Kaminox contains potassium gluconate and B-vitamins to help dogs affected by hypokalaemia.
Originally released as an oral liquid supplement, Vetplus says this new powdered formulation offers a more concentrated level of potassium for larger pets or those that require a higher dose.
Kaminox sachets are sold in packs of 30, with a scoop provided for easy administration.
Meanwhile, the liquid supplement is available in 60ml and 120ml bottles.
www.vetplus.co.uk/products
MsRCVS Sean Cleary and Richard Thomas, and accountant Jane Platt have opened their first practice, Burford Lane Vets in Cheshire, and now plan to open 10 more practices over the next five years, two in Spring 2022
Burford Lane Vets is headed up by Pieter De Villiers MRCVS, who has become an equity owner, supported by a team of nine vets, nurses and receptionists.
Sean said: “Our vets benefit from our many years of clinical, financial, human resources and procurement experience and have the opportunity to add the finishing touches to a state-of-the-art practice, where no expense has been spared on the fit out and equipment.
"Everything from finding a property, negotiating the lease, fitting out the practice and health and safety is taken care of.
"It means our equity partners can enjoy being fantastic vets and reap the financial rewards that brings, and we are here to support the practice and take care of all the administration, procurement, marketing and everything else that goes into running a successful business."
Sean added: “We have benefited from the shift in the industry that saw veterinary groups acquired by large corporate businesses.
"However, this has inadvertently made it difficult for the next generation of vets to follow the traditional route of buying into a practice as they progress from a junior role to partner, as corporate interest has pushed the values of practices to unaffordable levels for most vets.
"We want to bridge that gap and give a leg up to vets who want to be masters of their own destinies, without the difficulty of starting from scratch or having to find a huge initial investment.”
Sean says he thinks there are a great many vets who would like to launch their own practice.
However, starting from scratch is fraught with risk, expense, and complexity.
Sean added: “Our innovative model helps great vets set up in business as leaders of their own practice and our unique offering is already attracting interest from high-calibre individuals.
"We would encourage any colleagues out there who feel they would like to join us in our new venture to get in touch via our website.”
Sean concluded: “The business acumen we have built up over our many years of working in the industry enables us to provide practical support, mentorship and guidance for vets through every step of the process, and that’s something we’re passionate about.
"The directors will be working across all practices to provide support whenever it’s needed. We are in it for the long haul, not just the initial set up stage, and we will become a part of every practice that opens.
“We take a real pride in being the solution to fix the broken practice ownership model and North Star Vets will empower ambitious vets to enjoy a better and more successful future, which in turn will translate into the standard of care our clients enjoy.”
This year’s programme includes five live streams running in parallel throughout the conference with clinical research presentations also returning after the Covid-enforced hiatus.
The first plenary lecture will be presented by Pat McCue who will review events that have shaped current practice in equine reproduction before looking at what the future holds.
The second plenary lecture, being delivered by Celia Marr, will look at 'evidence in perinatology'.
David Lloyd, Congress Scientific Programme Chair, said: “Whilst we are sure most delegates will be clamouring to attend the lectures and discussions in Liverpool in person, the programme also includes a virtual stream available live online.
“Also, to help reduce our carbon footprint, we are holding one virtual session concurrently across all lecture theatres.
"Global leaders in the field of infectious disease, imaging, nursing, reproduction and sports medicine and rehabilitation, will present virtually to the lecture hall rather than travelling to the congress.
"This session will have 25 of the “best of the best” speakers, presenting and discussing topics that challenge us in practice.”
Early bird tickets for BEVA Congress are available from 28th February 2022.
Early bird BEVA member prices are £187 for vet nurses for all three days (with concessions available for those on a lower salary).
Virtual tickets are £40 for nurses.
BEVA has a 'peace of mind' bookings policy to reassure those who are concerned that the Covid-19 situation may change between booking their ticket and the event.
For more information, or to book, visit http://www.bevacongress.org/
The webinar will discuss the importance of self-compassion and provide an overview of Katherine and Sarah’s research into the effectiveness of an online compassion focused therapy (CFT) intervention in improving the mental wellbeing of veterinary professionals.
Katherine and Sarah will also go into more detail about how to get the most out of a CFT course they have created, which will be made freely available for veterinary professionals on the Mind Matters website and on the RCVS YouTube channel .
Katherine said: “Our recent randomised control trial has shown the course to significantly improve resilience and self-compassion and reduce rumination and self-criticism amongst veterinarians.
"Therefore, Sarah and I are delighted to now be disseminating the CFT course freely to the veterinary professions, so that as many people are able to benefit from the evidence-based resource as possible.
“Even though our research was conducted on veterinary surgeons, we hope that the course will be useful to all those working in the veterinary team as the content can be applied in a number of contexts.
“Our webinar will explain more about our research, as well as some of the science behind the effectiveness of the course in a veterinary context.
"So, if you are interested in learning more about how CFT may be able to help you and your team, both in a personal and professional capacity, please do come along.”
Katherine and Sarah’s compassion focused therapy course will be made available on the Mind Matters website in due course. In order to access the online compassion course, individuals are invited to complete a short questionnaire before and after watching one 10-15 minute video each day for 14 days, with the aim of the video intervention being to develop self-compassion skills and reduce self-criticism.
https://vetmindmatters.org/events/
Procanicare contains three canine-specific strains of Lactobacillus bacteria, which the company says are proven to improve stool consistency, accelerate recovery following acute episodes of diarrhoea and improve well-being.1
The company also points to a number of studies which it says are evidence of the importance of supporting puppies' intestinal microbiomes.
'New puppy diarrhoea' is, it says, typically due to exposure to factors that are known to risk microbiome disturbance, such as diet change and going to a new home, at a time when the microbial population is at its more sensitive.2
Animalcare says other studies show that microbiome disturbances in early life can have a significant impact on health in adulthood.2,3
James Beaumont, Marketing Manager at Animalcare said: “We often hear from breeders, new puppy owners and vets that puppies which have had Procanicare seem brighter, have firmer stools and less flatulence. With the evidence mounting that the adult intestinal microbiome is shaped in early life and knowing the important and varied role that it has in wider health throughout life, we want to help vets proactively support the GI health of their youngest patients by providing Procanicare for them to trial, with no risk.”
References
The aim of the survey is to provide a better understanding of the views, experiences and challenges faced by disabled and chronically ill people within the veterinary profession and provide an insight into how the profession and educational institutions can be more inclusive.
You do not have to be disabled or chronically ill to complete the survey, which will take you around 20 minutes to complete.
Claire Hodgson, director and co-founder of BVCIS, said: “Working in the veterinary professions with a chronic illness or disability can be hugely challenging, but there is currently a knowledge gap in terms of understanding exactly where the problems lie.
“A 2019 RCVS survey of the professions found that around 6.7% of vets and 7.4% of RVNs have a disability or medical condition that limits work that they can do, but the true figures are likely to be much higher.
"No reliable data for veterinary students currently exists.
“The purpose of this survey is to close that knowledge gap and help us understand how we can better support disabled and chronically ill people in the workplace and education to create a more inclusive working culture.\
“Those living with disability and chronic illness are often hugely resourceful and fantastic problem solvers because of the day-to-day challenges they have had to learn to overcome.
"They have a great deal to contribute to the sector, and it is important that they feel valued and respected and have access to the tools they need to thrive.
“Diversity makes the workforce stronger, so we are calling on as many different people as possible from across the veterinary community to complete our survey so that, together, we can help create a more inclusive workplace for all.”
The survey will be circulated by email to all RCVS registered veterinary nurses and student veterinary nurses in the near future.
Details will be circulated to students via their educational institutions.
The RCVS says all survey responses will be completely confidential, and results will only be analysed and reported at a level that does not allow identification of individuals in any way.
Completed surveys will not be seen by anyone at the RCVS or BVCIS – the IES will send through a report with key research findings to both the RCVS and BVCIS after the survey has closed.
Sheldon is managing director of RVC Veterinary Practices Ltd and principal at Acorn House Veterinary Hospital in Bedford. He has been with the practice for 14 years. A graduate of Cambridge University he has a particular interest and a GP Certificate in ophthalmology. He has been a member of the BSAVA Board for the past five years and a volunteer since graduation.
Sheldon says that during his Presidency he will focus on shaping Congress 2022 into the ultimate veterinary get-together as the country begins its release from the challenges and constraints of the pandemic. He said: "With more than 3,300 registrations, the turnout for and particularly the engagement with BSAVA Virtual Congress 2021 was phenomenal, given the challenges the profession is currently facing as a result of the pandemic.
“We intend to build on this for BSAVA Congress 2022, by deploying a cleverly blended format to retain the high degree of accessibility and flexibility that delegates have so enjoyed this year. We will be releasing further details on BSAVA Congress 2022 in the early summer.”
Sheldon says he will also be focusing on BSAVA’s support for the small animal veterinary community as it emerges from the pandemic.
"The profession has shown incredible resilience and dynamism in responding to the changing demands of our patients but we need to be careful that this is not at the expense of our own wellbeing. BSAVA’s community support, practical education and science resources and leadership are all there to support the profession as it pivots to a new way of working.”
BSAVA Virtual Congress 2021 content is accessible for another 6 weeks. Visit https://www.bsavaevents.com/bsavacongress2021/en/page/home.
They say that dogs which lose sensation following damage to the spinal cord from a slipped disc have a prognosis for recovery of about 50%.
However, there is no reliable way of determining which dog will recover and failing that, owners must wait weeks to months to see if there are any signs of recovery, during which time dogs may need anaesthesia, surgery, and intensive nursing care.
The researchers say that the stiffness of an organ can be a marker of how damaged it is.
So, for the research, a new ultrasound machine equipped with an advanced piece of software (known as ‘shear wave elastography’) – will be used to measure the stiffness of a dog’s spinal cord during surgery.
The dog’s recovery to walking after surgery will then be monitored routinely.
The results will allow researchers to see if a relationship between spinal cord stiffness at time of surgery and recovery exists.
If successful, this would help them provide a more accurate prognosis for dogs with spinal cord injury in the future.
If you have a case suitable for this study, CVS says they will receive a gold standard treatment for spinal cord injury, which will include spinal surgery.
They will also have an ultrasound of the spinal cord performed during surgery, a procedure taking approximately 15 minutes.
Contact referrals@highcroftvet.co.uk or nicolas.granger@bristolvetspecialists.co.uk.
BVS Neurology study from CVS (UK) Ltd on Vimeo.
Pergocoat contains pergolide, a long-acting dopamine receptor agonist.
It is available in 0.5mg (off-white) and 1mg (yellow) tablets for accurate dosing without the need to split tablets.
The tablets are film-coated to mask the bitter taste of pergolide and create a barrier between the horse owner and the active ingredient.
Available in two different pack sizes containing 60 or 160 tablets, Pergocoat tablets are packaged in double layered blister packs to help minimise the risk of accidental ingestion.
Rachel Addison BVM&S MRCVS, equine field support manager at Dechra said: “Pergocoat is available in two convenient tablet sizes to achieve an optimal treatment response.
"Horses can be monitored and reviewed every four to six weeks until stabilisation or improvement of clinical signs is observed.”
https://www.dechra.co.uk/products/horse/prescription/pergocoat#Pergocoat-0-5mg-60-film-coated-tablets-for-horses.
The panel is an international coalition of experts who come from different professional backgrounds but who all specialise in some form in the mental wellbeing of cats.
The purpose of the panel is to help those working and caring for cats in all the various settings to understand their behavioural, emotional and cognitive capabilities and needs in order to be able to promote their mental wellbeing and ultimately protect their welfare.
Such settings include people’s homes, in catteries, in veterinary clinics, and in homing centres and on the streets. Through the sharing of initiatives and information in a confidential space, iCatCare says this will be a collaborative effort that will advance the accepted understanding and common practices in a way that would be impossible to do individually.
CEO, Claire Bessant (pictured right) said: "By working together, gaining input from great people and enabling all those who work with cats to grow their expertise, iCatCare can deliver on its mission to create a world in which each cat’s life experience will be as good as it can be’. For more information about the Feline Wellbeing Panel, visit: https://icatcare.org/about/our-expert-panel
The two surveys, for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses respectively, ask the professions a wide range of both quantitative and qualitative questions, covering everything from what they do in a typical working day, to career aspirations, to levels of mental and physical wellbeing.
The surveys are confidential and anonymous.
Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO, said: “Our Surveys of the Professions are not just a useful and interesting snapshot of the veterinary professions at a particular moment in time, but are really consequential in terms of what we do with the results.
"For example, information from the previous surveys were used to inform our current Strategic Plan, including our mission to be a compassionate regulator, ongoing support for the Mind Matters Initiative, and a focus on workforce-related issues.
"In a similar spirit, this year’s results will inform the forthcoming RCVS Strategic Plan.
“Of course, the quality of the results of the surveys really depends on hearing from as many of you as possible – so we would like veterinary professionals from all parts of the UK as well as our overseas members, from all backgrounds, of all ages and working on all different disciplines to feed into all areas of the surveys and help us with our research.
"Please don’t miss out on having your say, and a huge thank you for taking the time to support this important work.”
The deadline for completing the survey is on or before Friday 16 February 2024.
Under the new policy, introduced this month, women who joined the company more than two years ago are entitled to six month's maternity leave on full pay, while those who have been with the company for less than that are entitled to three months at full pay and three months at half pay.
After six months, statutory rates will be paid.
Meanwhile, new fathers are now entitled to four week's paternity leave on full pay.
Mark Ross (pictured right), CEO of Vets Now, said: “Several staff wrote to me about this issue and I agreed to look into it.
"Our previous maternity policy was six weeks full pay, six weeks half pay, followed by statutory rates, while men received 1.5 weeks of full paternity pay, so this is a huge leap forward. The changes cover maternity leave, shared parental leave, adoption and surrogacy.
"Our business has been tremendously successful in the past few years, thanks to the incredible hard work of our people, and we’re always looking at innovative ways of reinvesting our profits back into the business so it’s our people who benefit most.
"We’re also hoping to put in place other improvements and among the initiatives we’re looking at are providing better support for staff returning to work after a period of leave, better provisions for nursing mums, a dedicated resource for parents who are struggling, and additional leave during the first year of returning to work.
"We want to make Vets Now a great place to work for all of our staff, no matter what stage they’re at in life."
No word on the absolute number of 'concerns', but they included:
Jennie Jones, Head of VCMS and Partner at Nockolds Resolution (pictured right), said: "The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown period has impacted many pet owners and veterinary practices. The increased use of remote consultations, and online and remote prescription services has been a great help to many during this time, but it also has its challenges as we all adapt to different ways of working. At the VCMS, we are well-equipped to take on complaints that eventuate in these circumstances, drawing on our past experience with prescription-related grievances and their resolution."
During 2018-19, the VCMS concluded 88% of complaints mediated using the ADR process developed by Nockolds.
Nockolds says it anticipates a rise in prescription-related complaints, and welcomes communication from practices and clients regarding these or any other vet-related complaints. Visit: http://www.nockolds.co.uk
Tip 1 – Make sure that pet owners understand the functions of a microchip properlyMichelle says: "Some customers I’ve spoken to wrongly believe that microchips function as GPS trackers. To help manage pet owners’ expectations I always stress the importance of a microchip in lost pet recovery scenarios, where they serve as a permanent form of identification."
Tip 2 – Stress the importance of pet owners updating their contact details with their microchip providerMichelle says: "Pet owners often think that updating contact details with their vet will automatically sync these changes with the microchip database. It’s vital to inform owners that they must separately update their contact information with their microchip database. I’d recommend regularly reminding pet owners to check and update their microchip registration."
Tip 3 – Reassure pet owners that microchips are safe for their catsMichelle says: "I’ve had some owners express worries about allergic reactions or rejection of the microchip by their cat's body. So it’s worth taking the opportunity to dispel this myth during routine wellness exams by explaining microchips are made from inert, biocompatible materials designed to be nonallergenic and nontoxic.
Tip 4 – Make sure to discuss the longevity of microchips with pet ownersMichelle says: Microchips are designed to last the lifetime of the pet without needing a power source and that their functionality can easily be verified during any veterinary visit. If you find an owner expresses concerns about this, you could offer to check the microchip as part of regular health checks to demonstrate its reliability.
Tip 5 – Emphasise how every cat needs a microchip – regardless of age or activity levelMichelle says: "All vets will know even indoor or elderly cats can escape or wander off and older cats can become disoriented more easily. It is worth reminding owners that microchipping is a safeguard, ensuring their pet can be identified and returned home if lost. The new law means that pet owners can also face a large £500 fine if their cat isn’t microchipped."
Tip 6 – Explain how not all microchips are the same and the importance of getting the right oneMichelle says: I often explain that microchips vary in terms of the technology they employ, such as the new 'Thermochip' by HomeAgain that also measures a cat’s subcutaneous temperature. It’s worth talking pet owners through the different microchips available and the database options so they can make an informed choice.
http://homeagain.co.uk/Cats
Liz, co-founder of WellVet, will present data from a survey conducted by SPVS and Veterinary Woman: ‘Menopause and the Effect on Veterinary Professionals and Teams’, which showed the impact of menopause on an important, experienced demographic, with up to 80% of women experiencing negative physical and mental effects, which are moderate to severe in 30% of women1.
Belinda, Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh will present on conclusions from her research on menopause at work.
Belinda will also share findings from the government-funded Supporting Healthy Ageing at Work (SHAW) Project, a 3-year investigation into hidden health factors affecting how workers over 50 engage with work.
Her presentation will include a synopsis of suggested workplace interventions to trial as a result of this research.
The session will discuss possible solutions to support improved retention and happier, healthier work for longer across the veterinary sector. It will present an opportunity for veterinary teams to be part of the phase 3 of the SHAW project and trial the evidence-based workplace interventions that have emerged from the phase 1 data.
Liz said: “We could be doing a lot more to support healthier, longer working lives for many women impacted.
“If you are unable to attend this session, please encourage representatives from across your organisations and businesses to attend.
"This could be the start of a hugely positive pan-profession move to improve working life for many.”
The session will take place on 18th November 2022 from 15:45 – 16:35 at London Vet Show in the Business Theatre. https://london.vetshow.com/conference-programme-2022/menopause-interventions-in-veterinary-practice
Webinarvet will be hosting a lead-in session to this on 15th October 2022 at 8pm. https://www.thewebinarvet.com/webinar/the-m-word-now-is-the-time-to-talk-about-it
Reference
Speakers include Dr. Cecilia Villaverde, Consultant at Expert Pet Nutrition and Dr. Aarti Kathrani, Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College, and there'll be sessions on managing adverse food reactions, incorporating probiotics into clinical practice and acute gastrointestinal disease.
Attendees will also be able to explore strategies to build strong personal and professional client relationships, including how to initiate effective nutrition conversations and resolve potential conflicts.
On the subject of mental well-being, there'll be expert tips and tricks to help veterinary nurses maintain emotional resilience and thrive in their demanding roles.
https://www.vet-center.eu/eu/pro-plan-vet-nurse-symposium
The group reports that over 150 veterinary professionals have registered on its website and pledged their support.
The campaigners say they've been astonished with the response and believe the dozens of practices that have received legal letters and signed up so far could just be the tip of the iceberg.
Since the story first came to light, VetNurse.co.uk understands IVC has sent follow-up letters to a number of practices saying it has decided to offer a stay of execution and extend the deadline to comply until the 31st December 2025, before it considers taking further legal action.
However, the campaigners estimate that to rebrand so many ‘Pet Health Clubs’ will cost £250,000 and £350,000 in total, so they have now appointed an intellectual property lawyer to provide specialist advice on whether such a common term can be protected with a word mark.
Alex Green of Broadway Vets said: “Initially we set up We Are Spartacus to bring all the affected practices together to support each other, and while we’ve done this, we’ve also brought the wider veterinary community together who want to stand up to IVC Evidensia and the ridiculous word mark.
“Lots of practices have had a ‘Pet Health Club’ for more than 10 years and the majority of those that have come forward were using the term long before IVC registered its word mark in 2019, so it’s clearly an issue that people feel very passionate about, especially when it’s likely to cost each practice a significant amount of money and time to rebrand.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people who have registered to support us, especially those that aren’t affected but who want to stand shoulder to shoulder with us against such an unnecessary and underhand way of doing business.
"However, there are still several practices that are affected that we haven’t heard from, and we’d urge them to come and join us now.
“We’re also keen to hear from those that received initial letters and haven’t yet had a follow-up offering a stay of execution until the end of the year.
"Whilst we’re delighted that IVC has extended their deadline, it does not resolve the fact that their threats are unacceptable when every practice in the country provides animal, or ‘pet’, healthcare, or ‘health’, in a community-based service, or ‘club’.
“They don’t need to fight or worry about this on their own and we’re stronger as a collective, especially when it comes to pooling resources and expertise.
"We’ve already appointed a specialist IP lawyer to advise us, and the view is that given the extensive prior use of ‘Pet Health Club,’ it would be crazy to allow this to escalate to court when it can be amicably resolved.
“It’s also come to light that IVC has even registered ‘It’s not what we do, it’s why we do it’ which does rather sum it all up.
Spartacus just wants to know why IVC is doing what it’s doing.”
www.wearespartacus.co.uk
The films, which include information and practical advice based on the pillars of lifestyle medicine and the neuropsychology of hormones, are aimed both at individuals who are directly affected and those who want to support them.
Wellvet co-founder Liz Barton MRCVS said: “We now know that nearly half of veterinary team members experience a moderate-severe impact of perimenopause symptoms on their mental health, and a third report a significant impact on their working life and career."
Dr. Claire Gillvray, GP, Lifestyle Medicine specialist and psychiatrist with a special interest in women’s health, who introduces the films, said: “While we tend to focus on the individual, we all have friends, family, colleagues and clients who will experience symptoms impacting their mental and physical health and relationships.
"Although some women transition through the menopause with no problems, many women suffer a multiplicity of debilitating symptoms.
"These symptoms can be devastating and the medical advice they receive can be extremely variable, with some doctors dismissing perimenopause.
"Though onset can be earlier, symptoms typically occur between the ages of 40-60 years and can last for a decade or more, and there can be severe health impacts including cardiovascular, neurological and orthopaedic disease."
“These videos will empower individuals to take control of their symptom monitoring, have meaningful conversations with medical professionals, and trial lifestyle adjustments that may improve their health and wellbeing.”
The first instalment of nine 5-30 minute bitesize videos are accessible now on the WellVet website: https://www.wellvet.co.uk/resources/menopause-resources-for-veterinary-teams/.
The roles were confirmed by Buckingham Palace this month as part of a recent review of royal patronages.
RCVS President Dr Sue Paterson FRCVS said: “We are delighted that His Majesty the King is our new Royal Patron, continuing his mother’s support for the veterinary professions.
“We know that His Majesty is a keen advocate for animal health and welfare, the environment and biodiversity, and so his interests align very much with ours in areas such as sustainability, tackling antimicrobial resistance, and in supporting veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to best meet their professional standards.
British Veterinary Association President Dr. Anna Judson said: “We’re honoured to welcome His Majesty King Charles as our Patron.
"This ongoing royal commitment recognises the vital contribution vets make to animal welfare and their critical role in society, from taking care of the nation’s pets through to ensuring animal welfare in food production, public health and international trade.
"On behalf of our members, we’d like to thank His Majesty for his commitment to BVA, our profession and the work we do.”
The Veterinary Nursing foundation degree at Aberystwyth University combines theoretical and practical learning, with a year-long work placement in a veterinary practice as an integral part of the programme.
Facilities at the university include a clinical skills lab, research and anatomy laboratories, equine teaching centre and university farms.
A mock veterinary clinic is being developed and will allow students to prepare for clinical placements in a simulated environment.
The School of Veterinary Science at Aberystwyth University has been training veterinary students since it was officially opened in December 2021 by King Charles III.
Emma Anscombe-Skirrow, Senior Lecturer and Veterinary Nursing Lead said: “The success of Wales’ only School of Welsh Veterinary Science since it opened is fantastic to see.
"The addition of vet nursing studies to the veterinary degree that is already being taught here is a great opportunity to expand the School's educational provision."
Inquiries about the veterinary nursing course and applications can be made by emailing: vetssat@aber.ac.uk.
In his opening address Matthew, an elected member of VN Council since 2016, said: “In the position of Chair, I will continue to keep my fellow nurses very much at heart, whatever the species, environment and role they are working in.
“Veterinary nursing is not an easy profession. When I talk to nurses, they often highlight their biggest frustration with the profession is the extensive lack of understanding about our role and what we can and are very capable of doing. Achieving more clarity on our role as veterinary nurses, at all levels is my priority, as I know resolving this could in turn improve several other chronic issues in our profession.”
In another first at the RCVS AGM, Mandisa Green became the first black woman to be invested as the RCVS President.
She said: "When the College was founded in 1844, it would have been unthinkable that a woman, let alone a black woman, would become President of the institution one day. I am immensely proud of this achievement and, while it clearly demonstrates progress, there is still plenty to do in widening access to our professions.”
She said she hoped to use her position as President to act as a role model to young people from under-represented groups, to encourage them to consider careers in veterinary surgery, and to support those already in the profession.
“As recent weeks and the Black Lives Matter movement have highlighted, there is more to be done, and we are committed to doing the work necessary. It is essential that we support all members of the veterinary team to work in an environment that is free from discrimination and racism.”
Linnaeus says the team will focus on three priorities: student and patient care assistant experience, the professional development of nurses, and a preceptorship (Post-Registration Programme) to support the transition from ‘day one’ to ‘year one’ nurses in the company's referral hospitals.
Andrea Jeffery, Chief Nursing Officer at Linnaeus said: "We want to ensure Linnaeus has a veterinary nursing population which is supported and developed in order to reach its full potential in its ability to deliver best patient care.
"To help achieve this, we aspire to enable the patient care and nursing team to achieve success through supportive, well managed training programmes, which our newly-established central support team will help to deliver.
"This will ensure the structure of our nursing teams can help each individual meet their personal goals, with clear progression opportunities.
As part of the support team, Student Experience Managers Trish Scorer and Lucy Middlecote will be responsible for developing a standardised and supportive training approach for Student Veterinary Nurses, Patient Care Assistants and those clinical supervisors and mentors who support them.
Meanwhile, Post-Registration Programme Managers Sam Thompson and Sophie Venables are responsible for supporting early career nurses to develop their skills in referral nursing and will support the development of ‘day one’ RVN post-registration training within the group’s referral practices.
Lastly, professional Development Managers Claire Roberts (primary care) and Vicky Ford-Fennah (referral) have been given responsibility for supporting nurses who join the group, along with the co-ordination, development and implementation of professional development for RVNs and patient care assistants who want to progress their skills and knowledge in specific areas of patient care.
The VMG created its Award, Certificate and Diploma in Veterinary Leadership & Management as part of its mission to equip and empower 21st century veterinary leaders.
Launched in 2021, the modular qualifications are accredited by the Institute of Leadership & Management.
All awardees are now moving forward to the Certificate (CVLM) stage of the qualification.
The final stage is the Diploma (DVLM), typically achieved after two years.
Heidi Taylor RVN, Head of Nursing Services at Dick White Referrals in Cambridgeshire, said: “I found the module extremely insightful and useful in my day-to-day role.
"It has challenged me to reflect on my own performance and leadership style and given me a strong understanding of different leadership styles.
"I have used this to better understand my colleagues and to try and to adapt my approach, depending on the situation.”
She added: “Excellent support was provided and the online platform is user-friendly.
"The content was broken down into manageable sections to avoid overwhelming us and I was able to complete my studies around my other commitments.
"I recommend this course to those looking to improve as a leader by developing greater self-awareness and their theoretical knowledge.”
Learning and Development Manager at VMG, Dr Hannah Perrin said: “As challenging times continue, veterinary businesses across the UK need the skills, knowledge and experience of their leaders and managers.
"But leaders aren’t born – they need support to develop their skills.
"The CVLM programme incorporates the latest thinking in leadership and management, as well as addressing a range of contemporary issues, both sector-specific and affecting the wider business and social environment."
The next cohort will commence its studies in April 2022. More information is available here: www.vetmg.com/cvlm.
Hosted by industry veteran, Anthony Chadwick MRCVS, there will be five episodes, covering pet life expectancy, sustainability in the vet industry, recruitment, and euthanasia.
The first episode of The Pet Profession Podcast is available now with guest Dan O’Neill, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Epidemiology and co-lead of the VetCompass Research Programme at the RVC, discussing pet life expectancy.
The Pet Profession Podcast is available from Spotify, Acast, Apple Podcasts and all main podcast directories.
agriapet.co.uk/vets
The new directive, set out in a consensus statement led by neurologist Dr Marios Charalambous, Neurology Consultant at Blaise Veterinary Referral Hospital, champions a stage-based and prompt approach which targets the abnormal impediments responsible for sustaining seizure activity and establishing refractory stages.
Marios said: "This consensus statement is the culmination of extensive research and experience in managing complex neurological emergencies.
"By formulating clear and universally applicable guidelines for all vets, it presents both a novel perspective in terms of how seizures should be treated, and a huge step forward in this specific field."
Marios was joined by a panel of clinicians including Karen Muñana, Ned E. Patterson, Simon R. Platt, and Holger A. Volk, who have jointly made these recommendations based on prevailing evidence in peer-reviewed literature, as well as their own extensive clinical experience.
It was then validated by the ACVIM Board-Certified Specialists before being distributed globally by ACVIM to form official guidelines for vets across the world.
Marios will be presenting and discussing his findings at the BSAVA Congress 2024 in Manchester this weekend as part of the neurology agenda on Saturday 23 March 2024.
Dan Lewis, National ECC Lead at IVC Evidensia, said: “Being presented with an actively seizing animal can be incredibly stressful for owners and clinicians and has potentially dire consequences.
"Decision-making under such circumstances is often very difficult, even for the most knowledgeable teams, and access to these straightforward treatment guidelines will make a massive difference to how these cases progress.”
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jvim.16928.