Badger - stick injury CT image
New £400k CT Investment Expands Referral Imaging Access In North West
2 days ago 
147 views
Animal Trust Vets Invests £400,000 in New CT Scanners to Expand Referral Imaging Capacity at Ellesmere Port and Bolton Hospitals
Animal Trust Vets has completed a £400,000 investment in two new Siemens 32‑slice CT scanners, enhancing referral imaging capability and access to advanced diagnostics for veterinary practices across the region.
The systems deliver high-resolution imaging, supporting efficient investigation of orthopaedic, soft tissue, neurological and oncological cases. The scanners also support advanced clinical applications including 3D visualisation and virtual endoscopy tools and advanced post-processing for surgical planning.
The clinical value of rapid-access CT imaging was recently demonstrated in an emergency referral from Shropshire, involving a dog presenting with suspected upper oesophageal obstruction following ingestion of a stick. The patient was referred to Animal Trust’s Ellesmere Port hospital for urgent CT imaging after initial stabilisation at a local Animal Trust practice.
CT imaging confirmed the presence of a 14.7cm linear foreign body lodged within the oesophagus. The ability to rapidly acquire detailed cross-sectional imaging enabled accurate localisation and informed decision-making in what was a potentially life-threatening case, highlighting the role of CT in acute soft tissue emergencies as well as planned referral investigations.
In addition to being available to Animal Trust clients, the service operates as a dedicated outpatient CT service, allowing affordable access to advanced imaging for local veterinary practices in the region. Scans are reported by VetCT, with structured, timely reports returned directly to the referring veterinary surgeon. Full image datasets are accessible, and referred cases can be discussed collaboratively with the Animal Trust referral surgical team when needed.
In addition to high clinical capability, the service is affordable with the following prices (inclusive of report and contrast use where indicated):
- 2 body regions CT scan: £1,045
- Additional body regions: £360 per region
This pricing remains significantly below market averages, supporting earlier use of CT in the diagnostic pathway.
The investment aligns with the expansion of Animal Trust’s Ellesmere Port hospital, increasing patient capacity and supporting demand for advanced diagnostics and surgery referrals.
To further support, Animal Trust has appointed Sámar Riziq, a residency-trained small animal surgeon with advanced soft tissue and orthopaedic training.
Sámar joins the established team alongside Dylan Payne (RCVS & EBVS® European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery) and James Portsmouth (RCVS Advanced Practitioner), providing a comprehensive soft tissue and orthopaedic referral service.
Animal Trust’s not-for-profit structure ensures continued reinvestment into clinical technology, practice teams and affordable pricing, supporting both referring practices and patient outcomes.
Owen Monie, Founder of Animal Trust, said:
“This investment is about supporting the profession as much as it is about supporting pets. By combining advanced imaging technology, efficient workflows and affordable pricing, we’re enabling earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for patients.”
Key Information for Referring Vets
- Siemens 32-slice CT scanners available for surgical referrals and as an outpatient service
- Comprehensive imaging reports provided by VetCT and easy access to full scan images
- Competitive pricing below usual market rates
- Expanded surgical referral team available for discussion or referral of cases when needed.
More from Animal Trust
- Animal Trust Vets Expands Network with £1.5m Investment in New Warrington Practice and 24/7 Emergency Care
- Animal Trust Vets Barnsley Achieves Gold International Cat Friendly Clinic Status
- Animal Trust to open new surgery in Rhyl
- Animal Trust announces new CIC business status
- Veterinary company becomes UK first to receive CIC status
1 week ago