The study also suggests that encouraging the idea that client-orientated behaviours make for a 'good vet' will help many vets improve their mental wellbeing.
Liz found examples of new graduates who value their client-oriented skills, such as being able to tailor clinical plans to individual clients' needs, but still couldn’t shake the feeling that a 'better vet' would offer a more academic or specialist approach to cases.
Even when they skilfully adapt a plan for an owner who is unable to afford advanced tests to find out what is causing their pet's illness, this jars with the vets' beliefs that by reaching a specific diagnosis they would be doing a better job. Thus they chronically feel like a 'bad vet', despite demonstrating high-level skills in communication and clinical problem-solving.
The paper argues that learning to form positive client relationships in difficult situations leads to vets who are more resilient and have greater mental wellbeing.
However further analysis found a clear sentiment of 'the client is the enemy' in colleagues' discussions and social media.
During a difficult case, with complex conflicting pet and pet owner needs, vets who choose to emphasise the client as difficult and unreasonable can receive temporary solace when talking to similarly-minded peers or by accessing social media. However, this thinking prevents them from developing client empathy, impacting their mental health negatively in the long-term.
Liz therefore believes everyone in the profession has a responsibility to frame the strengths of the 'good vet' as being as much about the pet owner as the pet.
Liz said: "It's really important not to think of this as a message that we must all be 'nicer' to our clients. I have heard vets say clients' limited finances or not wanting to put their pet through treatment have forced them to go against their 'professional code'. This simply isn’t true: the RCVS Code of Conduct emphasises a need to work alongside clients to problem-solve these complex situations. Animal welfare can be supported through palliative or symptomatic treatments, which may be offered after difficult negotiations with very upset pet owners. This should therefore be a skill that is celebrated, rather than being considered not 'gold standard'.
"Being able to work with a client who is highly troubled by their financial limitations or the impending loss of a pet is difficult, particularly when these anxieties manifest as anger and accusation. The social media message of the client as the enemy obstructs this skill, as it becomes easier to rant about the 'difficult client'. Unfortunately, where this becomes embedded, it prevents the career satisfaction that comes from working with clients."
Reference
Photo courtesy RVC
505 people took part in the survey in August 2019, of which 85% were receptionists. The remainder were RVNs, VCAs or practice managers with some front desk responsibility.
The survey found that 45% were paid between £8 and £9 per hour, with 9% more falling into this salary bracket than in 2018. 5.32% were paid £8 or less per hour.
The Real Living Wage is a figure calculated from the costs of a basket of household goods and services by the Living Wage Foundation, and voluntarily paid by its 6000-odd member companies in the UK. The Living Wage Foundation argues it is a better measure of what people need to get by on than the Minimum Wage (£7.70 for those aged between 21 and 25) or the National Living Wage (£8.21 for those over 25).
63% of veterinary receptionists said they were unsatisfied with their pay. However, it was not the biggest cause of dissatisfaction uncovered by the survey. 67% were dissatisfied with the recognition of the value of their role, and 69% with the career progression options open to them.
70% of respondents said they would like to do more CPD and that the main benefit would be to clients and patients. However, 43% of receptionists said there is no time allowance set aside for them to complete CPD.
Co-founder of BVRA and Honorary Associate Professor In Veterinary Business, Nottingham University, Brian Faulkner (pictured right) said: "A large part of the client experience is centred around the waiting room and receptionist area and our members work hard to ensure that experience is positive.
"We have an increasing number looking to upskill and the appetite for CPD is clearly there. If we can envisage a scenario where the minimum wage is set at £10.50 an hour, that would mean that around 65% of veterinary receptionists would need a pay increase.
"I don't think any of us believe that veterinary receptionists are currently doing an unskilled job and a key mission of BVRA is to achieve greater recognition of the value they bring to practices, both as colleagues and commercially."
The company surveyed 1979 pet owners last December and found the main reason they didn’t take their cat to the vet more often was because the animal appeared to be healthy and therefore didn’t need medical attention.
The second biggest barrier to more regular vet visits was cost. Although almost half of the cat owners surveyed had pet insurance, almost a quarter said cost prevented them from taking their cat to the vet more often.
Despite there being 760 cat-friendly clinics across the UK and Ireland, 13% percent of owners said the stress put them off making more frequent trips to the vet.
If they were unable to take their cat to the vet, 40% said they would arrange for a vet home visit, 29% said they would search for information online and 26% would turn to friends and family for advice.
The survey also found that 11% of owners believed that their cat was overweight. However, according to a 2018 study, 39% of cats are overweight in the UK, which would suggest that over a quarter of cat owners surveyed were unaware that their cat was above a healthy weight.
References
The small animal and business meeting takes place on the 2nd and 3rd October. The farm and business national meeting is on the 18th and 19th September, and the equine and business meeting is on the 9th and 10th October.
The small animal meeting will also cover other topics such as the art of conversations to dentistry, while the farm meeting will focus on team working, competitive advantage, genomics and mental resilience.
All three events include a team-based activity and a social evening which offers the chance to network and exchange experiences and ideas.
Susan Goodfellow, the Chief Marketing Officer at XLVets said: "It's fine to know what we do but to actually experience it as part of our community is quite different. We know that talking to members and being part of a group of individuals that come together to determine their own future is the best way for veterinary professionals to see what's possible and how we strive for excellence together."
XLVets is also encouraging anyone who is thinking about starting their own practice to attend the events; the company has a number of programmes designed to support prospective owners with things like finding funding, identifying the right financial set up, and acquiring the skills needed to lead a team effectively.
Susan says many vets have a strong entrepreneurial mindset but lack support or know-how to allow them to take the first step to ownership: "Locum roles and mobile set ups are often stepping stones to practice ownership but the barriers can seem significant, not to mention any personal reservations people might have about all it entails. Support from like-minded colleagues who can openly share their experiences can help to make it seem possible, desirable and achievable."
Veterinary professionals wishing to attend one of the meetings should contact Colm McGinn, Chief of Implementation, in confidence, at colm.mcginn@xlvets.co.uk or call 01228 711788.
Tramvetol is presented in two pack sizes of 30 and 100 tablets to assist practices with dispensing and storage as a Schedule 3 controlled drug. The meat flavoured 50mg tablets can also be divided into two equal parts to ensure accurate dosing.
Virbac says Tramvetol is suitable for both short courses and long-term treatment; 2-4mg per kg of Tramvetol can be administered every 8 hours or from 6 hours, if required, based on the intensity of the pain. In addition, Tramvetol has a wide therapeutic window and a maximum daily dose of 16mg per kg.
Commonly used in combination with other forms of analgesia, including NSAIDs1, Tramvetol is quickly absorbed and boats a rapid onset of action2. Peak plasma concentrations are achieved within 45 minutes3.
Dan Johnson, Product Manager at Virbac said: ‘Tramadol is already an important part of the analgesia toolkit for many veterinary practices. We hope that Tramvetol will prove to be a much more convenient option for practices, whilst helping to provide dogs with a better quality, pain free life’.
For more information, contact your Virbac Territory Manager.
The Disciplinary Committee took the unusual step of granting an application by the respondent for anonymity, after seeing evidence of a real and immediate threat to the individual’s security if their details were made public.
For the purposes of the hearing, the respondent was therefore referred to as 'X'.
The Committee heard that the individual pleaded guilty in court in 2020 to intentionally and knowingly attempting to communicate with a person under 16 years for the purposes of sexual gratification.
Following this they were sentenced to a two-year probation order, were ordered to register on the Sexual Offences Register for five years; and were made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order for five years.
At the outset of the hearing the individual admitted to all the charges against them and the Committee also noted that there was a certified copy of the conviction available.
The Committee then considered whether the conviction amounted to serious professional misconduct. In considering this, it set out the aggravating factors surrounding the case, these being that there was the risk of actual harm to a minor, that the misconduct was premeditated as the respondent had sent a number of messages via a number of online platforms over several days, that the individual displayed predatory behaviour including sending pictures and making comments of a sexual nature, and that it involved what the respondent believed to be a vulnerable individual, namely a 15-year-old child.
In mitigation, the Committee considered that there had been no actual harm caused to a human or animal in light of the fact that the 15-year-old child, who the respondent believed they were communicating with, was not real. It also took into account that the conduct related to a single isolated incident and that the individual had made open and frank admissions at an early stage.
Cerys Jones, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee was satisfied that the sentence imposed on X, which included X being subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order until 2025, resulted in the profession of veterinary nurses being brought into disrepute and, in the Committee’s judgement, public confidence in the profession would be undermined if the Committee did not find that the conviction rendered X unfit to practise as a veterinary nurse.”
In considering the individual’s sanction, the Committee heard from a character witness who said that the respondent’s actions were out of character, that they had a previously long and unblemished career, that they had made full admissions and demonstrated insight, and that they had a low risk of reoffending in the future.
Cerys said: “The Committee accepted that X had been an excellent veterinary nurse and that X’s criminal conduct did not relate to X’s practice as a veterinary nurse. However, in the Committee’s judgement, the aggravating factors outweighed the considerable mitigating factors in this case.”
She added: “The Committee decided that a suspension order was not the appropriate sanction for such a serious offence because it did not reflect the gravity of X’s conduct. In the Committee’s judgement, the wider public interest, that is the maintenance of the reputation of the profession and the College as a regulator, required a sanction of removal from the Register. The Committee considered that X had much mitigation and was clearly a dedicated veterinary nurse but the reputation of the profession was more important than the interests of X.
“Further, the Committee noted that in circumstances where X’s probation order expired in 2022, and where the ancillary orders, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and a requirement to register on the Sexual Offences Register did not expire until 2025; the only proportionate sanction was to direct the Registrar to remove X’s name from the Register of Veterinary Nurses.”
The full findings for the case can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
Ms Strangeway faced eight charges against her.
The first five charges alleged that Ms Strangeway falsely claimed on hospitalisation records that she had attended the practice where she was employed to monitor hospitalised animals overnight, when she had not in fact done so.
In two of the cases Ms Strangeway also recorded on the form that she had provided the prescribed medication.
The sixth charge was that she had held herself out and practised as a registered veterinary nurse, despite not being on the RCVS Register at the time.
The remaining two charges related to the fact that her conduct as described in the previous charges was dishonest, misleading and potentially detrimental to animal welfare.
The Committee found all factual allegations proven by way of the respondent’s admissions and witness evidence, which included relevant CCTV footage and alarm data.
The Committee also found that the respondent’s conduct did amount to serious professional misconduct based on her dishonesty and the fact the conduct was sustained and repeated and created a risk to animal health and welfare.
The Committee then considered aggravating factors, including that there was a risk of injury to animals, the sustained nature of the misconduct, that there was actual or potential financial gain, that there was an abuse of a position of trust and responsibility, and that she had shown a wilful disregard of the RCVS and the systems regulating the veterinary nursing profession.
In mitigation, the Committee considered that there had been no actual harm to animals, that admissions to the allegations had been made at an early stage, that the respondent had displayed both remorse and insight regarding her conduct, including apologising to the practice, that she was of previously good character, and that she was ordinarily a good veterinary nurse.
Ms Cerys Jones, speaking on behalf of the Committee, said: “This is a case involving serious dishonesty, sustained over a period of time, and conduct potentially detrimental to animal welfare, as well as wilful disregard of professional regulations.
"Regrettably, the Committee has decided that, in this case, the respondent’s misconduct is so serious that removal from the Register is the only means of protecting animals and the wider public interest.”
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
The new drug represents the fruit of 8 years of product development and more than 11 proprietary studies performed by Ceva R&D teams.
Marie Boutot, development project leader said: "Isemid is an original drug developed by Ceva, and was the subject of full pivotal efficacy and safety studies."
Ceva says the new drug has been recognised by the European Medicines Agency as a "2018 Innovation, advancing animal health".
Isemid is presented as pork-flavoured, scored tablets in three strengths: 1, 2 and 4 mg. They can be administered orally once daily, with or without food. The company's research showed a 98% owner compliance (compared to 92% for furosemide, p<0.05) and 80% voluntary acceptance.
Emilie Guillot, DVM, Ceva Technical Manager for Cardiology said: "With Isemid, we seek to help veterinarians in their goal to improve survival of dogs with heart failure.
"But above all, thanks to its potent action and long half-life which allow once-daily dosing, we hope to ease owner compliance."
Scientific communications with data on Isemid were presented at the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine forum in Phoenix in June and will be held at the European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine congress in Milan in September.
Katie won the trophy for her research and presentation on quantifying and monitoring practice cleanliness.
The runner up, who won £500, was Glasgow University veterinary student, Alysia Empert-Gallegos for her research into owner perspectives on feeding raw diets to dogs.
Katie, who is Deputy Head Veterinary Nurse at Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital, said: "I am very grateful to MSD Animal Health for awarding me the research bursary and prize.
"Cleanliness is such an important subject area for the veterinary field and I'm pleased that I can hopefully inspire others to monitor it effectively; enabling us to continually improve our standards across the industry.
"I am excited to be the first Veterinary Nurse to take part and win, and hope that I can encourage other nurses to take an interest in research and help improve standards."
Michelle Townley, Veterinary Advisor at MSD Animal Health, said: "It was wonderful that this year everyone could present, no matter where they are working in the world, and despite the event having to be virtual this year, there was a huge amount of energy in the 'room', that shone through from the enthusiasm of the presenters. Their love of their work and commitment to research was apparent to everyone on the judging panel. It was a great day all round and we're excited and delighted to have awarded the top prize to our first veterinary nurse and Katie's extremely valuable and practical work on monitoring clinical hygiene."
Photo: Katie Whalley with Michelle Townley
The website has been redesigned to help pet owners improve their understanding of the disease and support their commitment to treating their pet, thus improving the survival rates of diabetic pets.
The site includes videos which show how to give insulin injections to dogs and cats. There are also links to the Pet Diabetes Tracker App, which helps owners of diabetic pets monitor and record their pets’ progress. There are also tools to help pet owners build glucose curves they can share with their veterinary practice, and FAQs that will answer their main concerns.
The company is also offering additional support to help veterinary practices raise awareness of pet diabetes in the form of staff training and a Pet Diabetes Month Resource Pack.
Caroline Darouj, Senior Product Manager at MSD Animal Health said: "Pet diabetes continues to rise in the UK1,2 due to the growing prevalance of obesity in our pets. Research has shown that up to 20% of diabetic pets die, or are euthanised, within a year of diagnosis3. Many of these early deaths however, are avoidable and effective management can result in good outcomes in most pets. A diabetes diagnosis should not be a life sentence for our pets.
"This campaign and new website will make a big difference, giving practices the tools to engage pet owners, provide treatments plans and explain effective disease management. Diabetes is a disease with many elements that can feel overwhelming for pet owners so it’s vital that all veterinary practice team members have the right resources to be able to advise and support them so their pets can lead long and happy lives."
To sign up for a pack practices should go to www.msd-animal-health-hub.co.uk/PDM
The company says that of the 249 responses to its Puppy Tooth Census received so far (of which 40% were from vets, 21% vet nurses, 2% other veterinary professionals and 37% puppy owners), 25% were poodle crosses.
This, says the company, is in line with anecdotal reports that vets are seeing more dental conditions in poodle cross puppies.
VisioCare is now calling for more vet nurses to take part in the survey at https://bit.ly/Visiocare_PuppyToothCensus.
With very few studies that address dental disease in puppies and a lack of current data, it is hoped that the survey will advance understanding and improve oral health and welfare.
Every veterinary respondent will be given access to a pack of educational materials to use in the consulting room, including digital animations and dental images that can be used to enhance client communication around the topic, together with explainer videos and puppy owner fact sheets and leaflets.
In addition, each month for the next three months, all responses will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win a £50 John Lewis gift voucher.
VisioCare is also offering a free webinar: "Challenges in Puppy Dentistry and Malocclusion" presented by Ingrid Tundo, Head of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Department at the Royal (Dick) Vet School, viewable at: https://veterinarywebinars.com/register/puppy-dentistry-malocclusion.
Finally, Nicky Diver-Clarke, Marketing Manager at VisioCare Services is also offering a free marketing CPD session for practices that want to find the best way to amplify awareness of the Puppy Tooth Census within their practice.
Anyone interested in accessing the free support can contact her at nicky@visiocareservices.co.uk.
The research, carried out by PhD student, Dr Sarah Finnegan and a multidisciplinary team of neurologists, behaviourists and biologists, found that 65% of owners reported pre-seizure changes in their dog, most commonly clinginess, excessive energy, and unsettled sleep. These signs varied between dogs, with other common changes including clumsiness, excessive panting, becoming withdrawn or quiet, and lacking energy.
43% of owners also reported seizure triggers, which commonly involved stress, food and excitement. A wide range of other triggers were reported by owners including loud noises, fireworks, storms, household products (cleaning products and air freshener), and preventative healthcare including flea and worming products and vaccinations.
60% of owners believed they were able to predict an upcoming seizure in their dog by using a combination of pre-seizure changes and recognising triggers. Nearly half of these owners were able to do so 30 minutes or more before the seizure commenced.
Dr Rowena Packer, BBSRC Research Fellow and research lead in canine epilepsy at the RVC, said: "It was fascinating to discover how in-tune many owners of dogs with epilepsy are with subtle changes in their dog’s behaviour before seizures. Many of our findings echo what is seen in human epilepsy patients and add evidence to support the presence of prodromal pre-seizure periods in dogs as well as people.
"Collecting further objective data to confirm these findings and explore ways to proactively utilise this period for seizure management are of priority for future research.
“This study also highlights how crucial it is that owners of dogs with epilepsy keep good records, not just of their dog’s seizures, but also of changes in behaviour and exposure to potential triggers, to gain a better picture of patterns in their dog’s seizure activity. The RVC Pet Epilepsy Tracker app allows owners to keep records, that can also be shared electronically with their vet and with RVC for further research.”
The recall is for the following batches only:
Petlife is contacting retailers, veterinary surgeons and wholesale dealers to examine inventory immediately and quarantine products subject to this recall.
For further information, contact Dr J M Ballany on +44 1333 720257 or email: johnballany@btinternet.com.
The 'Room For Rabbits' campaign follows research in which 38% of vets said they think rabbits’ environment is the most neglected welfare need1, with over a quarter of the UK’s rabbits being kept in inadequate housing conditions, and almost half of them living alone2.
The RAW survey also found that 90% of vets believe that rabbits’ welfare in the UK is improving3.
Room for Rabbits will throw a spotlight on rabbits’ environment, with a variety of initiatives during RAW including vet blogs and videos on how to adapt bunnies’ housing for all seasons, boredom buster ideas, a competition to encourage owners to create a RAW ‘gold standard’ environment, and downloadable packs containing resources for practices to create their own RAW campaigns.
Holly Castle, Senior Brand Manager at Burgess Pet Care, RAAG member and organisers of RAW, said: “We are delighted that RAW continues to have a positive impact, with our survey showing that 90% of vets believe that the welfare of the UK’s rabbits is improving - but there is always more than we can do.
“Since the previous RAW campaign, we have successfully launched RAAG, which recognises that the welfare of these wonderful creatures needs to be high on the agenda year-round.
"By bringing together the expertise of the RAW partners, RAAG is focused on encouraging everyone involved with rabbits to support the first Good Practice Code for rabbits’ welfare in England to ensure it becomes enshrined in law.
"One of the ways to achieve this is through initiatives like RAW, which is the UK’s largest welfare campaign of its kind.
“We recognise that vets’ practices were really stretched last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which meant it was difficult to support campaigns like RAW.
"However, following a surge in demand for rabbit ownership in the UK during the past two years, it is vitally important that we educate more owners than ever before and continue to help improve rabbits’ welfare."
“The veterinary community plays a hugely important role in ensuring that owners have access to the right information, and we are urging practices to throw their support behind this year’s RAW to ensure that we reach as many owners as possible.
Professor Ian Ramsey, Past President of the BSAVA, which endorses RAW, said: "The BSAVA is once again delighted to support RAW and the theme of this year’s campaign.
"Rabbits remain one of the most misunderstood pets in the UK, but we are confident that vets across the UK will again show their support for this important campaign to improve the lives of pet rabbits.”
The RAAG is encouraging vets’ practices to sign up to receive updates about RAW at https://www.rabbitawarenessactiongroup.co.uk/raw-pack-reminder/.
Downloadable RAW vet packs will also be available from 6th June.
The scheme will allow regular referrers to gift free treatment worth up to £5000 to clients in need of financial assistance
Hospital Director Nicola Bromley said: “We recognise the challenge it is for families who may need specialist care for their animal friend but are unable to find the necessary funds.
"We highly value the relationship we have with our referring vets in providing options to their clients, and we hope this scheme will empower them to give hope to those who need it most.
"We are committed to supporting our referring primary care vets through collaboration, to make the whole sector as good as it can be for every animal.”
The new scheme will be activated immediately and apply to referrals made from January 2024, meaning practices and primary care vets who already refer to Fitzpatrick Referrals can refer pro bono cases immediately.
https://www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk/news
The programme is designed to take advantage of the RCVS Under Care review changes, which mean that veterinary nurses can now start the patient's journey of care in certain cases, when before, vets were required to do a hands-on examination before delegating.
Racheal Marshall, Vets Now’s Head of Clinical Nursing said: “So, for example, under the protocols a nurse may offer blood tests prior to vet consultation, and the vet can then continue the consultation with the owner with additional clinical information.”
The 'Enhancing the Nurse Role' training programme is covers three main areas: front of house care, patient procedures and team dynamics.
So far, Vets Now has held 11 training workshops using partial task simulators to provide a realistic experience and safe environment to learn new skills.
Emphasis is placed on hands-on practical skills that can be used back at clinics, including placement of central lines, urinary catheterisation of blocked cats, feeding tube placement, suturing and a two-day ultrasound training.
The third phase of the Enhancing the Nurse role programme, which looks at team dynamics, has been overseen by Zara Kennedy, Head of Veterinary Standards at Vets Now.
She said: “As a vet, the collaboration between the vets and the rest of the team, and maximising everyone’s skills is critical.
“This third phase focuses on teamwork and communication, and we are utilising much of what has been learned in human medicine.
"A focus on these softer skills enhances the way the teams carry out patient care and ultimately result in better patient care.
Using the great skills of our nurses can help take the pressure off those bottlenecks where currently the patients are waiting for the vet.”
Vets Now says the Vets Now programme is designed to make the company an appealing place for veterinary nurses to work.
Racheal said: "Using all their skills provides them with greater job satisfaction, and by mixing with other nurses at the training, as well as being a great opportunity to bring our nurses together, they get to share and learn from each other's experiences.
“It will bring greater benefits for patients and clients and their experience in the clinic.”
The competition is part of a campaign called ‘Take it Fleasy', which is designed to support practices by providing education and advice on preventive treatments for fleas. There are also three runner up £50 Amazon voucher prizes.
Vicky McAlister, Senior Brand Manager at Elanco said: "Veterinary nurses play a huge role in advising pet owners on the care and well-being of their animals, especially when it comes to parasite control! They are often the first interaction new pet owners have with a practice, during puppy or kitten clinics, and see pets during routine health checks, including offering advice on all things parasites.
"We wanted to highlight the incredible work they do and give vet nurses the opportunity to shine with our new competition. I am excited to see what they can create!"
To enter the competition all you need to do is record yourself giving your tips and tricks for flea prevention and then upload it to your practice’s social media channels. Once your vlog has been live for two weeks you will be required to submit your engagement statistics (video views, reactions, comments and shares) to your local Elanco Veterinary Business Manager.
For more information, contact your Elanco Veterinary Business Manager.
Dr Corsi consulted with Kika's owners about the management of her pregnancy at the end of November 2017, finding at least 4 puppies on an x-ray taken at the time.
The first of five charges against Dr Corsi was that on the 14th December, after being advised by Kika's owners that the dog had produced two live puppies and one dead puppy the previous night, she failed to advise them that Kika needed an immediate veterinary examination.
The second charge was that, having been telephoned for a second time by the owner, she still failed to advise the owners that Kika required an immediate veterinary examination.
The third charge was that, following an examination of Kika that afternoon, and having ascertained that Kika required a caesarean section to remove one undelivered puppy, Dr Corsi failed to perform the caesarean section that day and advised the owner that Kika could undergo the caesarean section (at the practice, performed by her) the next day (or words to the effect).
The charge also stated that she failed to advise the owner that Kika’s health and welfare required the caesarean section to be performed that day; and that she failed to advise them that, if she or another veterinary surgeon at the practice could not perform the surgery that day, Kika needed to be referred to the out-of-hours clinic so that the caesarean section could take place on the 14th December.
The fourth charge was that Dr Corsi failed to recognise that Kika’s health and welfare required a caesarean section to be performed on 14th December.
The fifth charge was that, on 16th December 2017, having been telephoned by the owner at about 5pm and having been informed that Kika was weak and had not been eating post-operatively, Dr Corsi failed to advise the owner that Kika should be presented urgently for a veterinary examination.
The Disciplinary Committee considered the facts of the case and heard evidence from a number of witnesses including the owners of Kika and Dr Corsi, and from Mr Maltman MRCVS who was called as an expert witness on behalf of the College and Mr Chitty, who was called as an expert witness on behalf of Dr Corsi.
Having considered all of the evidence, the Committee found all aspects of the first and second charges proven in their entirety.
The Committee found the majority of the third charge not proved, with the exception of the fact that it found that Dr Corsi did advise the owner that she could undertake the Caesarean section on 15 December 2017.
In light of the Committee’s findings in respect of the aspects of charge three that were not proved, charge four was also found not proved.
Finally, the Committee considered that charge five was found not proved.
The Committee then went on to consider whether the charges that were found proven amounted to serious professional misconduct either individually and/or cumulatively.
Committee Chair Cerys Jones said: "In light of the evidence of both parties’ experts, the Committee was of the view that there was a risk of harm or injury resulting from Dr Corsi’s failure - the Committee decided that this was an aggravating factor.
"However, the Committee took into account that, at the time of both calls, Dr Corsi had a rationale for her decision, that she asked appropriate questions and received answers which led her to make what she considered to be a reasoned assessment.
"She had also made arrangements in both calls to be kept updated either at a pre-arranged time or sooner if Kika’s condition changed. On this basis, the Committee was satisfied that, while this was an error of judgement, it did not fall so far short of what was expected as to amount to disgraceful conduct."
Therefore, the Committee decided that while Dr Corsi’s conduct in Charges 1 and 2 demonstrated a departure from professional standards, the falling short was not so grave as to amount to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The full decision can be read here: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings/
The new aids will make their debut at this month's Vet Festival (20-21 May 2022, Loseley Park, Surrey).
The Flexi-Wedge (pictured) positioning aid aims to deliver both better quality and easier to interpret imaging, and to facilitate the ideal positioning of surgical patients.
The second product is the Saddle-Sandbags, which The Big Dog Bed Company says address two problems – the need to hold a patient in place without loading weight to any part of the body and the tendency of existing sandbags to leak sand after a few months of manipulation to different shapes.
Dru Ross, Director at Big Dog Bed Company said: “Support wedges are obviously widely used in the veterinary field.
"The difference with the design of the Flexi-Wedge is that they can be held securely in the desired position and are fully adjustable, making them suitable for a wide range of patient size and shape”.
“The Saddle-Sandbag is designed for those situations when a limb needs to be held out securely without any load on it and standard sandbags are not suited to this purpose.
"There is no need to manipulate the sandbag to the desired shape.
"The weight is split between two bags joined by a broad central strap so the strap is placed round or over the limb”.
James Weston, Managing Director at Northwest Referrals was one of the first to use the Flexi-Wedge.
James said: “I’ve never had such a straight spine when scanning a greyhound before using these supports. Every CT scanner should be sold with these”.
Patrick Harte MRCVS from the The Sidings Veterinary Surgery said: “The weighted ends make these sandbags much easier to handle.
"The larger aid is excellent for holding upper thoracic limb out of the way for lateral views of the elbow, for instance and the width of the flat part of the aid is perfect for wrapping around the antebrachium of the thoracic limb.”
The Flexi-Wedges and the Saddle-Sandbag products use waterproof, antibacterial, wipe clean fabrics in which the seams are thermally welded so no moisture can enter and no sand can escape.
The Flexi-Wedges are available in two lengths 60cm and 90 cm.
They are supplied with wipe clean straps that can be tailored to the size of table on which they are used.
The Saddle-Sandbags are available in three sizes.
On Tuesday 8th September Dr Owen Davies, an RCVS and American Specialist in Veterinary Oncology, will present ‘Mast Cell Tumours: An Update’, in which he will review mast cell tumours and diagnostic approaches before appraising the current treatment options.
On Wednesday 9th September Dr Pam Jones, a double board certified Specialist in Veterinary Medical Oncology and Radiation Oncology from the US, will present ‘Stelfonta: Seeing is Believing’.
Dr Jones will introduce delegates to the unique mode of action of tigilanol tiglate, review the efficacy data behind the new product and demonstrate how this treatment can be used to provide a high tumour elimination rate, wound healing and a speedy return to a good quality of life for the pet.
Dr Neil Mottram, Technical Product Manager at Virbac said: “The effects of Stelfonta really do need to be seen to be believed, so we’re excited to offer vets the opportunity to learn more about this ground-breaking advancement in veterinary oncology. We are lucky to have secured some fantastic speakers for the webinars so delegates can be assured of some top quality CPD.”
Both events will be hosted by The Webinar Vet and begin at 7:30pm. Registration for the event is now open and can be found at www.thewebinarvet.com/stelfonta
For more information, speak to your Virbac Territory Manager or visit vet-uk.virbac.com/stelfonta
The first change has been made to paragraph 1.6 which now advises general practitioners to check whether the vet they are referring a case to is on the RCVS Specialist or Advanced Practitioner list, explaining the difference to the client and what sets them apart from other vets who might be prepared to accept a referral.
Also, practitioners who accept a referral should provide information to the referrer about the experience and status of those likely to be responsible for the case.
The guidance about conflicts of interest in paragraph 1.7 has also been amended such that referring surgeons should tell clients if they are referring their case to a practice owned by the same group.
There is new guidance about how vets and nurses talk about referral practitioners, with the new advice being to focus on accepted terms such as 'RCVS Specialist' and 'RCVS Advanced Practitioner', and avoid more general terms like 'referral surgeon' or 'consultant' to avoid confusion or implying that individuals hold more qualifications than they do.
Lastly, there is new guidance that vets may only use the name 'Specialist' in the name of their practice where there is genuine and meaningful involvement, and oversight, in case management by at least one RCVS specialist in all disciplines where any clinical services are offered under this business name.
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/code-of-professional-conduct-for-veterinary-surgeons/supporting-guidance/referrals-and-second-opinions/
The first event, being held tomorrow (19th May) at 11:00pm, will be presented live from Calgary by small animal ECC specialist, Dr. Marie Holowaychuk.
Marie has spent more than 15 years speaking to audiences around the world, drawing on her personal experiences and evidence-based information to empower veterinary professionals to look after their personal and professional wellbeing.
Next week, at 8pm on Thursday 26th May, Andy Green MRCVS (pictured right), people director at Kent-based Pennard Vets, will host the second event titled ‘From Victim to Victor.’
His presentation will explore the challenges of clinical life and provide insight into how building healthy habits form the foundations for long-term success in the veterinary industry.
Andy is a certified neuro strategist who has spent the last 15 years exploring the world of personal development.
He's also a regular speaker at vet schools, conferences and events.
Lance Rice, creative director at ezyVet, said: “We’re already on target to have more than 1,000 vets and nurses from practices across the world attending these free webinars that are hosted by veterinary professionals for veterinary professionals.
“Because our hosts and audience are spread across the world, we know that some people won’t be able to watch them live, so we’ll make them available to view again afterwards through our website.
"Both promise to be invaluable events that will also count towards annual CPD requirements, so we’re encouraging vets and nurses to sign up now.”
You can register at: www.ezyvet.com/mindfulmay
All existing bookings for the event, which takes place at the ICC Wales in Newport, have been transferred to the new dates.
Registration is still open for new bookings at www.spvs-vmg-events.co.uk.
Otherwise, everything else remains unchanged: same speakers, same commercial exhibition, same pre-Congress party.
No need to bring a bottle: organisers say they'll be working with ICC Wales to put necessary Covid safety protocols in place so all attendees can relax and make the most out of their Congress experience.
The programme, which will look at the achievements and contributions of people of African and Afro-Caribbean descent, will see Dr Greene being interviewed by presenter Alex Beresford alongside a number of other prominent black Britons including athlete and broadcaster Colin Jackson, publisher and author Margaret Busby, Mayor of Bristol Marvin Rees, and nurse and academic Dame Elizabeth Anionwu.
Mandisa said: “I am immensely honoured to be the first Black President of the RCVS and to use this opportunity to speak to the black community, and indeed all communities, about my love of veterinary science and the importance of the work we do in safeguarding animal health and welfare and wider public health.
"I am a great believer in the phrase ‘if you see it, you can be it’ and I hope that my various talks this month and, particularly the upcoming ITV documentary, will help people recognise that veterinary professionals can come from a diverse range of backgrounds and that, provided they have the drive and the ambition, there should be no barriers to them meeting their dreams."
Alison has been an active member of the BSAVA since graduating from the University of Glasgow Veterinary School in 1991.
She works in small animal practice and has completed a residency in feline medicine at Liverpool University’s School of Veterinary Science, as well as a PhD in canine Bordetella bronchiseptica.
She has also spent two years working in industry.
Sheldon will stay on to support the BSAVA as Senior Vice President.
Alison says her priorities for her time in office are to develop more innovative materials across the Association's Education, Congress, and Publications arms, to beef up the digital offering, and to focus on mental heath and wellbeing in the profession.
Alison said: "I’ve been a passionate member of the BSAVA throughout my career and a volunteer for almost as long.
"As a working vet, I know first-hand the value of being part of a professional community: the importance of shared values, educational opportunities, and support shouldn’t be underestimated.
"We must remain focussed on the day-to-day challenges veterinary teams face, respond appropriately and at pace, and continue to explore new and effective ways to support our members.”