The initiative is called Project NURSE, which stands for Nurturing and Using REVN Skills and Experience.
The first stage of Project NURSE is to survey horse owners to find out what they understand about the role of REVNs and if they would be receptive to nurses visiting yards to carry out certain procedures, under the direction of a vet and within the scope of what is permissible by the RCVS.
Phillippa Pritchard (pictured right), an equine veterinary nurse and training manager at Liphook Equine Hospital, one of VetPartners’ practices, has been awarded a £1,000 grant by MSD Animal Health to promote the survey and is helping lead Project NURSE on behalf of VetPartners.
Phillippa said: “REVNs have an important role to play in equine practices and hospitals, but many nurses would welcome the opportunity to be more involved in yard visits and put their skills to the best possible use.
“There are many procedures we are qualified to do, including changing wound dressings, taking blood samples and administering prescribed doses of sedation, and by making more use of these skills we feel we would be able to help our practices provide an even better service to patients and clients.
“I also believe that having more interaction with owners and their horses would have a positive impact on job retention because equine nurses would be more fulfilled in their role and feel they have opportunities to develop their careers.”
VetPartners equine director Julian Rishworth added: “Our central ethos revolves around practices being a great place to work and striving for clinical excellence. Equine veterinary nurses are such an integral part of practice teams and if we don’t allow them to fully use their skills and fulfil their potential we are failing the team, our clients, their horses and our own group aspirations.”
Expanding on the training available in autumn 2022, which was launched based on the results of an extensive training pilot, MMI is offering a total of 14 sessions taking place both online and in person over the next few months. Sessions will be running from January to April 2023. The courses will cover areas that have been identified as priority topics from previous MMI surveys, feedback from the professions, and evaluation of the training pilots.
Mind Matters Initiative Manager, Lisa Quigley, said: “Mental health and wellbeing are impacted by a whole host of structural and societal factors and maintaining a healthy workforce goes far beyond supporting people on an individual level.
"Whilst it is undoubtedly important to provide people with the skills they need to look after themselves, we are aiming to expand on this by providing individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to recognise and address wider collective issues. For example, the importance of creating and maintaining a positive workplace culture.
Session dates and specific topics are as follows:
Mental Health First Aid (£30 in-person)
9am – 5pm
Psychological Safety and Civility (£20 in-person, £15 online)
In-person – 9am – 4pm
Online – 9am – 1pm
Sustaining Your Emotional Health (£15 in-person)
2pm – 5pm
For more information on the training courses, visit: https://vetmindmatters.org/training/
Mary (or, to give her her full title, Dr Mary Fraser BVMS PhD CertVD PGCHE FHEA MAcadMEd CBiol FRSB FRSPH FRCVS) focussed on decision-making in practice while studying for her MRes in Clinical Veterinary Research, looking at how vets and owners influence the decision making process. This led her to consider how decision making is taught to students.
As part of the initiative, Mary has launched a new website: www.clinicaldecisions.org, which, together with a supporting blog, is designed to help nurses, students and recent graduates examine their decision making in practice, consider how owners influence it, and take forward shared decision making for the benefit of all.
Mary said: "As a student decision making can seem difficult. Working with owners, all of whom have different expectations, can add to those challenges.
"I hope that by bringing that discussion to the fore we can support each other and allow future vets and veterinary nurses to identify their own strengths in supporting owners to make the best decisions for their animals."
Find out more and contribute to the discussion at www.clinicaldecisions.org
The full eligibility criteria, including FAQs and guidance notes, for veterinary nurses who wish to stand for VN Council can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/vncouncil21. The deadline for nominations is 5pm on Sunday 31 January 2021.
Due to the ongoing postal problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic, RCVS Council has approved a temporary change to the RCVS Election Scheme this year to allow nominations to be submitted electronically, rather than in hard copy. This temporary change is currently before the Privy Council for final approval.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Returning Officer for the elections, said: "For prospective RCVS and VN Councils election candidates this will mean that, rather than having to send us hard copies of your nomination documents in the post, these can simply be emailed to the College along with the relevant digital photographs and electronic signatures."
The College has also updated its information and guidance for prospective candidates, including an informal ‘job description’, to help them better understand what it means to be members of VN Council, their responsibilities, commitments and how they help the College meet its strategic goals, as well as the principles and rules governing their conduct.
Prospective candidates for VN Council can contact Matthew Rendle, VN Council Chair, for an informal conversation on what it means to be a Council member on vncchair@rcvs.org.uk.
Matthew said: “I was very proud to recently be appointed as Chair of VN Council with responsibility for overseeing it and its role in important decision-making on some of the big issues for veterinary nursing around training and education, post-registration qualifications and registration.
“Over the past years, the role, responsibility and stature of VN Council has really grown. Its members have been at the forefront of important projects such as VN Futures, which is helping the profession identify and plan for its future, and have been ambassadors for the profession at events such as our recent VN Evening.
“Last year we had a record number of veterinary nurses standing for election to VN Council, a fantastic development that I hope will be repeated this year as you really can make a difference on VN Council and play a role in speaking up for and promoting our profession. Please do get in touch with me if you wish to find out more.”
There is one more RCVS Council meeting before the nomination period ends. It will take place online on Thursday 21st January 2021 and prospective candidates who would like to get a feel for it are welcome to attend as observers: contact Dawn Wiggins, RCVS Council Secretary, on d.wiggins@rcvs.org.uk.
Concern has been expressed in the profession about environmental contamination from products used in companion animal treatment for ectoparasites, such as fleas and ticks.
In recent years there has been a widely documented fall in the abundance of many terrestrial invertebrate populations1.
While the decline has been mostly linked to agricultural chemicals, there is a concern that companion animal ectoparasiticides could also be a contributing factor, with a recent study2 confirming the presence of common compounds used in flea-treatment3 in UK waterways.
However, the association with companion animal ectoparasiticides is currently poorly understood, with a significant knowledge gap and little robust research available to assess the true importance and environmental consequences.
The funded project ‘Assessing the Environmental Risk from Ectoparasite Treatments in Companion Animals’ will be led by Professor Richard Wall, Professor of Zoology and Dr Emily Bell, Senior Lecturer at University of Bristol in collaboration with Dr Imogen Schofield, Veterinary Statistician and Epidemiologist at CVS, and Lizzie McLennan-Green, Small Animal Veterinary Director at CVS.
It will be conducted via a PhD studentship at the University of Bristol as part of the CVS Clinical Research Awards.
The research will include a longitudinal ‘citizen science’ study with pet owners to develop a greater understanding of owner use and attitudes towards ectoparasiticides.
It will also include laboratory assessments of ectoparasiticide residues collected from companion animals to provide evidence-based information on the potential environmental impact of the treatments when applied to companion animals.
It is hoped the study will help the wider veterinary profession develop the most appropriate approaches to prescribing and use of ectoparasiticides in the future, and inform educational strategies to support owners with ‘responsible use’. The study is also set to benefit companion animals, as the research will inform strategies to ensure the most appropriate control of parasitic burden to pets.
The project starts in January 2023 and will run for three-years as a full time PhD.
CVS is providing £95,000 to fund the research.
References
At a hearing in April Dr Johnston had admitted all the charges against him, which related fraudulent claims for the treatment of animals, two of which were fictitious, where he arranged for the insurance claims to be diverted and paid into a personal bank account.
Dr Johnston had admitted all the charges against him as well as admitting that his conduct was dishonest and amounted to serious professional misconduct.
Committee Chair Paul Morris said: “The Committee has no hesitation in concluding that the respondent’s dishonest conduct will have severely undermined the confidence of the public in the veterinary profession and, further, that his conduct fell far short of the standards and conduct properly to be expected of a member of the veterinary profession.
"The Committee is satisfied that this conduct by the respondent brought the profession into disrepute.”
The proceedings were then adjourned to allow a psychiatric report and other mitigation to be prepared.
At its resumed hearing on earlier this month, the Committee considered what sanction to impose.
The Committee found that aggravating features of his misconduct were that it was premeditated, carefully planned and sophisticated in that it involved the creation of numerous and extensive false clinical records to support his fraudulent claims.
It also considered the fact that he implicated an innocent professional colleague who worked alongside him at the practice, that he abused the trust placed in him by clients, that the dishonest conduct was repeated and that it involved significant financial gain in excess of £13,200 to be further aggravating features of his conduct
In terms of mitigation, the Committee accepted that he had made early admissions regarding his conduct to his employer and the College and accepted responsibility.
The Committee also heard that he had made attempts at remediation involving repayments of some of the sums lost by the practice and insurers.
It also considered positive testimonials from family and professional colleagues and the fact that Dr Johnston had taken significant steps to deal with the gambling addiction that was at the root cause of his misconduct.
Having considered all the evidence, the Committee decided to postpone its decision on sanction for a period of 2 years on the condition that Dr Johnston agree to undertakings including refraining from any form of gambling, subjecting himself to a close regime of support and supervision, and repaying some of the sums he had defrauded.
Paul added: “In reaching this conclusion the Committee wishes to make it clear that it has taken an exceptional course in this case.
"Ordinarily conduct of the type covered by the charges which this respondent has accepted will merit the imposition of a sanction of removal from the Register or a period of suspension from the Register.
"In this instance the Committee has found it possible to take the course that it has because it is satisfied that the respondent was, at the time, suffering from a recognisable psychiatric compulsive addiction… and that the fraudulent attempts by the respondent to obtain funds with which to gamble would not have occurred but for this psychiatric condition.
“The Committee further considers that the undertakings offered by the respondent will serve to reduce the risk that he will relapse into gambling again, for his conduct will be closely monitored and he will accept continuing support and guidance from the organisations currently assisting him.
“The Committee is also satisfied of the requirements that neither animals nor the public will be put at risk by this proposed course of action; that the respondent has demonstrated insight into the seriousness of his misconduct and that there is currently no significant risk of repeat behaviour; that his practicing standards are not in need of improvement so long as he continues to fulfil his CPD obligations; that the undertakings offered are capable of being met, are appropriate and are measurable; that there is evidence that his underlying medical problem is being appropriately addressed, will be monitored and reported on; and that he has responded positively to the opportunities for support and counselling which have been offered to him.”
If Dr Johnston fails to comply with his undertakings the Committee will reconvene and consider the charges with the full range of sanctions at its disposal.
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
The company says Locox TT has been developed to have high levels of EPA and DHA Omega-3, with independent lab analysis showing it contains over four times more Omega-3s than the market leading supplement.
The new product also chondroprotective ingredients and antioxidants.
Locox TT comes in tablet form: 1-2 tabs per day, with no loading phase required.
Will Peel, TVM UK’s product manager said: "Locox TT has undergone extensive independent testing so vets can be assured that the information they give to pet owners is verified and can be trusted.
"With an abundance of joint supplements on the market, we believe it is important that vets are able to make informed decisions when selecting their chosen brand, by providing clear, trustworthy information, alongside a high-quality product.’
TVM says it will be making client leaflets and waiting room questionnaires to help pet owners identify the symptoms of osteoarthritis in dogs.
For more information, visit www.tvm-uk.com/locoxtt or contact your local TVM territory manager.
Kit, who has served on Council as an elected member since 2013, is currently the Chair of the RCVS Finances & Resources Committee and has been RCVS Treasurer for the past three years.
He is also a member of a range of committees and project groups across the RCVS including: the Audit and Risk Committee; the PIC/ DC Liaison Committee; the Certification Subcommittee; the Estate Strategy Project Board; the RCVS Knowledge Board of Trustees; and the Advanced Practitioners Panel.
Since 2003 Kit has been working as an internist (he is an RCVS-recognised Specialist in Small Animal Medicine) in private referral practice. In 2006 he became a founding partner in a multidisciplinary referral centre that he saw grow from five to 65 members of staff within five years.
His interests include workforce issues, communicating the diverse clinical and non-clinical skills of veterinary surgeons to the general public and government, and facilitating life-long learning through achievable further professional qualifications and effective CPD.
Kit said: "It was a great honour to be elected as the next Junior Vice President by my fellow council members. I feel that I can make a positive contribution to the work that the RCVS is already undertaking in ensuring the veterinary team remains healthy and respected. In particular I am keen to look at how the RCVS can help find solutions to our workforce issues - improving retention as well as encouraging and facilitating vets and nurses back into the profession."
In addition to Kit being elected as JVP, the current holder of that office, Dr Mandisa Greene, was confirmed as President for 2020-21 and current President, Dr Niall Connell, was confirmed as Senior Vice-President for this period.
Professor Susan Dawson was voted in as RCVS Treasurer, and she will be formally invested in this role at Royal College Day on Friday, 10 July.
Professor David Argyle has been elected as Chair of Advancement of the Professions Committee for a second year, Dr Susan Paterson has been elected as Chair of Education Committee for her second year, and Dr Melissa Donald has been elected Chair of Standards Committee for her second year.
Kit and Melissa's positions are subject to their successful re-election in the 2020 RCVS Council Elections
More information on the RCVS Council and its members can be found on the RCVS website: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/who-we-are/rcvs-council.
Under the protocol trial, the RCVS can launch private prosecutions against unqualified people practising veterinary surgery or using the title 'veterinary surgeon'.
The College says that where breaches of the Veterinary Surgeons Act cross over to other criminal offences, for example, fraud by false representation, they will be more properly dealt with by the relevant police force.
Local authority trading standards agencies will also deal with issues around, for example, misleading courses that purport to lead to registration with the RCVS but do not; concerns about dog grooming businesses and concerns about dog breeding establishments (other than where there is illegal practice of veterinary surgery by unqualified persons).
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Director of Legal Services, said: “This protocol recognises that there are constraints on the time, resourcing, and budgets of both the police and public prosecutors which means that the pursuit of these breaches of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, both of which carry minor criminal penalties, is not necessarily a priority.
“While we are always willing to work with the police and other agencies to pursue such breaches, the protocol details how we can act independently where appropriate and ensure we are fulfilling our stated ambition to safeguard the interests of the public and animals, as well as the reputation of the professions, by ensuring that only those registered with us can carry out acts of veterinary surgery.
“We would like to manage expectations around this trial period as we will only be launching private prosecutions where they meet the criminal evidential standards of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ and it is judged to be in the public interest to do so.
"We will also be relying on members of the professions and the public to report breaches and provide sufficient evidence to us, as we have no statutory investigatory powers.”
The trial period will last for one year and the College has set aside £50,000 to pursue private prosecutions.
The trial will be overseen by the Disciplinary Committee/ Preliminary Investigation Committee Liaison Committee while decisions on whether to pursue private prosecutions will lie with the Registrar/ Director of Legal Services.
Suspected breaches of the Veterinary Surgeons Act can be reported to the RCVS Professional Conduct Department on breachvsa@rcvs.org.uk.
The new guidance will remove the absolute requirement for veterinary surgeons to perform a physical examination before prescribing POM medicines, making it instead a matter for professional judgement.
However, the proposed new guidance also imposes a requirement for veterinary surgeons who do NOT physically examine the animal prior to prescribing to provide a 24/7 follow-up service which includes a physical examination.
Furthermore, the new guidance will state that: "Where the veterinary surgeon is not able to provide this service [the physical exam] themselves, they should arrange for another veterinary service provider to do so. This arrangement should be made before veterinary services are offered and confirmed in writing as part of the conditions of service agreed by the client."
This requirement to provide a physical 24/7 follow-up would appear to safeguard animal welfare and protect against the risk of online-only businesses (in the UK or abroad) with lower overheads cherry-picking the job of prescribing medicines.
It should also protect against veterinary surgeons feeling pressured to prescribe inappropriately, because the new, stricter requirements will make it easier for them to decline to do so.
However, the BVA doesn't agree with the new proposals. It feels that remote prescribing should be delivered under the auspices of a Veterinary Client-Patient-Relationship (VCPR), which, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, requires a physical examination.
BVA President Malcolm Morley, said: “The changes to ‘under care’ guidance are a watershed moment, so it’s positive to see that they have evolved in response to feedback from the profession. New technology presents exciting opportunities to enhance existing veterinary services and has benefits for practices as well as clients and their animals.
"However, BVA has been very clear that we believe remote prescribing can only be safely delivered where a vet-client-patient relationship has been established.
"This is an internationally recognised concept, and we are disappointed that the RCVS has decided not to embrace it.
“Having voted to implement these changes, it is incumbent upon the RCVS and the profession to scrutinise how they play out.
"At BVA we plan to develop advice and resources to support our members and help them comply with the new guidance and realise any benefits of remote veterinary service provision.’
“It is now vital that a timeframe for a review is quickly put in place, so any negative impacts on animal welfare or the sustainability of veterinary services can be dealt with swiftly.”
Council voted by a majority of 20 to 3 in favour of the changes, which it then decided should come into force between 1st June and 23rd December 2023, subject to a review at the next meeting.
Discuss the propose changes here
The Disciplinary Committee, chaired by Mr Stuart Drummond, considered six charges against Dr Gunn.
The first charge alleged that, early in 2018, Dr Gunn failed to provide appropriate and adequate care to the dog. In particular, having removed a mass from the right thorax, he undertook an excess number of surgical procedures, including under general anaesthetic, within a 13 day period; performed these procedures without offering alternative treatments or discussing referral with the owners; failed to recognise infected wounds; and administered an antibiotic when the dog was infected with MRSA and E-coli.
The second charge alleged that Dr Gunn failed to communicate adequately, openly and honestly with the owners of the terrier on multiple occasions between 16 January and 3 February 2018. This included but was not limited to: failing to provide the owners with an estimation of fees; failing to inform them in advance of the procedures performed; failing to inform them of options for treatment; and failing to inform them that the terrier had an infection when he knew or ought to have known that she did.
The third charge alleged that Dr Gunn failed to obtain informed consent in relation to the further procedures performed on the terrier in charge one.
The fourth charge alleged that Dr Gunn failed to maintain adequate clinical records in relation to the management of the dog, and that he failed to record the prescription and administration of drugs to treat the terrier.
The fifth charge alleged that Dr Gunn indicated to the owners that euthanasia was the most appropriate treatment option and/or that there were no other realistic treatment options, when this was not the case and when he ought to have known this was not the case.
The sixth charge alleged that, during the course of a referral of the terrier to another practice, Dr Gunn failed to provide an adequate history of his management of the dog and that he informed the practice that the owners had no finances when this was not true, amounting to an incomplete account of his dealings with the owners and to a breach of their confidence.
At the outset of the hearing the respondent admitted to a number of the allegations within the main six charges, which were found proved by the Committee.
Of the charges not admitted to, a number were found proved and the Committee then went on to consider whether or not Dr Gunn’s conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct.
In considering the aggravating factors, the Committee took into account that the dog’s suffering was prolonged because of the persistence of Dr Gunn in pursuing a single ineffective treatment approach.
With regards to mitigating factors, the Committee found that Dr Gunn was remorseful as to his actions, that there was no financial motivation on the part of Dr Gunn in respect of his treatment of the terrier, and that there is a low risk of repetition because Dr Gunn has sought to learn from this experience. A number of relevant and high-quality testimonials were also provided by colleagues and many satisfied owners on behalf of Dr Gunn.
Considering both the aggravating and mitigating factors, the Committee was satisfied that Dr Gunn’s conduct fell far below the standard expected of a registered veterinary surgeon for a number of the charges.
The Committee then considered what sanction to impose on Dr Gunn. The Committee was satisfied that the misconduct found proved was in relation to the treatment of one dog only and therefore it was at the lower end of the spectrum. However, the conduct took place over a prolonged period of two weeks which in the Committee’s view required a sanction. In such circumstances, and with the significant mitigation, the Committee decided that the appropriate and proportionate sanction was to reprimand Dr Gunn and to warn him about his future conduct.
Speaking on behalf of the Committee, Mr Stuart Drummond said: "The Committee concluded that the effect of a reprimand alongside the Committee’s findings on disgraceful conduct in a professional respect was a sufficient and proportionate sanction. The Committee found Dr Gunn to have developed sufficient insight into his failings and it was satisfied that the disciplinary process had been a salutary experience and that he is very unlikely to pose a risk to animals in the future or to contravene professional standards.
"The Committee decided that a warning as to future conduct was necessary to reduce the risk of any repetition of any similar conduct for Dr Gunn in the future. It therefore concluded that the sanction of a reprimand and warning would be a sufficient in the circumstances of this case having taking into consideration all the powerful personal mitigation."
The complete list of charges and the Committee’s full facts and findings can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
Claire Gotto, Veterinary Advisor at MSD Animal Health said: "With increasing numbers of pets travelling abroad1 and the risk of exposure to exotic diseases, we need to ensure Britain’s pets are protected by providing owners with advice on comprehensive preventative healthcare for their travelling pets.
"This is particularly important as pet travel legislation is primarily in place to protect human health, and pet owners may be unaware of the similar risks to their pets.
"As an industry, we should therefore be advocating preventative healthcare, in addition to the legislation, in order to protect not only individual travelling pets from exotic disease, but also the UK pet population as a whole."
MSD says the risk of exotic disease to travelling pets was highlighted by the results of the Big Tick Project which showed that 76% of dogs travelling abroad returned with ticks2. This included Rhipicephalus sanguineus and Dermacentor reticulatus, the latter of which was found to carry Babesia canis3, a potentially life-threatening pathogen.
The risk to the UK pet population from travelling pets have been highlighted by recent cases of babesiosis4 and leishmaniasis5 in untravelled dogs within the UK.
The Safe Journey campaign includes educational materials about potential exotic disease risks abroad, including Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Rabies, Dirofilariasis (heartworm), Leishmaniasis, Leptospirosis and Echinococcus multilocularis (tapeworm), and the preventive healthcare required to reduce the risk.
Materials available include veterinary practice posters, social media material and leaflets.
For further information contact your MSD Animal Health account manager.
During June, Vets Now’s 1300 employees up and down the country will focus on activities which make them feel happy and supported at work including; Feelgood Friday which inspires lunchtime yoga sessions and taking time to unwind, Workout Wednesday which will see teams across the country taking 10,000 steps, and encouraging colleague picnics outside on National Picnic Day (18th June).
The company has also enlisted the help of nutritionist Lily Soutter (pictured right), a regular on ITV’s This Morning, to devise healthy and quick recipes for busy shift-working vets and vet nurses.
Laura Black, Vets Now’s head of health, safety and wellbeing said: "The issue of mental health is more prevalent than ever in the veterinary profession and we recognise that out-of-hours work, in particular, can present its challenges.
"That’s why, as an organisation, health and wellbeing is one of our key priorities. So whilst our Wellness Month has some fun elements, the overall goal is to make sure our teams feel they are supported at work."
The CVS practice aimed to change its prescribing culture by adopting an evidence-based, case-by-case approach and supporting its vets in only using antibiotics where absolutely necessary.
The practice identified the use of antibiotics in the treatment of cat bite abscesses (CBAs) as worthy of investigation.
Cefovecin, a third-generation cephalosporin and critically important antibiotic, is often used in the treatment of CBAs.
The practice first sought guidance from a dermatology specialist with an active research programme involving the study of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
It then developed a clinical guideline advising that if a cat has a discrete abscess, with no pyrexia (raised temperature) and no cellulitis, antibiotics are not required.
White Lodge then conducted an eight-month clinical audit across its Exmouth Hub, with the aim of measuring the effect of the new guideline.
The practice treated patients with CBA’s with NSAIDS, lancing and flushing (if necessary), and cleaning of the abscess.
Owners were advised to flush the affected area at home once daily.
An antibiotic awareness leaflet was given to clients with an explanation of the reasoning behind not prescribing antibiotics.
Cats presented 5-7 days after treatment for a nurse re-examination.
A consultation template was created for both the vet at initial presentation and another for the nurse’s post treatment check, to gather standardised information.
The measure of successful treatment was whether, on re-examination, the CBA site appeared free from infection and wound healing was evident.
If the wound had not started to heal or if there was infection or pyrexia, the treatment was deemed to have failed and further treatment was provided.
Analysis of the results showed that of the 22 cats included in the audit, 19 (86%) did not need antibiotics to successfully treat the abscess.
There was also a 32.6% reduction in the number of times cefovecin was dispensed in the eight-month period after the audit started, compared with the previous eight months.
Emily Parr, Head Veterinary Surgeon at White Lodge, said: “We think, due to lack of confidence in treatment without antibiotics as well as client pressure or expectation, the profession tends to default to the prescribing of antibiotics.
“However, this clinical audit has given our veterinary colleagues increased confidence in treating CBA’s without antibiotics.
"There has also been an improved client understanding in accepting treatment without antibiotics.
"Clients have also been positive when minimal intervention has been required, particularly as it eliminates the cost of antibiotics.
"This has had a positive impact on the vet-client relationship and trust in our practice.
“Antimicrobial resistance is continuing to threaten the efficacy and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections.
"So we hope that our CBA clinical audit outcome results will help to set a benchmark and shape clinical guidelines for the wider veterinary profession in this area.”
The study, titled “The utility of combined urine dipstick analysis and specific gravity measurement to determine feline proteinuria”, assessed the utility of the urine dipstick alone and combined with the urine-specific gravity (USG) for detecting proteinuria in cats.
For the study, the clinical records of cats presenting to a referral hospital between January 2011 and January 2017 were reviewed retrospectively.
To be eligible for inclusion, feline urine samples had to have undergone a complete urinalysis including dipstick evaluation, USG and urine protein-to-creatinine (UPC) measurement.
A total of 121 urine samples were included and diagnostic agreement and test accuracy were calculated for the dipstick test alone and in combination with the USG, using different cut-off values for proteinuria. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were also calculated.
Jorge Pérez-Accino, corresponding author for the paper, said: “The diagnostic agreement between the urine dipstick and UPC ratio was poor and did not improve if the USG was considered together with the dipstick.
"A dipstick result of equal or greater than “Trace” (0.1-0.3g/L) had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 31% to detect proteinuria.
"With regards the ROC curves, the area under the curve (AUC) of the urine dipstick alone was poor (0.57). When combined with the USG results, this improved to fair (0.78) but the specificity and negative predictive value (NPV) were still low.”
Nicola Di Girolamo, Editor of JSAP said: “These findings indicate that clinicians should not rely on the results of the urine dipstick test in combination with USG in cats for detecting proteinuria. Instead other quantitative methods, such as UPC ratio, should always be performed to detect proteinuria in cats.”
The full article can be found in the September issue of the Journal of Small Animal Practice which is free for BSAVA members. It can also be read online here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.13184
The BSAVA has put together a collection of resources relating to urinalysis and proteinuria, available here: https://www.bsavalibrary.com/content/urinalysis--160
Reference
In the study titled 'Staphylococcal bacterial contamination of portable electronic devices in a large veterinary hospital1', samples were taken from the screen and any button of PEDs (such as mobile phones and tablets) of staff working directly with feline and canine patients. Hospital staff were asked to complete a questionnaire to ascertain the frequency of PED use and the frequency and method of PED cleaning.
The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcal contamination of PEDs in a veterinary hospital, and to identify the source and determine the pathogenesis of any cultured strains.
Positive cultures were tested for resistance to oxacillin and vancomycin using a Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion test and then by using a broth microdilution test to EUCAST guidelines and breakpoints. PCR was used to specifically genotype the isolated staphylococci.
Georgia Vinall, corresponding author for the paper, said: “Useable swab samples were taken from 47 devices. Staphylococcus spp. were cultured from 68% of PEDs with a median of 10 colonies grown per device. Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. were found on 36% of devices, whilst oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. were cultured from 2% of devices. DNA sequencing identified three Staphylococcus species; S. capitis, S. epidermidis and S. hominis which are most likely associated with humans as either sources or transmission vectors."
“The results of the survey indicate that 96% of staff had a PED which they used in the hospital environment, of which 85% use their device every day. Despite the high usage of PEDS in the hospital environment, only 6% of staff cleaned their device daily, with 33% of staff cleaning their PED less than weekly. Furthermore, only 54% of staff cleaned their device with a disinfectant."
Nicola Di Girolamo, Editor of JSAP said: "This study demonstrates that PEDs may become contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Although this specific study did not focus on transmission of these microorganisms, and therefore it is unclear what are the clinical implications of this finding, it seems prudent to develop appropriate protocols for cleaning of PEDs in veterinary hospitals."
The full article can be found in the April issue of the Journal of Small Animal Practice and can be read online here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.13289.
The new line, which is available from veterinary wholesalers, is described as a complete feeding solution with everyday wet and dry food and treats. It is made with a minimum of 95% fresh, organic ingredients from controlled and certified origins, presented in an eco-friendly packaging. This, says Dechra, means it is tasty, nutritious and better for the environment.
The wet diets for cats contains organic chicken or fish whilst the dog food contains organic beef or fish.
The Specific treats are made with more than 80% fresh chicken, beef and pork. Dechra says that in taste tests, nine out of ten cats, and 100% of dogs accepted the treats1.
Dechra highlights that unlike competitor products, which use layers of different plastic in their packaging which cannot be recycled, Specific uses single layers of the same plastic with a gas barrier in between. This makes its dry pet food bags fully recyclable, as well as lighter and stronger than PET/PE laminates of the same thickness2.
Once Specific dry pet food bags have been used and recycled, they can be processed into granules and made into a film which can be used to make new things – including dry pet food bags.
Dechra Brand Manager Claire Morgan said: “The exciting new range of organic food that’s as kind to the environment as it is to pets.
"The Specific organic range provides a new option for owners who are committed to providing their animals with the optimum chance of good health. The tried and trusted Specific brand is already available for vets to stock so this is a useful addition for practices looking to add value to the service they provide to pet owners.
"We have committed to making all of our packaging fully recyclable by 2023, starting with the Specific organic range. As well as providing a more ethical and environmentally sound choice for eco-conscious pet owners, it’s part of Dechra’s ‘Circle of Good’ commitment to reduce our business’ impact on the world.”
For more information visit: www.specific-diets.co.uk.
Dr Power faced a number of charges relating to alleged clinical and communications failings surrounding surgery carried out on two separate dogs on two separate occasions.
The first concerned laryngeal tieback surgery carried out on Harvey, a Tibetan Terrier in March 2018, and the second concerned oesophageal surgery carried out on a boxer dog, Boss, in October 2018.
The College withdrew a number of the charges at the start of the hearing, and more later after hearing from witnesses.
Of the remainder, Dr Power admitted that she had not undertaken pre-operative radiographs before proceeding with the laryngeal surgery, had failed to perform the surgery appropriately (she dissected excessive tissue and had inappropriately placed sutures), and had undertaken the surgery when it was outside her area of competence.
In relation to the oesophageal surgery, Dr Power admitted failing to provide a referral report and/or clinical records to the veterinary practice he was referred from, despite requests from the practice.
The Committee found that the majority of the charges which had not been withdrawn or admitted by Dr Power, not proven.
However, the Committee found that in addition to the admitted charges, Dr Power had subjected the dog undergoing oesophageal surgery to an excessive 9.5 hours of anaesthesia.
The Committee then went on to consider whether the proven charges amounted to serious professional conduct.
Counsel for the College submitted that Dr Power’s conduct breached the part of the Code of Professional Conduct relating to veterinary surgeons keeping within their area of competence and referring responsibly; and providing veterinary care that is appropriate and adequate.
In terms of aggravating factors, the College submitted that there was both actual injury to the animal, as well as actions that posed a risk of injury, that Dr Power financially benefitted from the alleged misconduct as she was paid to perform a procedure outside her competence, and that she occupied a position of increased trust and responsibility as she advertised herself as a practitioner who accepted referrals and was competent to perform soft tissue surgery.
Dr Power’s counsel submitted that the charges that had been found proven amounted to clinical and administrative failings and that this was not a case of a veterinary surgeon deliberately or recklessly acting outside of their capabilities, but rather a case where a diligent and responsible veterinary surgeon had fallen short in discrete areas of her clinical practice and had reasonably believed at the time that she was competent to perform the surgery.
The Committee found that although the conduct within the proven charges fell short of what would be reasonably expected of a veterinary surgeon, it did not fall so far short that her conduct constituted serious professional misconduct.
Paul Morris, chairing the Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee understood that it had a responsibility to consider the wider public interest, taking into account the view of a reasonable member of the public in possession of all the relevant facts and information.
“The Committee considered that such a member of the public would understand that veterinary surgery is a challenging profession. It was of the view that such a member of the public would not expect perfection, but understand that any professional practitioner may make mistakes in the course of their practice.
“It is the judgement of this Committee that the respondent’s conduct does not constitute disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.”
The full findings of the Disciplinary Committee can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
Melissa, who was invested at the RCVS AGM last week, graduated from the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine in 1987, starting her career as a food animal intern at Iowa State University in the United States before moving into mixed veterinary practice in Ayrshire in 1990.
Over the next 25 years, she and her husband Kenny developed Oaks Veterinary Centre into a small animal practice with a focus on dentistry.
Melissa was first elected to Council in 2016, was re-elected in 2020 and has served on a number of committees including the Education Committee and Finance & Resources Committee.
Since 2019, she has served as Chair of the Standards Committee, leading the development of proposed new guidance on under care and out-of-hours emergency care and pain relief.
Melissa has also been President of the British Veterinary Association’s Scottish branch and the Ayrshire Veterinary Association and, outside of work, enjoys running, and caring for her dogs, cats and sheep.
In her opening speech as RCVS President, Melissa outlined her sense of community with her fellow vets, as a relatively small but prominent profession that punches above its weight, and how she intended to strengthen this as President.
Melissa said: “When I looked this up in June, there were over 300,000 doctors registered with the General Medical Council.
"We, the veterinary profession, have around 30,000 registered with the RCVS to look after farmed, pet, lab animal, exotic, zoo and wildlife species.
"In other words, all animals EXCEPT the human, and we protect humans too, with public health work!
“Even excluding farmed fish, over 300 million animals are being cared for by 30,000 professional veterinary surgeons and their teams.
"That is the scale of our small but mighty community.
"Being part of a community doesn’t mean we all have to be clones of each other, but a group that can agree to disagree, and is there for each other in times of need.
“With this close proximity to each other, communication is key.
"My mother has offered me many wise words over the years, most frequently being ‘engage brain before opening mouth’ but just as important as speaking is listening and actually hearing what is being said.
"So, over this year I will try to get out and about as much as possible, focus on hearing what our community is saying and engage in many conversations as we work together."
Trilotab is licensed for the treatment of pituitary-dependent hypercortisolism (PDH) caused by an adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenoma, which accounts for 85% of spontaneous cases of Cushing’s, and for the treatment of adreno-dependent hyperadrenocorticism (ADH) caused by a cortisol-secreting adrenocortical tumour (ACT), which accounts for the remaining 15% of spontaneous cases1.
The new tablet is divisible into halves and quarters to facilitate dose adjustment and make administration easier.
Divided tablets remain stable outside of the blister packaging until the next dose is due, thereby avoiding wastage.
Trilotab tablets are chewable and chicken-flavoured to help improve treatment compliance.
They contain hydrolysed chicken flavouring so they can be prescribed for pets allergic to chicken.
Trilotab is administered once daily with food with a starting dose of 2mg trilostane/kg bodyweight.
The new tabs are available in three presentations: 10mg, 30mg, and 60mg presentations, which Virbac says should help practices reduce their dispensary stockholding.
Andrew Connolly, Marketing Director – UK & Ireland at Virbac, said: ‘The complex nature of Cushing’s syndrome in dogs can make it a challenging condition to manage for both the clinician and the pet owner.
"With the requirement for lifelong treatment, it is our hope that Trilotab’s easy administration and simplified dosing protocols will genuinely help to improve the lives of dogs affected by the disease, whilst making the clinician and pet owner’s lives just a little bit easier too!"
The trial, which was launched last November, will now continue until May, when Council will decide whether to provide e-certificates to new registrants as a standard practice.
Newly qualified nurses who have been taking part in the trial have been able to download their e-certificate from the RCVS website, although they are also able to request a printed hard copy.
Robert Hewes, RCVS Head of Insight and Engagement, said: “Thank you to all those newly-qualified veterinary nurses who took part in the trial and especially to those who provided their feedback and thoughts on the e-certificate.
“From those that have completed the survey, it is clear that there is still a great deal of pride and meaning attached to having a hard copy certificate which is why we will continue to offer these to all our newly-qualified veterinary nurses.
"However, the feedback from the vet nurses overall regarding the e-certificates were that they appreciated that there was a benefit from an environment and sustainability point of view, as well as the practicalities of having immediate and easy access to their proof-of-registration.”
E-certificates for newly-qualified veterinary surgeons was trialled in early 2021 and rolled out as standard practice to all new veterinary registrants from summer 2021.
Robert added: “We would like to take this opportunity to make clear to prospective employers of both newly-qualified veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses involved in the trial, that the e-certificates are now a legitimate form of identification of registration and that they no longer require a hard copy.
"However, if they are in any doubt about an individual’s registration status, they shouldn’t hesitate to contact the Registration Team on registration@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0707.”
The deal is expected to complete by the middle of 2020.
According to the terms of the deal, Vetoquinol will acquire the Profender and Drontal product families, the intellectual property, registrations and other rights currently owned by Bayer AG’s animal health business.
Jeff Simmons, president and CEO of Elanco said: "We’re pleased with the continued progress on a number of fronts to move the acquisition of Bayer AG’s animal health business toward completion.
Matthieu Frechin, CEO of Vetoquinol, said: "We are very pleased to acquire the Profender and Drontal product lines that are highly valued by veterinarians and pet owners. The acquisition of these two strong brands is at the heart of our strategy. On the one hand, they will significantly increase the size of our business and our visibility in the parasiticide segment, one of our strategic therapeutic areas. On the other hand, they will strengthen our portfolio of Essentials, the engine of our growth."
The company says the webinars will equip veterinary professionals with strategies to strengthen wellbeing both individually and for practice teams.
Lauren Hayes, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Manager at Royal Canin, said: “Working within clinical veterinary practice can be hugely rewarding and enriching, but it cannot be ignored that our industry also has its challenges.
"Veterinary surgeons have a significantly higher risk of suicide compared to the general population and mental health issues around work life balance and compassion fatigue are widespread.
"Through our webinar series, we hope to encourage conversations around mental health and help provide advice directly from leading experts.”
The one-hour webinars will take place at 7pm every Wednesday throughout September.
https://vetportal.royalcanin.co.uk/news/new-veterinary-professional-health-webinar-series/
Mr Makepeace faced five charges.
The first charge was that in 2022 Mr Makepeace was convicted at Scarborough Magistrates Court of assaulting by beating his ex-partner.
He was sentenced to a community order and a curfew order and was ordered to pay a £95 surcharge and £85 in costs.
It was alleged that the conviction rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon.
The second was that in August 2022, Mr Makepeace submitted a character reference which purported to have been written by his ex-partner saying that they "still live happily together", when this was untrue. It was also alleged that the reference purported to have been signed by Mr Makepeace's ex-partner when he knew that was not the case.
The third charge alleged that Mr Makepeace had sent WhatsApp messages to his ex-partner which were offensive, insulting, abusive, threatening and/or intimidating.
The fourth charge was that was a repetition of the second.
The fifth and final charge was that in relation to charges 2 and 4, that Mr Makepeace’s conduct was misleading and/or dishonest; and that it is alleged that in relation to charges 2,3,4 and/or 5, whether individually or in any combination, that Mr Makepeace was guilty of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The first charge was proven by virtue of a certified copy of the memorandum of an entry in the Magistrates’ Court register.
Mr Makepeace also admitted the facts of all the other charges, meaning they were found proven by admission.
In terms of the conviction, the Committee assessed the incident to be serious – the assault was prolonged, involved strangulation and biting which led to physical injuries, and involved a pursuit.
This was found by the Committee to bring the reputation of the profession into disrepute.
The Committee therefore found that the conviction rendered Mr Makepeace unfit to practise.
With regard to the remaining charges, the Committee found Mr Makepeace’s behaviour serious, saying that it showed a blatant and wilful disregard of the role of the RCVS and the systems that regulate the veterinary profession, and that his actions were intended to dishonestly subvert that process.
The Committee considered that his actions fell sufficiently below the standards expected in terms of honesty and integrity, as well as in terms of the behaviour expected of a registered professional.
All this constituted disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
When making a decision on the appropriate sanction, the Committee took into account evidence from Mr Makepeace, two character witnesses, and a document bundle including evidence of training, continuing professional development (CPD) and other testimonials.
Aggravating factors taken into account were:
Mitigating factors taken into account were that Mr Makepeace made full admissions at the start of the hearing; he expressed remorse; was shown to be of previous good character; that there had been a significant lapse of time since his conviction; he had made subsequent efforts to avoid repetition of the behaviour which led to the conviction; the financial impact upon Mr Makepeace if he was prevented from being able to practise; and the testimonials.
Neil Slater, Chair of the Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee’s view was that the demands of the public interest in this case were high, and in light of all of the circumstances, removal from the register was the only means of upholding the wider public interest, which includes the need to uphold proper standards of conduct and performance, and to maintain confidence in the profession and its regulation.
“The Committee therefore decided to direct that the respondent should be removed from the Register.
"In coming to this decision, the Committee carefully applied the principle of proportionality and took into account the impact of such a sanction on the respondent’s ability to practise his profession, as well as the financial impact upon him, taking into account his evidence in this regard.
“However, the Committee determined that the need to uphold the wider public interest outweighed the respondent’s interests in this respect.
"In light of the gravity of the conduct, and all of the factors taken into account, any lesser sanction would lack deterrent effect and would undermine public confidence in the profession and the regulatory process.
"Removal was the only appropriate and proportionate sanction.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings
The new app has been specifically developed for CVS, is unique to the group, and is owned by the company.
It is powered by LocumBell technology.
When registering on the app, locums can input their work preferences - including their skills, desired travel radius and preferred shift times - so that they are only served up shift advertisements relevant to them.
Users can also set up notifications for upcoming jobs.
The app then allows locums to set minimum shift rates, submit the rate they would like to receive for a shift and negotiate their fees directly with a practice.
Shifts can be then be booked or cancelled on the app at the touch of a button.
All upcoming booked shifts appear on the users’ calendar.
Once a shift has been completed, locums can submit the invoice for their work using the app.
The app allows locums to see every CVS practice invoice and its status, which CVS says will allow queries to be resolved quicker and payments issued faster.
The app is being rolled out to all of CVS's practices from this August.
Amy Hughes, Head of Recruitment at CVS, said: “Locum administration can be time-consuming – as locums first have to identify work, liaise with a practice and our central support team, to negotiate and book a shift, then complete all invoice paperwork.
"We wanted to remove that pain and make it easier for locums to work with us.
The app is available for Apple devices on the App Store and for Android devices on the Play Store.
For any technical difficulties or assistance, contact: support@locumbell.com or call 0161 556 7685.