dogs, in particular hiking, camping, cycling, skiing and yoga. She has two lurchers, with young Ernie being a recent addition. She also loves a good curry!

Mark Gosling MA BSAVA PGCertSAS VetMB DipECVS MRCVS, EBVS© European & RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery

Head of Soft Tissue Surgery
European & RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery

Mark moved up to the north east after graduating and has worked here ever since! He spent five years in primary care practice, during which he completed the BSAVA certificate in small animal surgery. He then moved to a large referral centre in 2016 to undertake a surgical residency (specialist training programme), subsequently sitting and passing his diploma exams to become a European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery. This is the highest level of veterinary surgical training and involves extensive experience with both clinical work and research. Mark is experienced in all areas of soft tissue surgery and has particular interests in hepatic (liver) and thoracic (chest) surgery, as well as minimally invasive & interventional procedures.

Mark enjoys teaching and regularly presents professional development topics for vets in the north east. He is also Associate Editor for a clinical veterinary journal and serves on committees of both UK and European veterinary organisations.

Mark completes his move to Bridge Referrals having worked with the directors previously in other jobs! He believes in the freedom and flexibility that working in an independent practice can bring and in the positive team environment and ethos that Bridge have created.

Karl Bovenizer MVB, CertVC, MRCVS

Veterinary Cardiologist, RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Cardiology

Karl graduated from the Veterinary College of Ireland in 1991. He then moved to the Isle of Man where he eventually ended up owning and running his own mixed practice.

Although he did farm and equine work, it was the small animal side of the practice that appealed to him most and he took a keen interest in Cardiology. This led to him obtaining a certificate in cardiology and he provided a referral service to the island for many years until he came to the North East two years ago.

He still visits the island regularly, running cardiology clinics. Karl is very excited to join the team at Bridge Referrals as their cardiologist. He loves seeing cases where he can make a real difference to both the patients and their owners and providing a quality of life to those patients for an extended time. Karl has an interest in interventional cardiology and will bring this to Bridge Referrals working alongside Darren Long and Alison Kennair to increase our expertise in interventional radiology.

As a trained coach with an interest in language and communication, Karl is fully behind the ethos of Bridge Referrals and looks forward to being part of a team where care and communication within the team is paramount. This is the best way he feels that both clients and patients are given the highest quality of care by the highly motivated staff at Bridge Referrals.

Outside of work, Karl is a lover of theatre both to attend and perform in. With many years of amateur theatre behind him on the Isle of Man, he looks forward to finding a group in the North East. Like all vets, he has a number of rescue pets – 3 cats – but misses having a Manx cat since leaving the Island.

Olivia Grice PGCertSAAOphthal, MRCVS

Veterinary Ophthalmologist, Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Ophthalmology

Olivia graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2017. She initially worked in a busy, 24/7 veterinary hospital in West Yorkshire. After 3 years, she decided to pursue a career in Ophthalmology and gained her Certificate in Small Animal Veterinary Ophthalmology, achieving a distinction.

Olivia has worked as a referral clinician in Scotland for 4 years prior to joining Bridge Referrals in 2024. She particularly enjoys ophthalmic medical work ups & feline ophthalmology.

Olivia has two cats, Kira & Pepper, who do over 20 tricks! She is looking forward to exploring the North East.

Bethany Deadman BVCs BSAVA PGCertSAM (Dist) MRCVS

Referral clinician in Internal Medicine
RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine 

Bethany moved up to the Northeast of England after graduating from Bristol Vet school in 2017 to be closer to family and enjoy everything the region has to offer. She worked in primary care practice for seven years, developing a keen interest in internal medicine and ultrasound scanning.

She completed her BSAVA certificate in small animal medicine in December 2023, passing with Distinction and has joined Bridge Referrals to expand the internal medicine team.

In addition to her impressive credentials, Bethany is known for their compassionate approach and dedication to improving the quality of life for pets. She works closely with pet owners to develop personalised treatment plans, ensuring that each patient receives the best possible care.

Outside of work Bethany is kept busy with a myriad of hobbies. She loves being outdoors whatever the weather, horse riding, hiking and running regularly.

She is a qualified run leader for her running club and plays the clarinet for her local community wind band. She enjoys baking, eating cake, and travelling too.

Harry Swales BSc(Hons) BVSc CertAVP(SAM) PgCert VPS GradStat DipECVIM-Ca(Internal Medicine) MRCVS

EBVS European Specialist in Veterinary Internal Medicine
RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine

Harry has worked with Darren Long and the other directors previously over the years and he is a very welcome addition to the expanding team, bringing with him a wealth of experience and additional innovation to Bridge Referrals. Harry is an EBVS® European specialist in Veterinary Internal Medicine and RCVS Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine.

Harry graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2014, following which he undertook a rotating internship in the North West of England. After a period in mixed-veterinary practice, he undertook an EBVS® residency in Veterinary Internal Medicine at the University of Liverpool. Harry was awarded Diplomat of the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine status in 2021 and has worked at a number of private referral practices since.

Harry has published research in internationally recognised scientific journals. His interest areas include nephrology/urology (kidneys/urinary problems), infectious diseases, and emergency and critical care.

Alongside his varied and extensive veterinary experience, Harry has worked as emergency ambulance crew with the NHS and is part of the local mountain rescue team. An experienced speaker and trainer, Harry has spoken at national and international conferences, teaches undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary courses, and is an infectious disease advisor to the Pet Blood Bank.

The addition of Harry Swales to the internal medicine team signals another exciting step forward for Bridge Referrals as our team continues to grow. Harry joining Bridge strengthens the ability of our extremely busy service to continue to offer the outstanding veterinary care that Bridge is known for, giving pets in need of specialist treatments access to the best possible expertise.

Becky Snelson BVSc MRCVS AFHEA

Surgical Clinician

Becky grew up in Cheshire and graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2019 and began her career in a mixed practice in the Scottish Borders. It was there that Becky’s love for surgery began. 

After the challenges of the pandemic Becky fancied an adventure, leading to a 10-month stint in New Zealand combining working as a locum small animal vet with travel. 

Before coming back to the UK Becky decided to pursue a career in specialised referral practice and subsequently served as a rotating intern at the University of Edinburgh’s Dick Vet School in 2024. This involved out-of-hours emergency work in their busy intensive care unit and overnight hospital alongside rotations through all of the hospital’s specialist departments providing a great multidisciplinary foundation in referral practice.

Additionally, Becky had the opportunity to help with student teaching and gained accreditation as an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. During this time, Becky completed the RECOVER advanced life support course, as well as Fear Free training to improve both patient and client experience. 

Becky recently completed a one year Soft Tissue Surgery Internship at Bridge Referrals, during which she has further developed her surgical, emergency and critical care skills. We are delighted to share that Becky has now joined the team as a Surgical Clinician and is soon to be starting her certificate training. We are very pleased to have her continuing her career with us here at Bridge Referrals.

Amelia Rashid BVSc MRCVS

Veterinary Clinician

Originally from Lancashire, Amelia moved to Newcastle after graduating from Liverpool University in 2020. She spent two and a half years working at a busy mixed practice before taking time out to go travelling. Upon her return she started working for an out of hours provider as an emergency and critical care vet. After another stint of travelling, Amelia started her journey at Bridge Referrals, where she is now one of our Hospital Vets, supporting the day-to-day care of our inpatients and working closely with our clinical teams.

As someone who loves travel, this includes taking her Labrador, Buzz, on trips around Europe. Amelia gained her Official Veterinarian qualification to help other owners take their pets on holiday too, which she does in her spare time.

Amelia enjoys many areas of veterinary with a keen interest in diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, emergency and critical care and soft tissue surgery.  She is enjoying working closely with our medicine clinicians to advance her imaging skills and see complex cases. 

Outside of work, Amelia is very active and has an array of hobbies.  She can usually be found ticking off Wainwright’s in the Lake District with Buzz, in the North Sea, on a squash court or planning her next trip abroad!

Emily Frapwell MA VetMB DipECVS MRCVS RCVS
EBVS® European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery

Soft Tissue Surgeon

Emily is an RCVS & EBVS European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery and joins our soft tissue team, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the practice.

Emily graduated from the University of Cambridge and initially worked in small animal first-opinion practice. She continued to develop a passion for surgery and later returned to Cambridge to complete an internship, followed by a three-year surgical residency in private practice, where she gained comprehensive experience in both orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery. She successfully completed her Diploma examinations to become a European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery, passing at her first attempt. Alongside her clinical work, Emily has contributed to veterinary research and has authored/co-authored multiple publications.

Outside of work, Emily enjoys snowboarding, reading and going for walks around the north east. 

Emily is passionate about continued professional development and is keen to contribute to future CPD events organised by the practice. She is also looking forward to sharing interesting case studies and clinical insights that can be featured on our website and educational platforms.