The new pass offers both physical and virtual tickets so that the practice rota doesn't have to stop any member of the team from attending.
BEVA says the new tickets also offer a saving of up to £113 per vet.
David Mountford, Chief Executive of BEVA said: “We know that not every vet at a practice can attend congress every year because someone is always going to have to stay behind and work.
"So, by offering a mix of physical and virtual tickets in the pass it means those staying at home to look after the practice can still benefit from the live stream as well as the six-month access to all the lectures afterwards.
"Congress always contains plenty of relevant and dedicated content for nurses, so the pass obviously includes nurse tickets too.”
Practice Passes are available for BEVA members in three packages: small (£599), medium (£1,333) and large (£2,666).
Individual early bird BEVA member prices are £499 for vets and £187 for vet nurses for all three days (with concessions available for those in their first three years’ post-graduation or on a lower salary).
Practice Passes and early bird tickets are available to purchase until Monday 1 August 2022.
Day tickets are also available.
Virtual tickets are £199 for vets and £40 for nurses.
For more information, or to book tickets, visit http://www.bevacongress.org
The survey was carried out to get an insight into how practices are currently helping clients ensure that their pets continue to enjoy life during their later years.
152 people took part: 60% nurses, 26% vets and 5% practice managers.
Less than 3 in 10 practices run senior pet clinics, and they mostly run them infrequently (biannually or less).
Three quarters of respondents also said that clients don't see the benefits of attending a senior pet clinic regularly.
It seems the current situation, then, is that few practices are providing a service that, er, apparently not many owners want.
Yet few in the profession would argue that a preventative approach is essential in order to give pets the best chance of leading healthier lives for longer.
To that end, Animalcare has produced some time-saving materials to help more practices run senior pet clinics, such as health check materials, handouts on age-related conditions and generic short articles for use in practice newsletters, which can be downloaded at: www.animalcare.co.uk/seniorpet
However, the problem is that these things alone cannot solve the underlying problem of a shortage of time.
The only way to solve that one is probably to find more inventive, efficient ways to engage with the owners of older pets in a way that minimise the time pressures on veterinary practice staff.
The study1 suggests that dogs with uncomplicated diarrhoea do not need antibiotics as part of their veterinary care plans.
The study included a random sample of 894 dogs aged between three months and 10 years old diagnosed with uncomplicated diarrhoea in 2019.
Of these, 355 (39.7%) dogs were prescribed antibiotics, and 539 (60.3%) dogs were not prescribed antibiotics (with or without additional supportive treatment) at first presentation for diarrhoea.
For the analysis, the dogs were balanced for a range of other differences between the groups including age, breed, bodyweight, insurance status, the presence of two or more medical conditions, vomiting, reduced appetite, blood in faeces, raised temperature, duration of diarrhoea, additional treatment prescription and veterinary group.
The researchers say this effectively meant that the only difference between the two groups was that one group received antibiotic treatment while the other did not.
The likelihood of clinical resolution of diarrhoea in the dogs prescribed antibiotics was 88.3%, compared with 87.9% in dogs not prescribed antibiotics.
This tiny difference of 0.4% between the groups was not statistically significant, leading to the conclusion that antibiotic treatment did not cause any beneficial effects in the treatment of uncomplicated diarrhoea in dogs.
Almost nine in 10 dogs with uncomplicated diarrhoea recovered after a single veterinary visit regardless of antibiotic treatment.
As an additional analysis, the study also explored gastrointestinal nutraceuticals (products derived from food sources that aim to restore digestive health such as probiotics and prebiotics) for treatment of uncomplicated diarrhoea in dogs.
Gastrointestinal nutraceutical prescription (with or without other supportive treatment) at first presentation of uncomplicated diarrhoea caused no statistically significant difference in clinical resolution compared to dogs not prescribed gastrointestinal nutraceuticals.
Camilla Pegram, VetCompass PhD student at the RVC and lead author of the paper, said: “This study used an exciting new approach that allowed us to determine ‘cause’ rather than being limited to ‘association’.
"Diarrhoea is a common condition in dogs and is often treated with antibiotics.
"However, this study highlighted that antibiotic prescription at first presentation of diarrhoea caused no difference in clinical resolution.
"Therefore, this arms veterinarians with the evidence-base for restricting antibiotics for uncomplicated diarrhoea in dogs, and owners should be prepared to only have an antibiotic prescription if absolutely necessary.”
Fergus Allerton, project lead for the PROTECT ME guidelines and co-author of the paper said: “Rational antimicrobial use is critical to defend ourselves and our pets against the growing threat from antimicrobial resistance.
"This study provides vital evidence to strengthen recommendations to withhold antibiotics when treating dogs with acute diarrhoea. Knowing that the outcome will be the same without antibiotics should reassure veterinarians to adopt this approach consistently.”
Reference
The course, which is designed to equip learners with essential leadership and management knowledge and skills, is aimed at those who are new to leadership, taking on additional responsibilities, or aspiring to lead within their organisation.
The course covers leadership theory, emotional intelligence, communication styles, motivation and workplace wellbeing.
The VMG says the iVLM offers a flexible and effective way to build leadership capability without the time or cost commitment of more advanced programmes.
The iVLM also provides a route into the VMG’s ILM accredited Qualified Veterinary Leader programmes: the VMG/ILM Level 5 Award (AVLM), the Certificate (CVLM) and the Diploma in Veterinary Leadership and Management (DVLM).
Alongside the new course, the VMG has re-launched an updated series of ten standalone CPD modules for those looking to build confidence or deepen their expertise in specific aspects of leadership.
Topics include understanding leadership styles, navigating team communication and supporting wellbeing.
Each module provides 25 hours of CPD and is aligned to Level 5.
Amy Martin RVN MA, Learning and Development Manager at the VMG (pictured), said: “Supporting VMG members and non-members alike to learn and grow is our goal and we’re committed to making high-quality training and development accessible to everyone in the sector, wherever they are on their leadership journey.
https://vetmg.com/product/vmg-cpd-course-intro/
The new range allows for gradually increasing support for the CKD patient according to the International Renal Interest Society (IRIS) stage, reducing phosphorous levels whilst avoiding early protein reduction and the associated lean mass loss correlated to a reduction in life expectancy.
Virbac says Veterinary HPM Kidney & Joint contains high quality protein, of which more than 85% is of animal origin, to support body condition and limit renal workload.
All of the products in the range contain Mobility Plus Complex, a mix of chondroprotective agents for joint support which are designed to increase joint flexibility and mobility with high levels of Omega 3 and DHA.
Dan Johnson, Product Manager at Virbac said: "CKD is the first cause of mortality at, or after, 5 years of age and osteoarthritis is highly prevalent but under-diagnosed in senior cats, with most cats being diagnosed at an advanced stage.
"So with Veterinary HPM Kidney & Joint, Virbac hopes to provide clinicians with a significant advancement in the nutritional management of these feline pathologies."
Veterinary HPM Kidney & Joint is presented in three dry and two wet formats:
The day will be led by Sonya Miles, BVSc CertAVP (ZM), CertAqV, MRCVS, RCVS Recognised Advanced Practitioner in Zoological Medicine and WAVMA Certified Aquatic Species Veterinarian.
Lectures will look at techniques, protocols, potential drug options and combinations as well as blood sampling and hospitalisation techniques in a wide variety of exotic species.
Delegates will also be provided with lecture notes, a CPD certificate, refreshments and lunch, as well as goodie bags provided by sponsors Pinmoore Animal Laboratory Services Limited.
Sonya says the aim of the day is to dispel many myths associated with anaesthetising a wide variety of exotic species, including fish and amphibians, whilst simultaneously providing vets and nurses with the skills to undertake these often challenging and comparatively high-risk anaesthetics.
To book your place or for more information, email: info@justexotics.co.uk or book online at https://justexoticsevents.co.uk/dont-miss-out-on-our-latest-event
The new guide, developed in association with Vets Digital, is the latest addition to BVA’s ‘Respect your vet team – end abuse’ campaign, which aims to support vets and veterinary workplaces who experience abuse from animal owners either in person or online.
It will be added to the Respect Your Vet Team toolkit, which offers a range of resources designed to help protect staff and limit the frequency and impact of abuse from clients.
The resources include practical tips on how to protect staff from online abuse, downloadable posters encouraging respectful behaviour from clients and a series of blogs exploring the issues.
BVA President Malcolm Morley said: “The vast majority of clients are hugely appreciative of the care they receive from their vet teams, resulting in thousands of positive reviews every year.
"While we recognise not every client will have a positive experience and may wish to provide critical feedback, a small number are posting deliberately abusive or unfair reviews.
"This is unacceptable and can have a hugely negative impact on individual veterinary professionals and the wider team.
"Protecting the wellbeing of veterinary teams remains a top priority for BVA and this new resource will help vet teams to take practical steps to limit the impact of this type of abuse.”
https://www.bva.co.uk/resources-support/misc-resources/how-to-manage-unfair-and-abusive-reviews-online
The company says it is calling for the change after analysing the records of its consultations held during the pandemic and finding that there was a low antibiotic prescribing rate, treatments were effective and no harm was caused.
During the seven months that Vet-AI collected data, from the 1st April to the 31st October 2020, its vets held 21,383 veterinary video consultations, an analysis of which is the subject of a paper published in the RCVS Knowledge journal, Veterinary Evidence1.
78.1% of the consultations were for dogs and 21.9% for cats.
Of the vet-led video consultations completed, 3,541 had medicines prescribed during the consultation.
Some consultations required more than one prescription, which meant a total of 4,282 POM-V medications were prescribed.
Of those, Vet-AI says 0.87% reported a mild adverse effect.
Antibiotics were prescribed in 5.9% of all consultations, 99.3% of which was first line.
Vet AI says follow-up on prescribing was available in 67.7% of cases and 89.4% of all known treatment outcomes were complete or had an expected response to treatment.
Skin problems were the most common body system/disease category seen and prescribed for.
The remaining 17,482 consultations, which did not require a prescription medicine, had resolutions assigned.
They included 959 referrals to an emergency in-person veterinarian visit; 4,852 recommendations to visit a vet in-person; 4,216 alternative products recommended, 6,421 follow-up consultations with the remote veterinary team, and 219 remote laboratory tests.
Samantha Webster MRCVS (pictured right), from Joii Pet Care, said: “Given the clear evidence outlined in this report, we believe the future of veterinary medicine should include remote consultations with remote prescribing where appropriate and regulated.
"We invite the RCVS and other veterinary governing bodies to consider that there is a place for prescribing remotely on an ongoing basis for certain cases under certain conditions, such as a secure video and audio link with clinical record keeping and pharmacovigilance practice.
"A blanket ban is not appropriate with the advance of modern technology."
“Bold steps have been taken in human health, incorporating modern technologies to support both GPs and patients, to great success.
"Our industry could use these learnings to help reduce the current strain and demands on vets across the country where mental health is already a key issue due to increased pressures, under resourcing, and compassion fatigue.
“We feel it’s important to take this approach to reach as many owners and provide professional advice and appropriate treatment on pet health so that those animals that do not necessarily currently receive veterinary care do so, and to bridge the gap wanted by clients.”
The figures came from an analysis of over 100,000 calls made to VidiVet by owners when their normal practice was closed, between 2021 and 2024.
So far in 2024 36% of VidiVet’s calls have been gastrointestinal cases, 25% skin cases, 14% musculoskeletal and 3.7% post-surgical issues.
The advice given to many of these cases was that an emergency visit to an out-of-hours (OOH) clinic wasn’t necessary, but to monitor at home then attend their own vet practice for any workup, diagnostic tests, medication etc.
The company is now encouraging practices to consider using it's triage service over Christmas, when practices and emergency clinics often experience an increase in OOH workload.
This, it says, is a win-win situation as it relieves pressure on OOH clinics, brings revenue back to veterinary practices and also saves clients money, stress and time.
Ben Sweeney, Veterinary Surgeon, CEO and Founder of VidiVet said: “When I launched VidiVet, vet practices were understandably concerned that digital vet services could drive work away from their clinics.
"We hope this new data shows the opposite, and how it can directly benefit practices in a way they might never have imagined.
"What VidiVet has actually done, as was our belief from the get-go, is to drive the bond with clients even closer as well as providing a revenue opportunity for the practice whilst prioritising pet health and welfare.
"This is because the added benefit of a service like ours alleviates part of the immense burden on clinical teams from front of house to the surgical teams, without them losing control.
Kate Higgins MRCVS, owner of Village Vets Crosby & Formby, said: “Over the last six months we’ve saved our clients collectively an estimated £75,000 in emergency vet fees by using VidiVet.
"They were able to be reassured out-of-hours whether their pet did or didn’t need emergency treatment.
"Those that did were able to be treated swiftly by an out-of-hours clinic, and those that did need treatment but not urgently, were able to come to us during our usual working hours, not incurring emergency fees.
"What is even better for us (and our clients) is that we have the case notes from their call with VidiVet ready and waiting for us when we’re open, so we’re up to speed with what the issue has been and what advice has already been given – which is a crucial time saver for both parties.”
www.vidivet.com
Photo: Emma Paine
As part of the redevelopment, kennel capacity will increase from 107 to 197, there'll be a new emergency and critical care hub, sixteen new consult rooms and a new imaging suite with MRI and CT scanners, two ultrasounds and two X-ray machines.
There will also be a 66-seat seminar room.
Work is expected to be completed early next year, and the practice will be recruiting for around 75 new team members to service the expanded centre.
Simon Tappin, clinical director at DWR, said: “This long-awaited expansion will transform our practice, offering even more space and capacity for referrals, brand-new equipment and a seamless experience for our clients.
“It will also bolster our reputation as a training practice, with the expansion of our intern and residency programmes adding to our already-impressive provision in this area."
The practice is also implementing case management changes, with a single point of contact for every client and individual case managers in every discipline.
The traditional reception area is being replaced with a concierge greeting service for clients, with staff on hand to book them in on iPads.
Client care team manager Deborah Bell said: “This is a USP for us and we think it’s an industry first. The idea came from how medical secretaries work in human health.
“When a referring vet calls us, our client care team takes the basic details and passes them on to the case manager for that discipline. They will contact the client, make appointments and meet the client in person on arrival.
“We have 12 case managers for our disciplines at the moment, with the potential to expand. As well as providing a personalised service for our clients, it provides great career progression opportunities for our client care team.”
www.dickwhitereferrals.com
The working group, which is led by Gudrun Ravetz, IVC's Group Chief Medical Officer, has been tasked with developing evidence-based, sustainable prescribing practices that protect animal health while safeguarding the planet.
The group comprises experts from within IVC Evidensia’s network who will collaborate with industry and academic partners including Vetoquinol, IDEXX, ESCCAP, and MSD Animal Health to deliver research, education, and practical tools for veterinary teams both inside and outside of IVC Evidensia practices.
Gudrun said: “We’re proud to be investing in this work and setting an example for the profession.
"Responsible parasiticide use is not just a clinical issue, it’s a sustainability imperative.”
Photo: www.depositphotos.com
The Association is also encouraging horse owners to join in the celebrations by sharing birthday cakes with their vet or veterinary practice.
BEVA President Huw Griffiths said: "Our 60 faces initiative celebrates some of the many outstanding people who have left an indelible mark on the profession and whose actions complement BEVA’s work in championing progress and/or diversity."
The list of 60 faces, which were nominated by BEVA members, showcases people who have inspired, influenced and progressed the equine veterinary profession for the better.
The faces range from 16th Century humanist Thomas Blundeville to 21st Century social media entrepreneur Ebony Escalona.
Every day for a month, two faces will be released on BEVA’s social media channels.
Huw added: “It was a really tough challenge to whittle the list down to 60 people as all of the nominees were exceptional individuals.
“The list showcases some of the best-known names in the industry as well as some heroes whose stories are less well known or who have been consigned to history.
“It’s not a “Top 60”, nor are all the faces vets, but it does highlight the breadth of people who have impacted what we do.
"We hope you will enjoy reading about them and we hope our lovely clients will join in the celebrations during the week starting 18th November by sharing a celebratory piece of birthday cake with their cherished horse vet!”
You can see the 60 Faces here: https://www.beva.org.uk/60-Faces
The events will cover a range of subjects designed to boost morale, positively influence wellbeing and reduce the impact of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). They will also demonstrate how to support employees and colleagues to ensure work is sustainable, productive and enjoyable and guide veterinary professionals through mechanisms to make working life a more positive experience, despite the current climate.
The series will feature 30-minute presentations by wellbeing professionals such as sports psychiatrist, Dr Claire Gillvray (pictured right), human factors specialist, Dan Tipney, and occupational psychologist, Prof Elinor O’Connor.
The full programme is:
Liz Barton, co-founder of WellVet, said: “WellVet exists to provide practical tools and a supportive network to help positively influence and improve wellbeing and boost morale. This programme of events is designed to answer specific challenges we’re experiencing – now more than ever in veterinary teams, and to bring us together for a bit of festive cheer."
Emma McAnally, territory manager at Boehringer Ingelheim. said: “During these challenging times, work and life in general can often seem overwhelming. We are delighted to support the WellVet Winter Wellbeing series to help improve wellbeing both in the work and home environments.”
For further information on the WellVet Winter Wellbeing series and for details on how to join visit www.wellvet.co.uk.
The role was created last November when the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) started allowing para-professional staff to support vets in carrying out TB testing in England.
UK Farmcare says there are now 49 fully authorised ATTs in England with another 21 TB testing under veterinary supervision and three undergoing the theory part of the training.
To become an ATT, applicants must be at least 18 years old, hold a valid UK driving licence and passport, possess a clean criminal record and then be approved by the APHA. Applicants also need at least three graded GCSEs or equivalent in English, Maths and a science or food production subject and at least six months cattle handling experience.
https://ukfarmcare.com/an-introduction-to-the-att-role.
The study, published in Nature Scientific Reports, investigated the effect of culling in the first three licensed badger cull areas – Gloucestershire, Somerset and Dorset – using data from 2013 to 2017.
Gloucestershire and Somerset saw reductions in bTB incidence rates in cull areas relative to comparison areas of 66 per cent and 37 per cent respectively after four years. In Dorset, there was no change in incidence rates in cull areas relative to comparison areas after two years, but incidence dropped by 55 per cent in the same period in the 2km buffer zone around the edge of the cull area. Matched comparison areas were similar but not identical.
James Russell, BVA Junior Vice President said: "These findings are encouraging and offer further evidence that badger culling can result in significant reductions in the number of new cases of TB in cattle. However, they come with the caveat that the data only relates to the first three cull areas, and the variability within these alone makes it too early to draw firm conclusions that culling will reduce incidence significantly in all 40 areas where it is now taking place.
"BVA’s expert working group is currently considering all aspects of disease control looking at cattle testing, removal of reactors, compensation and control in other farmed animals as well as the culling and vaccination of badgers. The group will consider this additional evidence as we develop our new policy on bTB.
"We continue to support a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to tackling bTB, including the use of badger culling where there is a demonstrated need and where it is done safely, humanely and effectively as part of a comprehensive strategy.
"The best way of halting the spread of this devastating disease is enhancing our understanding of bTB and applying that evidence to the eradication process.”
The company has created a new waiting room board kit as a way for veterinary staff to remind owners of the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of dental disease.
Animalcare has also created a Pet Dental Health Month social media pack with content practices can use on their social media channels.
During the month, the company will be offering dental CPD and prizes for the most creative and engaging waiting room displays.
Will Peel, Animalcare Marketing Manager said: "According to the RVC's VetCompass data, periodontitis is the most common disease seen in cats and dogs however, it can often be difficult to identify and pet owners can often disregard the signs of dental problems, assuming that their pet’s bad breath is normal.
‘Our popular Lunch and Learn sessions have demonstrated to us that veterinary staff recognise the importance of raising dental health awareness, so we’ve created this range of materials specifically to support veterinary practices and their patients.’
In a separate statement, Mr Stevens said: "Anything that gives homeopathy a veneer of credibility risks chancers being able to con more people into parting with their hard-earned cash in return for bogus treatments which at best do nothing, and at worst can be potentially dangerous."
One of the dangers Mr Stevens referred to was the "rise in misinformation about vaccines - some of which is apparently promoted by homeopaths - and which poses a significant danger to human health."
In other words, anyone gullible enough to believe that a dilution of 1,000,000,000,000 parts of water to one part of crude oil, or skimmed milk, or human placenta, or condoms, or anything else for that matter, is going to cure them of anything, is more likely to believe all sorts of anti-vaccine, anti-pharmaceutical company nonsense, something which is very dangerous at a time when vaccination rates have been declining.
Human medicine does not have the monopoly on nonsense, of course. There are those who continue to peddle the lie that homeopathy can cure cancer in animals, and as the declining rates of human vaccination would tend to suggest, no shortage of people prepared to believe them.
Niall Taylor MRCVS, author of No Way To Treat a Friend, said: "The situation in the veterinary profession mirrors that in the medical profession: a small number of people preaching the benefits of a discredited belief system to vulnerable people.
"Some in the profession argue that we should humour those owners who practise homeopathy in animals, as to challenge them would drive them underground. The problem is that if we don't challenge them, we help foster a belief system which doesn't just harm animal health, but human health too. So the skill here is to find ways to challenge these beliefs in a way that is empathetic and constructive."
The BCVSp says the aim of its proposal is to identify practices that offer a multi-disciplinary referral service, to incorporate standards for specialist care and to define training, veterinary and nursing qualifications, behaviours and facilities which optimise management of cases with complex problems and those requiring advanced diagnostic and/or therapeutic approaches.
Terry Emmerson Hospital Director at North Downs Specialist Referrals and BCVSp trustee said: "Increasing numbers of veterinary graduates are choosing to pursue training leading to post-graduate diplomas and RCVS recognition as Specialists.
"Many vets and nurses are working in groups that allow a multidisciplinary approach to be offered to animals with complex problems. We hope that we can devise a new accreditation strand to give the animal-owning public the ability to distinguish multidisciplinary specialist hospitals from general veterinary hospitals in order to make informed choices regarding the veterinary care they wish to access for their animals."
BCVSp has proposed that prior to entry into the new strand, VSH(M)s would first be required to meet the Core, GP and Veterinary Hospital requirements in all of the modules (Small Animal or Equine as appropriate) and achieve Awards Points at Outstanding level in the relevant modules. BCVSp has put forward an outline plan which is currently being considered by the PSG in which VSH(M)s will be required to offer a minimum number of services but there will also be scope for individual units to highlight particular areas of expertise.
Celia Marr, BCVSp Chairman said: "A key element of the strand we are working on is that each service will be led by RCVS Specialists ensuring on-going accreditation of the experience and expertise within the range of services that together underpin a multidisciplinary approach to case management. We have consulted widely amongst our members to reach consensus on the standards each specialist service should be aiming for."
She added: "We hope to work together with the PSG to develop an accreditation within this strand over the next few years, however working through the current PSS modules to Awards Points level is not easy. Specialist-staffed hospitals aiming for the multidisciplinary strand will need to start planning their approach as soon as possible."
Mandisa Greene, Chair of the Practice Standards Group, said: "The RCVS Practice Standards Group welcomes BCSVp’s proposal and the passion of the group for developing this new accreditation level. Both the PSG and the RCVS Standards Committee will be working with the BCVSp to consider the proposal's feasibility, how the accreditation level might be achieved, potential levels of interest and other criteria in the coming months. It is critical that specific criteria which BCVSp and the RCVS Practice Standards Group develop together are clear, transparent and testable."
Photo: Newmarket Equine Hospital
RCVS Council had introduced temporary guidance allowing the remote prescription of drugs for animals not under care back in March, to ensure that animal health and welfare could be maintained during lockdown without risking the health of veterinary teams or their clients.
Since then, the College has twice extended this guidance, because of the ongoing situation.
However the College says it now recognises that many practices are returning more to 'business as usual' and that the guidance and associated flowchart should be updated according.
Consequently, before deciding to prescribe POM-Vs remotely, the updated guidance now requires veterinary surgeons to first consider whether the animal is already under their care; or, if not, whether it is possible to physically examine the animal in order to bring the animal under their care. If the answer to both questions is ‘no’, POM-Vs may still be prescribed remotely providing the guidelines set out in the College’s coronavirus advice hub are adhered to.
Surprisingly, the College says that its surveys of the profession have thus far identified no immediate safety concerns around remote prescribing.
RCVS President Dr Mandisa Greene, who chairs the Taskforce, said: “The reason for maintaining the possibility of remote prescribing without a physical examination was that we recognised that the current situation is unpredictable, and while the ability for the public to visit practices in person has improved over the last few months, we felt that situations might still arise where that would not be possible, and where access to remote prescribing would be necessary. These could include further local lockdowns, ongoing quarantine arrangements, and the remaining fact that some members of both the veterinary team and the public continue to shield.
“It remains our intention that this guidance will continue to be a temporary measure and may be subject to further extensions or updates given the uncertain nature of the Covid-19 pandemic.”
RCVS Council will review the position on 8 October, with any changes being effective by 1 November at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the RCVS review of ‘under care’ and out-of-hours emergency cover has now resumed, starting with a number of virtual focus groups and consultation with stakeholders within the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions.
The findings from these focus group discussions will then inform a wider survey to be sent to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in early 2021, along with stakeholder organisations and the animal-owning public. Remote prescribing will continue to form a part of this review.
The company has updated its waiting room board kit for veterinary staff to create a visual reminder of the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of dental disease and a tailored dental home care regime.
There is also a Pet Dental Health Month social media pack which includes imagery, videos and copy to use on your practice social media channels and client-facing waiting room screens.
Dental charts are also available to help explain dental aftercare in post-op appointments.
Will Peel, Marketing Manager at Animalcare said: "We know that veterinary staff recognise the importance of oral health, so we’ve created this range of materials specifically to support veterinary practices and to help people better understand how they can maintain good dental health in their pets.’
www.animalcare.co.uk/dentalhealthmonth
The Committee has been named after the Supplementary Royal Charter 2015 which broadened the functions of the RCVS and allowed for a more flexible approach when dealing with complaints about professional conduct.
The Charter Case Committee can resolve cases where the conduct of a veterinary surgeon or nurse has fallen far below the level of conduct expected of them, but not so far as to warrant a full, public Disciplinary Committee hearing.
The Committee can deal with such cases without the need for a public hearing and can give veterinary surgeons or nurses either a confidential or a public warning about their future conduct.
A warning issued by the Charter Case Committee does not affect the individual’s registration status or their right to practise.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar, said: “The establishment of the Charter Case Committee plays a vitally important role in balancing our statutory role of upholding professional conduct standards and protecting animal health and welfare and public confidence in the professions, with our mission to become a compassionate regulator.
“The Charter Case Committee Protocol allows for the alternative resolution of certain cases where a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse has engaged in behaviour that amounts to serious professional misconduct or has been convicted of an offence, but where it is not in the public interest for the matter to be referred to a hearing of the Disciplinary Committee because it is at the lower end of seriousness.
“The type of cases we envisage being dealt with by the Committee are those where the Code has been breached but where there is no ongoing risk to animal welfare or public confidence, and where the level of insight and personal reflection regarding their conduct is such that it can be resolved without the need for an onerous, stressful and expensive Disciplinary Committee hearing.
"We estimate that the CCC will deal with around 20 such cases per year.
“The most serious cases of professional misconduct will, of course, continue to be referred to Disciplinary Committee hearings.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/who-we-are/committees/charter-case-committee.
The grants, which are for up to £3,500 per annum, are for students - often from disadvantaged backgrounds - who are embarking on a gateway or main veterinary degree course, possibly as a second degree.
Quadstar's latest grantees are Alicia Guarnieri, who is doing a vet degree at the University of Bristol, and Raluca Magadan, a veterinary nurse from Ireland, who is now on the accelerated graduate course at Bristol University.
She said: “Doing a second degree was never going to be easy.
"However, through help from family and locum vet nurse work, I managed to afford my first three years of vet school and made it into final year.
"This is where the difficulty came, as I had to more than forty hours per week of unpaid rotations work, plus clinical EMS during the holiday breaks, which made it very hard for me to earn the money I needed to afford my final year.
"At times it meant I had under £100 to survive an entire month on, which became a big physical and mental challenge.
“That’s when the Quadstar Foundation stepped in and took a weight off my shoulders by helping to pay off my outstanding university fees and providing some financial security in my final months.
"This has been a huge relief and allowed me to finally enjoy my last year at Bristol.
"I can’t thank everyone at the charity enough.”
In addition to funding and mentoring, The Quadstar Foundation helps its grantees with everything from job applications to revision techniques, as well as any mental health crises and helping them to find a place to live.
Nick, who also runs a property and acquisitions company and Animus Surgical, a pet and vet supplies company, said: “Having worked as a vet for many years before setting up my businesses, I have great industry connections and knowledge.
"So, I’m in the privileged position of being able to help committed students to seize the career opportunities they deserve.”
“My main commercial motivation now is to be able to maintain the funding streams required for these grants.
"It’s surprisingly hard to fundraise for individuals.
"That’s why Animus Surgical has just committed to donating 15% of its profits to the Quadstar Foundation.”
He added: “It’s an enormous privilege to support these inspiring young vets who have had such a hard slog to get past the ever-increasing barriers they face. Barriers that back in our day didn’t exist.”
www.quadstar.org
The group will also be supporting members in how to reflect on their CPD as a way of consolidating learning, and considering plans for how the benefits of CPD and the VetGDP can be communicated to the professions.
RCVS Council member Dr Olivia Cook MRCVS will be chairing the group.
She said: “The Engagement Group has been set up in recognition that, although the majority of the professions are engaged with meeting their CPD requirements and completing the VetGDP, there are still those who feel confused about the requirements or remain uncompliant for other reasons, and we would like very much to help them.
“Therefore, this is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to play an active part in advancing veterinary standards by ensuring that as many members of the professions as possible have the benefits of lifelong learning in their own practice and their ongoing work for animal health and welfare. In doing so they will help grow public confidence in the professions.
“From the VetGDP perspective, we’re particularly keen that there’s a strong peer-to-peer element, so that those who are doing the VetGDP, or have just recently completed it, are using their recent experience and understanding to evolve the policy and drive engagement.”
Applicants who are interested will have until Friday 30 August to apply to become members of the CPD and VetGDP Engagement Group and are invited to send a concise email to CPD@rcvs.org.uk explaining their experience and how they feel that can contribute to work of the committee.
The practice has been leading research into the devastating disease since 2012 and has collated information on all confirmed cases across the country.
The disease, which originally appeared in the late 1980s, was first detected in the UK in 2012.
When it affects the kidneys, it has a 90% mortality rate.
The new site offers advice and information, including a live map of confirmed cases across the UK, for both vets and pet owners.
David Walker, American, RCVS and EBVS European specialist in small animal internal medicine, leads the team at Anderson Moores and is the UK’s foremost authority on the disease.
He said: “We have been at the forefront of research into CRGV for almost a decade now and have witnessed first-hand the often-devastating effects of the disease.
“In launching this new website, we aim to inform pet owners and colleagues in the veterinary industry about CRGV.
“We hope the confirmed case map will prove useful.
"Although an environmental trigger has not been definitively proven, the seasonality of the disease makes it eminently possible and the map allows everyone to see the location of confirmed cases.”
So far this year, Anderson Moores has recorded a total of 26 confirmed cases of CRGV.
This number comes on the back of 47 confirmed cases during 2020, 19 cases in 2019 and 18 in 2018.
277 cases have been confirmed since the disease was first recognised in the UK in 2012.
David said: “As we enter the winter months, we want to advise dog owners around the country to remain calm but vigilant and seek advice from their local vets if their dog develops an unexplained skin lesion(s), especially on the leg.
“Unfortunately, we find ourselves in the time of year when cases are most commonly identified – 92% of dogs with the disease are seen between November and May.
"This is understandably a concern for dog owners; however, the disease remains rare.
“If a dog is suspected to be suffering from CRGV, the best chance of recovery probably lies with early and intensive management which may be best provided at a specialist facility.
“Treatment primarily revolves around intensive management of the acute kidney injury and is sadly only successful in around 10% cent of cases.”
Visit https://www.alabama-rot.co.uk .
Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters: Our Commitment to the Future represents the first time that such a broad and influential group has united in support of a single issue in the veterinary profession.
The publication contains a number of case studies which illustrate the impact that evidence can have – and has had – on animal health and welfare. It also provides a rationale for veterinary professionals to contribute to the evidence base and put evidence into practice, to the benefit of animals, owners and veterinary teams themselves.
The signatories to the commitment are:
Animal and Plant Health Agency
British Cattle Veterinary Association
British Equine Veterinary Association
British Small Animal Veterinary Association
British Veterinary Association
British Veterinary Nursing Association
RCVS Knowledge
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
Royal Veterinary College
University of Bristol
University of Cambridge
University of Liverpool
University of Nottingham
University of Surrey
Veterinary Policy Research Foundation
No sign of the BAHVS, I see.
Jacqui Molyneux, Chair of the Board of Trustees of RCVS Knowledge, said: "Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters is a milestone publication for the professions, representing the first time the majority of the key institutions have aligned under the same EBVM banner.
"A celebration of decades of incredible discoveries, achievements and improvements in animal health, it also serves to remind us that even the earliest forms of veterinary medicine were underpinned by evidence."
UK Chief Vet Christine Middlemiss said: "What’s the evidence? An evidence-based approach is vital in all areas of our profession, whatever is keeping you awake at night. For me, it is the threat of African swine fever and avian flu. The evidence I rely on comes from our specialist surveillance monitoring and testing, veterinary epidemiologists and disease modellers. It enables me to make timely, proportionate risk-based decisions that stand up to scrutiny.
"If you are managing veterinary care in practice, the evidence you rely on to underpin your standards of clinical care comes from multiple sources too. Evidence-based veterinary medicine allows us to refine and tailor strategies to be effective and efficient, making full use of existing and new technologies.
"The profession has taken great strides towards embracing evidence-based veterinary medicine and building on this will strengthen the links between clinical decision-making, policy development and future research."
Chris Gush, Executive Director of RCVS Knowledge, added: "We are impressed by the contributions from our co-signatories, which clearly demonstrate the phenomenal impact on patient outcomes that conducting research and using evidence can have. We are also delighted that Sense about Science, a flagbearer for evidence, transparency and rational thinking, has joined with us to highlight the many benefits EBVM can bring.
"The publication also makes a strong case for much-needed funding for research to grow the evidence base, which would put powerful, robust data into the hands of veterinary professionals as they make critical decisions that can affect patient outcomes.
"It is our hope that the calibre, diversity and sheer number of the organisations putting their name to this commitment will galvanise all vets and their teams to expand their use of evidence in practice."
Rebecca Asher, Deputy Director at Sense about Science, said: "This is a showcase of game changers in veterinary care and we hope it will inspire and motivate everyone in the profession.
"We were delighted that RCVS Knowledge approached us to collaborate with them and other leading institutions in the veterinary research community to affirm their commitment to an evidence-based approach to veterinary medicine.
"Everyone expects treatment for humans to be underpinned by evidence. We now expect the same of the whole veterinary community when it comes to the treatment of animals."
The full commitment and portfolio of case studies can be read in Evidence-Based Veterinary Medicine Matters, available for free online: bit.ly/EBVMMatters.