A CHESTER veterinary referral hospital has secured £900,000 of bank funding to fund an expansion programme.

ChesterGates Referral Hospital cares for more than 9,000 animals every year and provides a range of specialist services including neurology, surgery, cardiology, internal medicine ophthalmology, MRI scanning and emergency care.

The business has now secured the loan from Lloyds TSB Commercial, in order to purchase 7,000 sq ft of neighbouring premises in Telford Court on the Dunkirk Trading Estate, which will provide additional capacity to meet rising demand.

It also aims to grow its multi-million pound turnover by 30% this year.

ChesterGates employs a team of more than 40 people and is set to recruit additional staff to help it increase its rehabilitation facilities for animals, including a new hydrotherapy and physiotherapy suite.

The enlarged practice will be operational from March, 2009, 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 veterinary neurology specialist, Geoff Skerritt, and his wife Judith, ChesterGates was established five years ago as a leading veterinary referral centre.

Ms Skerritt 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.”

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.”

tonymcdonough