Today marks five years since the opening of the Oncology Service at Wear Referrals — the only RCVS and EBVS® Specialist-led veterinary oncology referral centre in the North East of England.
Since opening our doors on 19th April 2021, the service—founded by Aaron Harper—has grown into a thriving, compassionate multidisciplinary team. We are now home to three full-time clinicians (Aaron, Slavka and Katerina), one part-time clinician (Mariona) and an outstanding team of five dedicated oncology nurses (Tanya, Emily, Georgia, Melissa and Sadie). Their expertise and care underpin every patient’s journey and ensure exceptional support throughout treatment.
Over the past five years, we have walked alongside 1,457 patients through their cancer care.
We understand that talking about cancer—and especially chemotherapy—can be frightening for families. However, it is important to know that oncology treatment is typically very well tolerated in veterinary patients, with far fewer side effects than those experienced in human oncology. Our goal is always to maintain excellent quality of life while treating the disease. Throughout the process, we are here not only for our patients but also for the people who love them, offering guidance, understanding and emotional support every step of the way.
Each journey begins with confirming the diagnosis and assessing for any evidence of tumour spread—steps tailored to each tumour type and discussed thoroughly with the attending clinician. With this information, we can offer personalised treatment plans designed around the patient’s needs and their family’s goals.
The Oncology Service at Wear Referrals works hand-in-hand with other specialist-led departments, including Anaesthesia, Diagnostic Imaging, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Soft Tissue Surgery and Orthopaedics. This multidisciplinary collaboration ensures that every patient receives a truly individualised, compassionate and holistic approach.
