In this edition, highlights include:
General news:
- Your Feedback Matters to Us
- Introducing Movement Referrals’ Vet A–Z
- Our Advice App in Numbers
Case review:
- Meningiomas in Cats: Two Successful Surgical Cases
- Meet Clemmi
Our team and other news:
- Meet the Growing Movement Referrals Team
- Movement Referrals Supports Bare Necessities Charity Golf Day
- Honouring a Lifetime of Excellence in Veterinary Surgery
- Upcoming CPD: Bringing Orthopaedics and Behaviour Together
General news
Your Feedback Matters to Us
At Movement Referrals, we are committed to continually improving the service we provide to our referring practices, their teams and, most importantly, the clients and patients you entrust to our care.
To help us understand what we are doing well and where we could do better, we are currently running a short referring practice survey and would love for you to take part if you haven’t already.
The survey takes just a couple of minutes to complete, but your feedback can make a real difference. Hearing directly from the practices we work with helps us understand your experience of referring to Movement, from the referral process and communication through to the experience your clients receive throughout their pet’s time with us.
We value your thoughts, whether you have positive feedback to share or suggestions for where we could improve. Your responses will help shape our ongoing work to make our services as accessible, efficient and supportive as possible.
If you haven’t completed the survey yet, we’d really appreciate you taking a few minutes to share your thoughts.
Thank you to everyone who has already taken the time to respond. We genuinely appreciate your feedback and the opportunity to continue improving what we do for you, your clients and their pets.
Introducing Movement Referrals’ Vet A–Z
Bite-sized knowledge, one letter at a time
We’re excited to introduce a new educational series from the Movement Referrals team: Movement Referrals Orthopaedics and Neurology A to Z
Following the popularity of Mark Lowrie’s long-running A–Z of Neurology series “Neurobet”, we’re bringing the same idea to our Orthopaedic team — giving you a simple, accessible way to explore common orthopaedic conditions, clinical concepts and practical considerations, one letter at a time.
Orthopaedics A to Z
Each week, we’ll share a new instalment of Movement Referrals Orthopaedics A to Z across our social media channels.
The series will cover a range of orthopaedic topics, with related letters grouped together around a common theme. This means that over time, you’ll build up an A–Z of useful orthopaedic knowledge that you can dip into whenever you need it.
From familiar conditions to topics you may encounter less frequently in practice, our aim is to make each post informative, concise and useful for everyday clinical practice.
Want to know more?
Our A–Z posts are designed to give you a quick introduction to each topic, but sometimes there’s more to the story.
Alongside the series, we’ll be publishing in-depth blogs on our website, exploring many of the topics covered in greater detail.
Where a relevant blog is available, the A–Z post will include a link so you can find out more — giving you the option to take a deeper dive when you have the time.
Keep an eye out!
Follow Movement Referrals on social media to make sure you don’t miss the next instalment of Movement Referrals Orthopaedics A to Z.
We hope the series provides a useful, engaging and accessible resource for our referring vets — whether you’re looking for a quick refresher, exploring a particular clinical topic or simply want to learn something new.
One letter. One topic. A whole A–Z of orthopaedic knowledge.
Our Advice App in Numbers
Since launching our Advice App in April, we’ve been delighted by the response from referring practices and vets. The app was designed to make requesting specialist advice quick, straightforward and accessible — and the numbers so far show just how much it is being used.
Advice at a glance
350+ cases advised on
Since launch, our team has provided advice on more than 350 cases, including:
- 231 Orthopaedic cases
- 125 Neurology cases
Our average response time is just 14 hours, helping referring vets access specialist input when they need it.
Growing network of referring vets
The Advice App has now grown to 137 registered practices, with 233 vets registered and able to access specialist advice from the Movement team.
Whether you need a second opinion on imaging, guidance on a challenging case or help deciding whether referral is appropriate, the app provides a simple way to connect with our specialists.
From advice to referral — with just one click
We’ve also made the transition from advice to referral as easy as possible.
If, following the advice, you and your client decide that referral to Movement is the right next step, there’s no need to complete another referral form. Simply click the “Refer this case” button within the Advice App and our reception team will take care of the next steps.
It means less administration for you and a smoother experience for both the referring practice and the client.
Your feedback matters
We don’t just want to provide specialist advice — we want to make sure that the experience of using the Advice App is a positive one.
That’s why we regularly ask users for feedback on overall experience, response time and the quality of the advice provided.
So far, we’re delighted to have received 5-star feedback across all categories, with 100% satisfaction from users who completed our survey.
A huge thank you to everyone who has used the Advice App and taken the time to provide feedback. Your comments help us continue to improve the service and ensure it remains useful to referring vets.
Haven’t registered yet? The Advice App is available to referring practices within our catchment area and provides a simple way to access specialist Orthopaedic and Neurology advice from the Movement team.
Case review
Meningiomas in Cats: Two Successful Surgical Cases
In the last couple of months, two very lovely cats called Alan and Mr Whiskerson were assessed due to suspected intracranial disease and diagnosed with intracranial meningiomas. Alan presented due to a history of behaviour changes and losing balance over a couple of weeks. Mr Whiskerson had an acute onset of neurological signs (behaviour change, circling and loss of balance) which after performing an MRI was found to be due to an ischaemic stroke, with the meningioma found at the same time.
Meningiomas are the most common brain tumours in cats. Clinical signs often include behaviour changes, circling, ataxia, visual deficits and seizures. Meningiomas have typical imaging features on MRI and are usually well demarcated, broad based with moderate to marked contrast enhancement.
Both Mr Whiskerson and Alan had MRI of the brain, with findings supportive of meningiomas. They underwent surgical excision to remove the neoplasms, and a meningioma was confirmed histologically in both cases. They are doing very well post operatively and are back to their normal selves. At recheck, Alan’s neurological examination was normal, and Mr Whiskerson had mild deficits suspected to be residual from his ischaemic stroke.
Meningiomas in cats tend to be slow growing, and cause gradually worsening neurological deficits. Cats can do very well after surgery and enjoy normal lives for several years afterwards. For any middle aged to older cat presenting with progressive neurological signs, an MRI would be recommended, and surgery can offer an excellent outcome in many cases.
A T2-weighted transverse image of Alan’s brain.
Red arrow = meningioma.
Meet Clemmi
Clemmi is a 5 year-old English Springer Spaniel who was presented to Movement Referrals in July.
Clemmi was out for a walk with her owner, when she briefly went out of sight, and then came to them distressed and unable to walk properly. She lay down by her owner and was unable to get up. Her owners carried her to the car and took her to an out of hours practice, where she was assessed and given some pain relief. She was then assessed by her usual vets the following morning. At that point, she was still unable to walk. Reasonably, the vets suspected a spinal problem, and Clemmi was referred to us for assessment.
When Clemmi arrived with us, she was trying her best to walk. Importantly, she had good movement and strength in her hind limbs, but was unable to use her forelimbs. This is not consistent with a spinal or neurological problem, and Ben Walton, the Specialist who saw Clemmi was suspicious of orthopaedic disease.
Whilst forelimb lameness is common in dogs, and some conditions will cause pain in both forelimbs simultaneously, it is very unusual for a condition to be sudden onset, and to affect both forelimbs to the same degree. Most conditions that affect both forelimbs, e.g. elbow dysplasia, or immune mediated polyarthritis, tend to be gradual onset, and/ or worse after rest. In Clemmi’s case, onset was sudden, and during exercise.
Ben identified pain in both of Clemmi’s elbows and recommended a CT scan. This revealed humeral intracondylar fissures (HIFs) in both elbows.
HIF is partial fracture in the humerus near the elbow joint. They are considered most likely to be a form of stress fracture, and English Springer Spaniels are by far the most commonly presented breed in the UK. In Clemmi’s case, we suspect that both HIFs propagated at the same time, and a painful threshold was reached.
The Movement Referrals orthopaedic team have been closely involved in developing several innovative surgical solutions for HIF and related fractures over the years, have published several research articles, and treated many dogs for this condition. So Clemmi was in safe hands!
Ben stabilised both HIFs with Fusion Implant’s Humeral Intracondylar Stabilisation System (HISS) – a headless, self-compressing, titanium alloy screw designed especially for this purpose.
Clemmi was up and walking within a couple of hours of surgery, and was trotting around quite comfortably the following day.
Ben Walton has recently published a review article on HIF and condylar fractures in In Practice, available here.
Our team and other news
Meet the Growing Movement Referrals Team
It’s an exciting time for Movement Referrals, and as our services continue to grow across both Movement Referrals Midlands and Movement Referrals Northwest, so does our team!
Over the past few months, we are thrilled to have been welcoming a number of new faces across the practices, strengthening our teams in reception, animal care, nursing and our referral veterinary teams. From the friendly faces helping clients and referring practices at reception, to the dedicated ACAs and nurses caring for our patients, and our specialist referral surgeons providing expert clinical care, every new team member brings valuable skills, experience and enthusiasm to Movement.
We’re proud to continue building a team that shares our commitment to providing exceptional patient care, supporting our clients and working closely with our referring veterinary practices.
So, we thought it was time to introduce some of the newest members of the Movement family and give you the opportunity to get to know the people behind the growing team!
Team Midlands
Catherine Roberts RVN, BSc (Hons), NCERT ECC joins us as a highly experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse with over nine years of post-qualification experience in emergency and critical care nursing. Catherine has worked in specialist referral hospitals and leadership roles, bringing extensive expertise in inpatient and ICU care, anaesthesia, advanced imaging support, and clinical coaching. Her passion for exceptional patient care and nursing excellence makes her a fantastic addition to our clinical team.
Hatty Mack joins the team with valuable experience gained as a Veterinary Care Assistant at PDSA, where she supported veterinary surgeons and nurses in a busy clinical environment. Hatty has experience in patient handling, anaesthetic monitoring, and client communication, alongside a strong commitment to compassionate patient and client care.
Melika Carvajal brings a unique combination of animal care, leadership, and client service experience. Having spent over eight years working with dogs, including managing and mentoring teams within a large daycare environment, Melika is also an ADPT-certified dog trainer. More recently, she has gained veterinary reception and clinical support experience through PDSA and Burton Vets, further developing her skills within veterinary practice.
We are thrilled to welcome Catherine, Harriet and Melika to Movement Referrals and look forward to the knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication they will bring as we continue to deliver outstanding patient care and support to our referring veterinary colleagues.
Gemma joins Movement Referrals with extensive experience in veterinary reception and administration, having worked within both first-opinion and referral practice environments for over a decade. Her expertise includes client communication, appointment coordination, dispensing medication, administration and supporting busy clinical teams. Gemma’s friendly, organised approach and commitment to excellent client care will help ensure a smooth experience for both pet owners and referring practices alike.
Ollie Anderson graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2018 before returning to his hometown of Leicester, where he spent three years working in small animal general practice. He subsequently moved to Bristol, completing both a rotating internship and a surgery-specific internship, before returning to the Royal Veterinary College to undertake a residency in small animal surgery and a Master’s in Veterinary Medicine.
Ollie’s clinical interests include advanced fracture repair and the management of humeral intracondylar fissures (HIFs).
Outside of work, Ollie enjoys running, cycling, and the occasional triathlon.
Team Northwest
Samantha Bromley
Samantha began her career in veterinary practice in 2020, bringing with her a wealth of experience across reception and administrative roles. Before entering the veterinary world, Samantha worked within a high school supporting children with Special Educational Needs, an experience that helped develop her strong communication skills, patience and caring approach.
After moving to the area, Samantha discovered the opportunity to enter the world of veterinary referrals and joined the team at Movement Referrals. She has thoroughly enjoyed her warm welcome into the Movement family and embraces the opportunity to learn, develop her skills and support our clients and patients.
Samantha is passionate about providing a friendly, reassuring and supportive experience for every client. She understands that being referred to a specialist practice can feel daunting, and is committed to helping make the process as stress-free as possible. Whether it’s answering questions, providing guidance or simply being there to offer reassurance, Samantha is always on hand to ensure clients feel supported and cared for throughout their referral journey with us.
Frances Anderson
Frances graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2019. She previously earned a degree in molecular and cell biology and worked in neuroscience research. After initially working in general practice in London, she completed a small animal rotating internship at the Royal Veterinary College. Frances then completed a residency in Veterinary Neurology and Neurosurgery at the University of Liverpool prior to joining Movement Referrals in July 2026. Frances’ clinical interests include inflammatory brain disease and neurosurgery.
Movement Referrals Supports Bare Necessities Charity Golf Day
In September, Movement Referrals was pleased to sponsor the sixth annual Bare Necessities Charity Golf Day, held at Wilmslow Golf Club, supporting an important local cause.
Bare Necessities Toiletry Bank is a charity dedicated to tackling hygiene poverty by providing essential toiletries and personal hygiene products to people who are unable to afford them. Working with a network of community organisations, the charity distributes items such as shampoo, soap, toothpaste, sanitary products and other everyday essentials to individuals and families in need.
The charity plays an important role in supporting people experiencing financial hardship, homelessness and other challenging circumstances, helping to ensure that access to basic hygiene products is not something people have to go without. Funds raised through events such as the annual golf day help Bare Necessities continue this work within the local community.
Representing Movement Referrals on the course were specialists John Innes and Mark Morton, who joined forces with fellow veterinary surgeons Paul Adams from Knutsford Vets and Alex McVey from Woolton Vets.
Competing as The Tee PLOs, the team put in a strong performance, finishing 5th out of 26 teams.
The event provided an opportunity to come together with colleagues from across the veterinary community while supporting a charity making a tangible difference to people in the local area.
Movement Referrals was proud to support the event and contribute to the continued work of Bare Necessities. We would like to thank the charity and everyone involved in organising the day for a successful event, and congratulate John, Mark, Paul and Alex on their impressive result.
Find out more about Bare Necessities – https://bntoiletrybank.org/
Honouring a Lifetime of Excellence in Veterinary Surgery
Last July, we were delighted and honoured to present the Movement Referrals: Independent Veterinary Specialists Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr Don Hulse, DVM, DACVS, DECVS, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the field of veterinary surgery.
Over a remarkable career spanning more than four decades, Don Hulse has left an indelible mark on the profession. He has educated thousands of veterinary surgeons across the globe, pioneered significant advances in minimally invasive surgery and orthopaedics, and inspired generations of clinicians through his exceptional expertise, humility and infectious sense of humour.
Those who have had the privilege of learning from Don will know that his lectures are as memorable as they are educational. Whether beginning a presentation with nothing more than a photograph of College Station, Texas, or sharing stories over a well-earned glass of Chardonnay after a round of golf, he has always demonstrated that the most effective teachers are those who make even the most complex concepts feel accessible.
The Lifetime Achievement Award itself is a beautiful piece of art, specially created by internationally renowned Liverpool sculptor Emma Rodgers, making the occasion even more fitting for such an exceptional recipient.
Congratulations, Don, on this well-deserved recognition. Thank you for your extraordinary dedication, leadership and generosity throughout your career. It was a true privilege to celebrate your remarkable achievements and lasting impact on our profession.
Upcoming CPD: Bringing Orthopaedics and Behaviour Together
We’re delighted to invite our referring veterinary colleagues to our next free CPD evening at Movement Referrals Northwest, taking place on
Wednesday 11 November 2026 from 6.30pm.
This special evening will explore the important relationship between orthopaedic pain and behavioural changes, looking at how pain can influence behaviour and how behavioural signs may help us recognise and understand underlying pain in our patients.
Our speakers
We are delighted to welcome two highly respected specialists:
Dr Sarah Heath BVSc PgCertVE DipECAWBM(BM) CCAB FHEA FRSM FRCVS
RCVS and EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine
Sarah qualified from Bristol University and spent four years in mixed general practice before setting up Behavioural Referrals Veterinary Practice in 1992. She is an RCVS and European Veterinary Specialist in Behavioural Medicine. In 2018 she was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for meritorious contributions to the profession. Sarah is an External Lecturer in small animal behavioural medicine at Liverpool University and also teaches on the veterinary undergraduate course at Surrey University. She is a Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist under the ASAB accreditation scheme. She sees clinical cases across North West England. Sarah lives in Chester with her 2 cats, Luis and Didi who were hand reared at Cats Protection Warrington and came to live with Sarah in 2017. And Jamie, her Flat-coated Retriever..
Ben Walton BVSc DSAS(orth) MRCVS
RCVS Specialist in Small Animal Surgery (Orthopaedics)
Ben has worked in the North West since qualifying as a vet from University of Liverpool in 2002. He worked initially in Manchester and then at University of Liverpool’s Leahurst Campus, where he undertook clinical research in canine orthopaedics and also completed his specialist training. He became a RCVS Specialist in 2015 and worked at a private Specialist Referral Centre in Chester. Ben is passionate about lameness diagnosis and evidence-based orthopaedic implant design. He co-founded Movement Independent Veterinary Referrals to provide the highest high quality specialist orthopaedics and neurology services.
An evening designed for general practice
With expertise spanning both orthopaedics and behavioural medicine, Sarah and Ben will explore how physical disease, pain and behaviour can interact — and how recognising these factors can help us provide more comprehensive care for our patients.
We’ll be sharing practical insights that can be taken straight back into practice, alongside plenty of opportunity for discussion and questions.
We’d love to welcome vets from our referring practices for what promises to be an interesting and thought-provoking evening.
Places are limited, so please use the button below to reserve yours.
We look forward to welcoming you at Movement Referrals Northwest!