Newcastle's only around-the-clock animal emergency and referral hospital is set to open a new, significantly larger facility in Broadmeadow this week, tripling its capacity to meet the region's growing demand for veterinary services.
The Animal Referral and Emergency Centre (AREC) will officially open its doors at the new location, 11 Perth Road, Broadmeadow, on November 19 from 6pm. The new hospital sits directly opposite its former home on Lang Road, where it has operated for the past 21 years.
Addressing Two Decades of Growth
AREC owner, Dr David Tabrett, explained that the dramatic expansion was necessary to cope with a substantial increase in the number of pets across the Hunter region. "Our existing space is absolutely crowded," Dr Tabrett stated, highlighting the pressing need for more room.
The new, purpose-built facility will not only provide a better experience for clients and their pets but will also offer staff improved working conditions. As the sole 24-hour referral and emergency veterinary hospital between the Central Coast and the Northern Rivers, the upgraded centre is critical for the region's animal healthcare.
A New Standard in Veterinary Care
The tripled space allows for a significant enhancement of medical services and equipment. Key features of the new AREC Broadmeadow include:
- A larger and more comfortable waiting area for clients
- Expanded treatment rooms for complex procedures
- A dedicated Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with mechanical ventilation
- Additional surgical suites for advanced operations
- State-of-the-art CT imaging capabilities
In a major coup for Australian veterinary science, the hospital will be the first in Australia and New Zealand to install the GE Revolution Advance CT scanner, a machine specifically engineered for small animals. This technology provides incredibly detailed internal images, leading to faster and more accurate diagnoses.
The facility also boasts a purpose-designed dog rehabilitation space, complete with a hydrotherapy underwater treadmill to aid in recovery from surgery or injury.
Future-Proofing for the Community
Dr Tabrett revealed that the plan for a new facility has been five years in the making. He expressed his excitement at finally seeing the project come to life, a development that will significantly boost the centre's capacity to care for the community's pets as well as the sick and injured wildlife frequently brought to the centre.
Looking ahead, Dr Tabrett hopes the expanded space will allow AREC to grow its specialist referral services, potentially adding new departments for oncology, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, dermatology, and enhanced critical care within the intensive care unit.
This major investment in the Hunter region's animal health infrastructure ensures that pet owners have access to world-class emergency and specialist care, day and night.
