The BSAVA has released the final figures showing that 6,331 veterinary surgeons, nurses, practice managers and students attended the event, up from 6,178 in 2013.The BSAVA has released the final figures showing that 6,331 veterinary surgeons, nurses, practice managers and students attended the event, up from 6,178 in 2013.

Outgoing BSAVA President Professor Michael Day was delighted that so many attended. He said: "What continues to set BSAVA Congress apart is simply 'quality'. The quality of the faultless organisation, the quality of the scientific content, and the quality of our exhibition and incomparable social programme."

A few other numbers from Congress this year included:

  • Between them, vets and nurses accrued more than 100,000 hours of CPD in a programme that included orthopaedics, neurology, anaesthesia and analgesia, dermatology, oncology and pain management.
  • BSAVA's charitable arm announced £40,000 worth of research funding, to be split between the seven veterinary colleges, and a further £5,000 available to veterinary nurses.
  • By close of play on Saturday, more than 1,800 textbooks had been bought from the BSAVA balcony.
  • There were nearly 300 exhibitors, amongst which Bayer Animal Health won the best 'space-only' Stand Award, Forum Animal Health picked up 'Best Large Shell Scheme', and Chunk Training won 'Best Small Shell Scheme'.
  • According to the Birmingham Convention Bureau, BSAVA Congress brought £15M to the regional economy.

Sunday saw the inauguration of the new BSAVA President Katie McConnell. She said: "Like so many previous presidents, I look back on my early volunteering days with deep affection but it would have been a great surprise to my earlier self to be told that one day I would be the BSAVA President.

"During my presidential year I would like to meet as many BSAVA members as I can, hopefully in their own regions. I plan to travel to regional BSAVA continuing education meetings, not to stand up and lecture but to listen to individual members and find out what the BSAVA means to them. The BSAVA is run by members for members and the only way to shape its work is to become engaged with it."

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vet nurses.