Vetcel, the veterinary buying group, has announced a partnership with Training Progress, through which it will deliver its health and safety training information to member practices.
Training Progress is a training management system designed primarily so that veterinary managers can track their staff training. The company says the system empowers staff to drive their own training, and devolves training responsibility (where appropriate) away from senior team members.
The tie-up with Vetcel means member practices will be able to access Vetcel's health and safety training in their own own mini Training-Progress site, where they will be able to track their teams' progress and compliance.
Chris Bainton said: "The Vetcel group are delighted to be working with Training-Progress to provide a further benefit to our membership. We recognise that Training-Progress will help our members ensure that their team’s staff development and training is promoted and, specifically, that both the staff and the practices themselves are protected and enabled by monitoring and recording the health and safety training of the team.”
Training Progress will be at stand O54 at the London Vet Show.
Amy Bergs MRCVS, owner of The Cat Doctor in Surrey and co-founder of the new British Mobile Veterinary Association, has won a week's worth of free advertising for her practice on national TV.
The competition was run by the mobile payments company iZettle, which invited entrants to submit a 15 minute video about their business.
Amy's husband and business partner Robert put the video entry together. It was one of seven winners picked out of hundreds that iZettle said it received.
The resulting advert (below) is being shown on a number of TV channels, including Sky News, Sky Sports and Comedy Central, from today.
Amy said: "We are so excited to have won the competition. We love what we do and would like to help more cats, it’s such an amazing opportunity to share what we can offer on national television!"
watch?v=Vi8SCWcPJoo
SPVS has announced that Professor Noel Fitzpatrick will appear ‘In Conversation’ with Martin Whiting, lecturer in ethics at the RVC, at the SPVS/VPMA Congress at the Celtic Manor Resort on 29/30th January 2016.
Noel is both an inspirational and a controversial figure. Few would question that his orthopaedic and neurology work has been both brilliant and life saving. Anyone close to him will tell you he is a dedicated workaholic who believes passionately in the sanctity of life.
However, some would argue that programmes like the BBC’s Bionic Vet and Channel 4’s Super Vet may raise expectations among pet owners as to what the average vet practice can do. And then there's the question of just how far practitioners should go to save / prolong an animal's life. Just because you can, does it mean you should?
These are the areas that will be explored in this hour long ‘conversation’ in a format borrowed from literary festivals. There will be an opportunity for the audience to submit their questions from the floor.
For further details and to to book, visit www.spvs-vpma-events.co.uk or call 01453 872731.
The Bella Moss Foundation (BMF) and Oncore Online Learning have announced the launch of a 2 week online training course developed to help veterinary professionals implement rigorous, tailored infection controls in practice.
Practical Infection Control is delivered online as a fully tutored course and students will have access to Oncore's virtual learning environment which will host a lecture, learning materials and discussion forums.
Course materials and ongoing tutor support and assessment will be provided by VN lecturer and BMF advisor Louise O'Dwyer. As part of the course, students will be able to create and implement their own tailored infection control standard operating procedures for their practice, which will be evaluated by Louise.
Course registration is now open, and as soon as a minimum of eight students are booked, the first two week course will go live. Practical Infection Control costs £129 and counts for six hours of documented CPD. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to BMF, to help the charity continue to fund veterinary education and support for pet owners seeking advice on antimicrobial resistant infections.
Louise O’Dwyer said: "This will be a highly interactive course which will be tailored to the individual delegate, and therefore the individual practices. "It will have a different learning format to many other CPD courses, being interactive and very much driven by delegate feedback, meaning those undertaking the course can gain the specific information they need on aspects such as prevention of surgical site infections, cleaning and disinfection, surgical patient preparation and hand hygiene."Jill Macdonald, RVN and founder of ONCORE Online Learning, said: "Infection control is a key component of any practice routine, but in my experience having clear and up-to-date practice guidelines and protocols – that everyone actually uses – can sometimes be overlooked.
"This module, especially timely given new official focus on infection safeguards in the PSS, will empower nurses and other staff to implement the most recent and robust infection control methods, whatever their place of work, whether it be a small local practice or a large veterinary hospital."
To register for Practical Infection Control or find out more about the range of courses offered by ONCORE, visit www.oncoreepd.co.uk or contact info@oncoreepd.co.uk or 07717 335484To find out more about BMF, visit: www.thebellamossfoundation.com
Royal Canin has announced a new Approved Weight Management Centre programme for vet practices across the UK.
As part of the programme, a number of practices across the UK will receive ‘Centre of Excellence’ status for managing overweight or obese cats and dogs educating clients on prevention.
To gain approved centre status, practices are required to establish a formal Weight Management Clinic and work as a team to refer clients with overweight pets through the clinic. The chosen practices will receive bespoke training from a member of the Weight Management Team, to provide them with the skills and protocols to discuss obesity with clients and encouraging vets, nurses and receptionists to work together to raise awareness of obesity.
Shelley Holden from the Weight Management Team said: "This is a unique platform for practices across the UK to take advantage of and really excel in addressing weight management issues in practice and tackling prevention. We are excited to currently work with an elite group of practices, all committed to raising awareness of obesity in cats and dogs."
Royal Canin has so far given nine clinics 'Centre of Excellence' status. They all now discuss body condition scoring with patients to identify whether the pet is in ideal condition. If overweight or obese, they are then referred for further advice and support to their weight clinic. The weight clinic is a complimentary 30 minute appointment with a weight management nurse, followed by ongoing monitoring, personalised advice and telephone support. Approved clinics also educate owners about prevention during puppy parties, puppy and kitten vaccinations, and at neutering to ensure owners are aware of the health risks of weight gain from the outset.
Jo Hammett BVSc MRCVS, Owner of The Stocks Vets (pictured right), said: "We have received bespoke training from Royal Canin to achieve centre status, giving our team the confidence to discuss the sensitive issues surrounding weight with clients, in addition to tackling education. This has really helped break down barriers in approaching the topic with clients about their pets’ weight and we are finding they are now much more open with the team during consultations, which is a major achievement in itself."
For more information about the Approved Weight Management Centre programme, contact your veterinary business manager or visit www.royalcanin.co.uk.
Macahl Animal Health, a new veterinary company which took over the manufacture and distribution of Oralade in the summer, is to make its first appearance at the London Vet Show later this month.
The company will be highlighting its Feed Don’t Fast campaign designed to encourage veterinary professionals to take a much more proactive approach to the early feeding of patients to improve patient outcomes.
Macahl Director Anthony Mackle said, “The Feed Don’t Fast campaign is gathering momentum. We’ve been encouraged by the feedback we’ve had from veterinary practices starting to look at the nutritional needs of their in-patients much earlier than they did before. Rather than waiting to see if a patient will eat or not, they are starting to be more nutritionally-aware, and prioritising feeding in the same way that they prioritise the administration of clinical care or medication. The case studies we’ve received show a clear benefit in early nutrition assisting recovery.
“But we don’t want to sit back and wait for the message to make its own way round: it’s an urgent need. We have to flip the notion of delaying feeding or fasting patients until the gut settles down or they have recovered from whatever condition they were admitted for. Science has moved on. The protocols for human patients recommend early intervention with appropriate nutrition and we need to get this message out to give the same benefits to our pet patients. This is why the educational message of Feed Don’t Fast is so important.”
Macahl says it is making education a key feature of its stand at London Vet Show with technical updates on early feeding of patients and the opportunity to sign up for nutrition and critical care feeding webinars. Staff will be on hand to explain the benefits of early day 1 microenteral feeding to help with the optimal functioning of the gut, and maintenance of the gut-associated lymphoid barrier. The company will be offering a special buy-two-get-one-free LVS promotion on its leading microenteral and rehydration product, Oralade, as well as giving away free dog- and cat-shaped ice cube trays to encourage practice staff to freeze left-over product for further use.
A new website, www.oralade.com will also be launched at London Vet Show which will allow veterinary professionals to access educational materials and videos, and sign up for new and recent webinars.
For more information, visit: www.feeddontfast.co.uk or telephone Macahl Animal Health on (0)28 8778 9245
5m Books has announced the publication of Honeybee Veterinary Medicine: Apis Mellifera L. by Nicolas Vidal-Naquet, a new book written to help beekeepers and anyone involved in apiculture, and environmental organisations better understand how to preserve honeybees as part of a delicate ecosystem.
Honeybee Veterinary Medicine provides an overview of bee biology, the bee in the wider environment, bee diseases and parasites, veterinary treatment, and actions to help support honeybee health.
Honeybees are an essential part of farming and the wider ecosystem, but since the mid-1990s, bee populations around the world have suffered a dramatic decline through a combination of diseases, intoxication, and unknown causes.
5m says that with the depopulation trend continuing, it’s becoming more and more necessary for veterinary surgeons and qualified animal health professionals to become involved in supporting the ecosystem.
Author Nicolas Vidal-Naquet is a veterinary practitioner who graduated in apiculture and Honeybee medicine, and also lectures on honeybee biology and diseases at the Veterinary School of Alfort in France.
Nicolas’ great interest in honeybees was the driving force behind the book, but he is also concerned by the general loss of bees from the ecosystem. He said: "They have a very important role in the pollination of wild flora, crops and orchards, which means they are key actors in sustaining biodiversity and the pollination of crops to feed both humans and animals."
Honeybee Veterinary Medicine is available now in hardback for £60 from http://www.5mbooks.com/honeybee-veterinary-medicine.html
The British Veterinary Association has announced the results of the Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, which found that 84% of veterinary surgeons give up time to work with animal charities and shelters.
72% have a formal arrangement with charities to provide their time and veterinary expertise at a reduced rate, while more than 43% work completely unpaid for animal charities and shelters; treating thousands of abandoned, mistreated or injured animals each year.
The charitable work undertaken by practitioners varied from practice to practice, but included:
On top of all that, veterinary surgeons also provide emergency treatment for stray and wild animals brought in by the public. Although they will sometimes receive a charitable donation towards the cost of treatment through schemes like the RSPCA Initial Emergency Treatment (IET) Scheme, that is by no means always the case.
RSPCA Chief Veterinary Officer James Yeates said: "Vets’ work in this area can go unrecognised but it is appreciated by the RSPCA that they are part of the team trying to help animals. The RSPCA is dedicated to helping animals most in need and relies on vets’ welfare work to help bring a stop to the suffering of all animals."
BVA President Sean Wensley, said: "Behind these statistics are countless stories of veterinary teams – who already often work long, demanding hours – giving their time for free to support animal rescue staff and charities to care for abandoned, injured and neglected animals, as well as help owners to keep and care for much loved animals in times of hardship and crisis. The UK’s network of animal charities and rehoming centres do a fantastic job protecting wild and domestic animals each year. Animal welfare legislation is clear that animal keepers and owners are responsible for meeting their animals’ needs, and prospective animal owners must be aware of the cost and time commitment involved in animal ownership, but we appreciate people’s circumstances can change."
Photo: Javier Brosch/Shutterstock
Dr. Lauren Finka, a researcher at the University of Lincoln, has developed L-CAT, a new tool for assessing behaviour in cats at rehoming centres and help match them to the ideal new home.
During the course of her PhD studies, which were part funded by COAPE (Centre of Applied Pet Ethology), Lauren discovered inconsistencies in the current models and perceptions of behaviour traits used in re-homing cats.
For example, one of the most common behaviours associated with affection towards humans is the activity of rubbing. Initial results suggested that this is often very inconsistent, as are several other behaviours that were previously thought to to be important in assessing a cat's underlying temperament. Dr Finka’s studies showed that it all depends much more on the specifics of the physical and social context of interactions and that these may change on a daily basis. It was found that on one day a cat might rub against a person ten times, but the next day rub against the same person only once.
The Lincoln Cat Assessment Tool (L-CAT) was developed during this research. COAPE says it is the first of its kind to offer a suitably robust, reliable and easy-to-use way of assessing behaviour in cats at re-homing centres, as well in predicting new owner satisfaction based on those assessments.
The organisation goes on to say that the potential welfare implications of this research are substantial, enabling cats to be properly but rapidly assessed, optimally managed, and suitably matched with would-be owners and thus shortening the length of time cats might spend in the re-homing centre.
L-CAT was tested to establish the possibility of predicting the future behaviour of cats after they had been adopted, as well as gauging how satisfied owners were likely to be with their cats. COAPE says the results generally confirmed that these outcomes were indeed possible, meaning re-homing staff could also use L-CAT to help manage the expectations of owners and potentially improve their satisfaction.
For more information, visit: www.coape.org
The Saddle Research Trust has announced the launch of a new paper explaining the significance of saddle fit on the health and welfare of horse and rider.
Saddle fitting, recognising an ill-fitting saddle and the consequences of an ill-fitting saddle to horse and rider was written by equine vet Dr Sue Dyson together with Master Saddlers and saddle fitters Mark Fisher and Sue Carson.
The paper has been published in the Equine Veterinary Education Journal, the official education journal of the British Equine Veterinary Association and is free to view until April 2016.
The paper encourages vets to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team with saddle fitters, trainers and physiotherapists, to help educate horse owners about the multiple problems that can be caused by ill-fitting saddles.
Key advice includes:
The paper also includes a glossary of saddlery terms, an explanation of saddle fit accessories, a range of informative photographs and a section on who is qualified to provide professional advice on saddle fit.
The paper concludes: “Correct saddle fit for horse and rider is an important equine welfare issue and the veterinary profession needs to recognise this and be at the forefront of helping to educate the horse owning public. Ideally veterinarians should work in conjunction with professional saddle fitters, trainers and physiotherapists to improve both horse and rider comfort.”
Petplan has announced a new category - ‘Rising Star’ - has been added to its 2016 Veterinary Awards.
The company says its awards, which recognise members of the veterinary profession who have gone above and beyond in their daily roles, have been focussed on established individuals. The idea behind the new award is to recognise someone that is rising within their current practice, showing great aptitude and who has substantially grown in their role within a relatively short period of time.
The award is geared towards employees with less than two years’ experience, who have initiated, coordinated and accomplished a new or improved activity or process during 2015. Petplan says nominees should also show one or more of the following ‘Four C’s’ in their initiative: compassion, competence, communication and commitment.
James Barnes, Head of Sales and Partnerships at Petplan, said: “Petplan understands the importance of committed veterinary staff in ensuring pet safety and care. Working with almost 5,000 vet practices, we see the fantastic work being carried out across the country and these awards are an opportunity for pet owners to say a heartfelt ‘thank you’ for the support veterinary staff provide to the animals in their care.”
To nominate a colleague for an award, visit www.petplanvet.co.uk/vetawards before 31st January 2016.
Locum David John Porter has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee for rude and aggressive behaviour, deficient clinical standards and obstructing the Committee's investigation into the complaints against him.
Three charges were found against Mr Porter.
The first charge (charge A) concerned failure to communicate courteously and respectfully with colleagues. This charge related to four incidents as follows:
In finding him guilty of this charge the Committee referred to his “wholly unacceptable exchanges with other veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses and ancillary practice staff members with whom he was working on the dates in question.”
The second charge for which he was found guilty (charge C) concerned what the Committee called “his seriously deficient clinical standards when treating animals under his care”, in particular that:
Within charge C he was cleared of two further parts of the charge – first, that he failed to discuss euthanasia with a client in relation to a kitten and failed to provide the client with sufficient advice and instructions regarding after-care; and, second, that he prescribed steroids to treat a kitten for muscle strain at a time when it was recovering from surgery.
The third charge for which he was found guilty (charge D) relates to Mr Porter’s failure, between 7 February 2013 and 31 October 2014, to respond adequately to communications from the RCVS. In particular that:
As to the conduct found proved in relation to charge D, the Committee set out its findings of fact and declared: “What Mr Porter chose to do was to attempt to obstruct the College in its attempts to investigate the complaints laid against him and, thereafter, its attempts to bring him before the Committee to answer the charges preferred against him. In short, he has directly questioned, and then disregarded and thwarted, the legitimate role of his professional regulatory body.”
The Committee’s reasons for taking a serious view of such conduct were expressed in the following words: “Both the public and other members of the profession must be entitled to rely on the expectation that all veterinary surgeons, as responsible professional persons, will co-operate fully and promptly to all proper enquiries made of them by the College. This is the wider public interest factor which means that deliberate attempts to thwart the College’s enquiries into complaints must, in our judgment, come at the top end of the spectrum of gravity of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.”
During the course of the hearing, which began in June 2015 and was adjourned three times, Mr Porter was cleared of charge B against him which concerned alleged refusal to undertake out-of-hours work for the Clent Hills Veterinary Group having previously indicated he would undertake such work.
In making the decision on the sanction in this case, Judith Webb, chairing the Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “In reaching our conclusion as to the sanction which is merited in this case we have taken into account the totality of Mr Porter’s conduct and failings. We consider that the conduct pertaining to Charges D(i) and (ii), even when viewed separately, demand the imposition of a direction for the removal of Mr Porter’s name from the Register.
“When that conduct is considered in conjunction with the other misconduct found proved in relation to Charges C1 to C4, which identify his clinical failings, and Charges A1 to A4, which demonstrate unprofessional behaviour in the workplace, we unhesitatingly conclude that there is no other sanction that could be considered sufficient, other than that of erasure.”
Key Note Ltd, has published Pet Insurance 2015, a report into the state of the UK pet insurance market which forecasts that premiums will rise by 46.7% by 2019.
The report notes that the percentage of adults in Great Britain owning at least one dog has increased by 2.1 percentage points over the past 5 years, and the percentage owning at least one cat is 2.5 percentage points higher than it was 5 years ago. Yet despite growth in the pet population, the increase in the volume of pet insurance policies (23.6% between 2010 and 2014) has been far exceeded by the increase in the value of premiums written (40.7%).
Key Note says claims inflation has been a major factor in rising premiums; despite gross written premiums for cats, dogs and other pets increasing by 13.3% between 2013 and 2014 alone, the cost of claims for the same animals rose by 14.7% over the same period, over and above the premium increases seen.
According to the company, rising claims are largely down to the increasing cost of veterinary treatment — as advances in pet medicine increase apace with those in human medicine, treating pets is getting more costly. Not only this, but other factors, such as the rise in overweight or obese pets and even antibiotic-resistant bacteria, both common problems in the human health service, are also pushing up the costs of veterinary treatment.
In other general insurance markets, most notably motor insurance, which price comparison websites (PCWs) were initially set up to focus on, competition exerts a major downward pressure on premiums. However, the report says this is not always the case in the pet insurance market. This is because it can be difficult for those who have already claimed on pet insurance policies to switch insurers; the result of doing so is often that the condition the pet has previously been treated for is classed as ‘pre-existing’ in the new policy and therefore it, and related conditions, will not be covered under the new policy. This could leave pet owners liable to pay for veterinary treatment in full.
The situation has been further exacerbated by the high-profile withdrawal of a number of underwriters from the pet insurance market. The nature of the pet insurance market, though at first seeming diverse, actually involves a relatively limited pool of underwriters behind the numerous brands available. The report details how just four underwriters between them either underwrite or, at the very least, arrange and administer the pet insurance policies of 27 of the foremost brands in the pet insurance market.
Key Note forecasts that although insurance companies will see an increase in the volume of pets insured, this will not compensate for the relentless increase in the cost of claims which will be largely responsible for driving the cost of pet insurance up 46.7% by 2019.
Norbrook has launched an Android version of its existing free iPhone app: ‘the Veterinary Excellence Tool’ (VET).
VET offers a range of functions to assist veterinary professionals and farmers including a product dosing calculator. The Android version has been developed to meet customer demand and has the same features as the Apple version which is available for both iPhones and iPads.
Norbrook highlights the following features of the app:
The app can be downloaded for free by searching for “Norbrook” in either app store.
For further information please contact Laura Holmes, E-Marketing Manager, laura.holmes@norbrook.co.uk or 01536 741147.
The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) is putting out a last call to take part in the SPVS Salaries Survey 2015, open to everybody working in the veterinary profession.
The long-standing survey provides a benchmark for veterinary surgeons, nurses and support staff to see trends in pay and conditions. Designed to provide a complete picture of remuneration levels, the survey covers basic earnings, bonuses, dividends, overtime and benefits such as accommodation, car allowances, private medical insurance and pensions. It also includes questions on employment contracts, hours worked, out of hours and weekend working.
Peter Brown, SPVS Treasurer and author of the Salaries Survey said: “I have been compiling the survey results for a number of years but it never fails to enlighten me as to what is happening in the profession. I know it is also the go to reference guide when practices are recruiting to help ensure they are offering competitive salary packages.
“Participation in the survey is open to all and the more practices that take part, the more accurate and useful the information will be so we would urge everyone working in the veterinary profession to take a few minutes to complete the survey. It can be done online and the information is completely anonymous.”
To complete the survey online, visit www.spvs.org.uk or, for a printed version, telephone 01926 410545. The survey is open until 30 November 2015.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has reprimanded Gloucestershire veterinary surgeon Adele Lewis for failing to pass on information about a horse’s clinical history to a potential buyer during a pre-purchase examination.
Ms Lewis, the sole principal of the Cotswold Equine Clinic in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, carried out the examination of a pony called Luke on 13 February 2014. Luke was owned by Mrs Booth who was a long-established client of Ms Lewis, both at her previous practice, Bourton Vale, and at her current practice. The examination was carried out on behalf of the prospective purchaser, Mrs Grieve.
Upon examination Ms Lewis certified that, in her opinion, Luke’s veterinary history did not increase the risk of purchase.
Following the purchase of Luke, Mrs Grieve attempted to obtain insurance for Luke and found out from a pet insurance company that a claim had been made by Mrs Booth in September 2013. She subsequently found out that, following concerns expressed by Mrs Booth and her trainer about Luke’s movement and their wanting an expert opinion, Ms Lewis had referred him to Dr Kold, a Specialist in Equine Orthopaedics, in September 2013. Dr Kold had diagnosed Luke with lameness and had given him intra-articular medication. Luke had also had a follow-up appointment with Dr Kold about four weeks later in October 2013.
The Disciplinary Committee hearing commenced on Tuesday 13 October 2015. At the outset, Ms Lewis admitted several parts of the charges (charge A and charge B) against her. In regards to charge A, she admitted that she had failed to inform Mrs Grieve that, when she examined Luke on 24 September 2013, his then owner Mrs Booth had complained firstly that Luke was “not tracking up and going forward” and, secondly, that he had improved significantly when put on a Phenylbutazone trial. She also admitted that she had referred him to Dr Kold for a poor performance investigation and that she ought to have informed Mrs Grieve of these matters.
In regards to charge B, she admitted that she completed a Certificate of Veterinary Examination in which she had declared that Luke’s veterinary history did not increase the risk of purchase and allowed the vendor’s declaration to include assertions that there had been no previous lameness and no intra-articular medication given in the last 12 months. Ms Lewis admitted that she ought to have known that her declaration that Luke’s veterinary history did not increase the risk of purchase was incorrect.
However, Ms Lewis denied being aware that Dr Kold had diagnosed lameness, administered an intra-articular corticosteroid to Luke and examined and noted a problem with his breathing, including upper airway disease and possible lower airway disease. Furthermore, she denied dishonesty in regards to both the charges against her and in relation to vendor declarations made on the Certificate of Veterinary Examination regarding previous lameness and intra-articular medication.
During the course of the hearing, Ms Lewis told the Committee that she had not received the reports about the two consultations by Dr Kold (despite their having been sent to her by letter and, with respect to the second report, also by email) and that she was therefore unaware of his findings when she carried out the pre-purchase examination. She also stated that she had not been informed of these by Mrs Booth. During her evidence, Ms Lewis also admitted having entered inaccurate information on a veterinary report to assist with an insurance claim.
The Committee did not find Ms Lewis to be an impressive witness citing the fact that her “explanations as to her practice showed a worrying absence of probity in the completion of veterinary reports for the purposes of insurance claims, and an absence of any effective practice management, consistent with acceptable practice.”
However, the Committee felt it did not have the evidence to conclude that Ms Lewis had acted dishonestly during the pre-purchase examination. It cited the fact that her actions, when informed by the purchaser Mrs Grieve of Dr Kold’s examination, did not appear to be those of someone trying to cover their tracks.
In regards to charge A, the Committee also found that the “apparently chaotic manner in which Ms Lewis ran her practice, and her own opinion that the pony was sound, would appear to have led her to wrongly disregard these matters from disclosure.”
In making its decision on her conduct and sanction, the Committee said that Ms Lewis’ failure to fully communicate to Mrs Grieve all the relevant information about Luke’s veterinary history fell far short of the conduct expected from a veterinary surgeon. It also cited the utmost importance of a complete and accurate certification process, as made clear in the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct and the Twelve Principles of Certification.
Chitra Karve, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee continues to emphasise the importance of maintaining the integrity of veterinary certification in any aspect of practice. Mrs Grieve told this Committee that if she had been fully informed about Luke’s veterinary history she would not have purchased the pony. It is clear from the evidence that it affected Mrs Grieve’s ability to insure the pony. Ms Lewis has accepted that the information about Luke’s veterinary history, not having been disclosed, was capable of affecting the risk of purchase. The public are entitled to rely upon veterinary surgeons providing complete and accurate information, when certificates and reports are prepared.”
In mitigation, the Committee paid regard to Ms Lewis’ inexperience at running her own practice and found no issue with her competence or clinical ability as a veterinary surgeon. It concluded that she had acted out of character and that there was no financial motivation for her actions. It also found it “highly relevant that the facts admitted and found proved related to a single pre-purchase examination.”
It also noted that Ms Lewis has now put in place a practice management system and has shown insight into her actions, by taking active steps to better comply with her obligations under the Code of Professional Conduct. She had also made early admissions of guilt and made a full apology to both Mrs Grieve and the RCVS both at the outset of the hearing, and in her evidence.
Chitra Karve added: “Having had the opportunity of observing her demeanour at this hearing, the Committee believes that it is unlikely that she will repeat her conduct.... The Committee has concluded that an appropriate and proportionate response in this case is to reprimand Ms Lewis.”
Her Majesty The Queen has today opened the University of Surrey's new £45m School of Veterinary Medicine, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.
Her Majesty and His Royal Highness toured the Large Animal Clinical Skills Building, where they met students taking equine examinations and working with livestock. The Royal Party also viewed a demonstration in the Biomechanics Laboratory, meeting Professor Noel Fitzpatrick and dogs that have benefitted from prosthetic limb surgery. They also watched teaching sessions in the Clinical Skills Laboratory, meeting staff and students.
After the tour, The Queen, The Duke and assembled guests attended a short ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new teaching facilities, during which Her Majesty unveiled a plaque to mark the occasion.
As The Royal Party left, they were bid farewell by Joey, the star of the theatre production War Horse.
Professor Michael Kearney, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey, said: “We are hugely honoured to welcome Her Majesty and His Royal Highness to the University of Surrey. This is a very special occasion that tops off an exceptional start to the academic year for the University, after the launch of our 5G Innovation Centre and achieving The Times and Sunday Times ‘University of the Year’ accolade.
“The School of Veterinary Medicine further cements our position as a world-class institution that is delivering cutting-edge teaching and research from state-of-the-art facilities. It will not only provide the next generation of sought-after veterinary graduates, but it will offer significant opportunities for collaboration between human and animal medical science professionals and public sector organisations.”
Professor Noel Fitzpatrick, one of the founding partners of the School of Veterinary Medicine, said: “I had a vision where we would deliver a degree structure which was truly focussed on what you dream about when you are sixteen years old, when you are desperate to become a vet. I fully intend to be part of a team that will kindle that fire throughout professional life to shine a light onto the world that badly needs ambassadors of purpose and integrity to be the caretakers of health on Earth, both now and for long after I’m gone and these new buildings will still be standing. This is our legacy, and we are intensely proud to be part of this evolution in health education.”
CVS has announced the official opening of Lumbry Park Veterinary Specialists, a new small animal referral hospital in Alton, Hampshire.
The hospital was officially opened last Saturday by the Town Mayor of Alton during an open day attended by local dignitaries, about a hundred vets and representatives from the veterinary industry and various animal charities. Dr Caner Salih, a consultant cardiac surgeon at the Evelina London Children's Hospital was a special guest.
CVS says it has invested more than £4.3 million to create one of the most advanced, multi-disciplinary specialist veterinary hospitals in the UK. It occupies 1,300 square metres and employs forty people, including nine referral clinicians (seven of whom are boarded specialists), support and admin staff.
Lumbry Park offers a range of advanced diagnostics and treatments for dogs and cats across a range of specialties, including high-field MRI and CT scanning, key-hole surgery, interventional cardiac procedures, and joint replacements. Cardiology specialist Dr Luca Ferasin is Lumbry Park's Clinical Director, reporting to Professor John Innes, CVS' Referral Director.
Simon Innes, Chief Executive of CVS, pictured fifth from left, said: "The opening of Lumbry Park is a proud moment for CVS and the culmination of a huge amount of work by John, Luca and the team involved. They have worked together to create a fantastic environment in which our specialists can offer the highest standard of veterinary care to our patients and their owners and we are delighted to bring their expertise to veterinary practices and their clients right across the South East of England."
CVS Referral Director, Professor John Innes said: "The opening of Lumbry Park marks a major step for CVS in terms of investment in veterinary specialist services and we will work to ensure that it develops an international reputation for the standard of care it provides. The Hospital is easily accessible and has the space and rural setting to provide a professional and pleasant environment for our patients, their owners, and our team. Luca and his excellent team are raring to go and we look forward to welcoming our first patients next week."
Alton Town Mayor Mrs Pam Jones added: "I am delighted that Alton has been chosen as the location for such a prestigious veterinary centre and I am honoured to be asked to open it."
Production company Keo Films is on the hunt for a veterinary surgeon that wants to take a year out and help set up a new community in a remote part of the British Isles for a high profile TV documentary series.
The documentary is essentially a social experiment to see whether it is possible to begin again, away from the conveniences and technology of the modern world.
Keo Films, which was behind such programmes as River Cottage and Welcome to Rio, tells VetNurse.co.uk that they've already had applications from people working in a variety of fields, including doctors, builders and engineers. For obvious reasons, they are very keen to recruit a veterinary surgeon.
There is no payment for appearing in the documentary. Still, it might be just the thing for someone who needs a break from it all. And who knows, it might lead to a second career opening supermarkets at the weekend!
If you know a vet who might be interested, get them to email: eden@keofilms.com or call 020 7490 3580
RSA has announced the rollout of its UK-wide network of preferred referral practices.
The scheme caused widespread concern within the profession when it was trialed in the Midlands earlier this year, primarily because of fears that it would reduce general practitioners' freedom to refer an animal to a centre that they felt could provide the most appropriate care for both the animal and the owner. In addition, RSA's claim that it was aiming to provide like-for-like care at a lower cost was undermined by the fact that the network could hardly field a single RCVS Recognised Specialist amongst its numbers. There were also concerns being voiced about the terms under which referral practices could join the network.
However, the underlying challenge of keeping pet insurance affordable remains. RSA says that according to its research, and based on Association of British Insurers averages, 27% of its customers pay more for their pet insurance than the average cost of home insurance; 17% pay more than the average cost of car insurance and 3% pay more than the average cost for private medical insurance.
It does seem as though RSA has been making a concerted effort to adopt a more collaborative approach before the nationwide rollout, having meetings with both the BVA and BSAVA which the respective organisations described as 'constructive'.
The current state of play is that RSA is inviting referral practices to join its network in advance of a launch some time after the end of the year. Thereafter, VetSurgeon.org understands that clients who decide to opt for a non-emergency referral outside its network will be subject to an additional flat fee which has yet to be announced.
Bill Paton, Claims Director for UK and Western Europe said: “The introduction of this new preferred referral network ensures that our customers will receive the most appropriate available treatment as diagnosed by their vet.
"For us, being able to control costs with our vet partners in the network will help us manage our claims cost more effectively and ensure that policy limits last as long as possible.
"Ultimately, this will have a positive effect on premium rates for our customers ensuring that pet insurance remains affordable.”
For more information about joining RSA's referral network, email: rsa.pet@uk.rsagroup.com.
Davies Veterinary Specialists (DVS) has announced that it has completed development work on its premises in Higham Gobion, Hertfordshire, to improve capacity and workflow for diagnostic procedures including MRI, CT and endoscopy.
The new development includes the construction and outfitting of an anaesthesia induction room with two state-of-the art stations, a diagnostic imaging viewing room, a further ultrasound and procedures room and office space for the nurse supervisor team. The rooms were built inside the site’s central barn as the next phase of DVS’s ongoing expansion programme, which has recently seen the completion of a new staff room and upgraded kennels and cattery facilities.
Clive Elwood, Managing Director of DVS said: “We first acquired the barn space in 2004 and initial construction included MRI and CT rooms with the plan of completing further rooms as needs arose. This latest development has already had a big impact on workflow and allows us to optimise the use of our diagnostic equipment. It represents our continued commitment to growth and development so that we can serve our customers to the best of our ability. I am very grateful to all of those who contributed to the project and showed necessary patience during construction.”
DVS now employs more than 35 specialist clinicians, 60 nurses, many with an advanced nursing qualification, and 30 administrators and support staff.
For further information visit www.vetspecialists.co.uk. You can also follow DVS on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DVSvets.
Moral Maze, a debate held by members at the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) Congress earlier this month, has concluded that equine practice needs to adapt to accommodate family life.
92% of voters agreed with the motion: Equine practice needs to change to become more compatible with family life.
BEVA says the result may reflect in part the changing demographics of the profession, with females now accounting for 76% of new graduate intakes.
Traditionally vets have worked together in practices, able to share resources and expertise as well as the out-of-hours rota. Until recently, men from the Baby Boomer Generation dominated the profession and many vets focused their efforts on work at the expense of their family. However, as Generation Y takes hold and more females are joining equine practice, there are different personal expectations with many vets now wanting greater commitment to family life and a better work-life balance.
The session took the form of a moral maze debate, chaired by Malcolm Morley, in which expert witnesses were challenged by informed interrogators. The proposers contended that it is possible to achieve a good work-life balance as an effective vet in a successful equine practice by working smarter, not harder and adopting a flexible approach.
Carolyne Crowe, veterinary coach and mentor, said: “Choosing to be an equine vet shouldn’t go hand in hand with giving up the rest of your life. Allowing flexibility within job roles should result in more engagement, productivity and thus economic benefit for the practice.”
Job share that included a proportionate allocation of the out-of-hours rota, was cited as a tenable solution for those juggling maternity leave and parenthood. The consistency of attending vets so often demanded by clients could be achieved by introducing two vets of equal calibre to the client, from the outset. Members of the audience outlined successful examples of job sharing and the consensus was that the turnover generated by part time, job share employees was often higher than their full time equivalents.
Mark Bowen, President of BEVA, said: “I’m not surprised that 92% of voters supported the motion, given the fact that the recent Vet Futures survey has shown a high rate of job dissatisfaction in equine practice. It reiterates the importance of moving with the times to evaluate the needs of working parents and make the equine veterinary workplace more adaptable to family life.”
BEVA is already working on various projects to help address and support the needs of members who are striving for a better work-life balance. CPD on personal effectiveness, covering work-life balance and time management is scheduled for the New Year. Further information on other initiatives will be released towards the end of the year.
The debate can be viewed online for free at beva.org.uk in the webinar tab.
Bayer Animal Health has announced the launch of three new educational videos which look at some common concerns in the profession about antimicrobials, including owner compliance, laboratory testing, and prescribing policies in different clinical scenarios.
The videos follow research conducted by Bayer as part of its Veraflox What Lies Beneath campaign in which 73% of veterinary surgeons cited owner compliance as a frequent cause of treatment failure when tackling bacterial infections, and only 5%1 of vets said that they send samples for culture and sensitivity testing routinely in cases where they suspect bacterial involvement.
In the first video presentation, Matt Jones, Microbiology Manager at IDEXX Laboratories, focuses on the importance of culture and sensitivity testing, and how to interpret results from these tests. Matt discusses the merits and drawbacks of various testing techniques available, both in-house and from external laboratories.
In the second presentation, Liz Watkins, founder of Chunk Training, a veterinary training provider which specialises in customer service, provides communication tips to improve consultation technique and increase owner compliance when a course of antimicrobials has been prescribed.
In the final presentation, Ian Battersby, Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine at Davies Veterinary Specialists answers commonly asked questions submitted by vets about antibiotics. Questions include how to adopt a practice antimicrobial policy, how to decide when it is appropriate to use antibiotics in GI disease and how to approach cases that are not responding as expected to antimicrobial treatment.
Hannah Watts, Group Product Manager at Bayer said: ‘‘The issues highlighted by the research need to be addressed in order to help promote responsible antimicrobial use. One of the key findings from the survey was the relatively low number of culture and sensitivity tests that are routinely performed. This may in part be due to financial constraints, but in addition to assisting in appropriate antimicrobial selection, culture and sensitivity tests often save money for the client in the long run, as well as helping to resolve the condition as quickly as possible, leading to improved treatment outcomes for the pet.‘’
Watching the videos can be used to count towards your annual CPD requirement. They're now available at www.vetcentre.bayer.co.uk.
International Cat Care has announced the winners of four new ‘Easy to Give’ awards and three ‘Cat Friendly’ awards.
The Easy to Give award was created to reward pharmaceutical companies whose products are easy to administer to cats. Previous examples have included drugs in a highly palatable form, smaller tablets, longer lasting preparations or those with an easier mode of administration.
Easy to Give winners this year are Virbac's Prinovox (ectoparasiticide), Norbrook'sLoxicom (NSAID), and Ceva's Vectra Felis (ectoparasticide) and Zodon (antibiotic).
These latest winners bring the total number of Easy to Give awards presented, since their inception in 2005, to 35.
International Cat Care CEO, Claire Bessant, said: ‘It is so important that cats receive treatments prescribed for them, whether it is for preventive care or to treat a problem. If a drug is too difficult to get into the cat, owners often fail to complete the course, leaving the cat inadequately treated – as we worry about antibiotic resistance, this is particularly important beyond the individual animal too. Struggling with a cat to medicate can put a tension into the owner/cat relationship at a time when owners feel they want to be more supportive rather than seen as something to fear. This year we asked those trying the products if the act of medication had a negative effect on their relationship with their cat, as many people find that in the struggle to medicate, often the cat becomes fearful or aggressive towards them which owners also find very distressing. This kind of innovation by pharmaceutical companies is essential to feline health.’
Easy to Give awards are confined to prescription only medicines (POMs) or methods of delivering POMs. International Cat Care also recognises other products which have made a difference to cat wellbeing and welfare, with its Cat Friendly Awards.
The Cat Friendly Awards go to the SoftE Smart Collar from MDC, the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder from SureFlap and the Cat Carrier Tree from Royal Canin.
For more details on the work of the charity go to www.icatcare.org.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has suspended two veterinary surgeons from the Register after finding them guilty of lying to clients and the College about the circumstances of a castration procedure which led to the death of a dog.
The Committee suspended Mr Mpho Donald Lesolle and Mr Georgi Cheshmedzhiev from the Register for four and two months respectively, following surgery undertaken on Benson, a two-year-old male Labradoodle belonging to Mr and Mrs Grayson.
During the proceedings, the Committee heard that, on 6 August 2013, Mr and Mrs Grayson brought Benson to the Swinfen Veterinary Centre in Stafford, where Mr Lesolle is the practice principal and Mr Cheshmedzhiev was his assistant, for the operation which was undertaken by Mr Cheshmedzhiev. Mr Lesolle did not directly supervise the procedure telling the Committee that he was confident that his colleague could carry out the castration, having permitted him to do so on previous occasions.
The Committee heard that, after the operation, a nursing assistant, Ms Bell, had noticed that there was blood on the bedding and that Benson had a swollen scrotum. Mr Lesolle then performed a scrotal ablation on Benson, who was discharged later that day.
However, on the morning of 8 August 2013, Mrs Grayson discovered that Benson had died during the night. An independent post-mortem concluded that he had probably died of intra-abdominal bleeding which caused circulatory collapse. Mr and Mrs Grayson raised a concern with the RCVS in September 2013.
The charge against Mr Lesolle relates to his actions following the operations and during the investigation. The four parts of the charge were that he failed to be sufficiently open with Mr and Mrs Grayson on the circumstances of Benson’s surgery; that, in September 2013, he wrote to the College indicating that he had in fact performed the castration and failing to state that there had been two operations; that, on 23 January 2014, he informed Pam Mosedale, a Veterinary Investigator employed by the College, that he had carried out both procedures; and that, on the same day, he also encouraged his veterinary nursing assistant Ms Bell to be dishonest with the College’s investigators.
Mr Lesolle, who was present at the hearing, admitted all parts of the charge against him. He told the Committee that he decided to take responsibility for Mr Cheshmedzhiev’s operation out of a desire to protect his colleague whom he regarded as vulnerable and lacking in self-confidence. He also accepted that he had encouraged Ms Bell to lie during her interview. He told the Committee that he had persisted with the deceit until 15 January 2015, when he gave a full account of what had occurred.
The three parts of the charge against Mr Cheshmedzhiev, who was not in attendance or represented at the hearing, were that in a letter to the College sent in September 2013, he indicated that he had not undertaken the castration procedure on Benson; that on 23 January 2014 he had denied carrying out the operation while being interviewed by Pam Mosedale; and that, on 19 June 2014, while being interviewed by a solicitor instructed by the College, he said that Mr Lesolle had carried out both procedures.
The Committee found the charge against Mr Lesolle amounted to serious professional misconduct, falling far short of what is expected of a professional. The Committee highlighted the protracted nature of his deceit and the fact that he encouraged another member of staff to participate in it. However, it did accept that his motivation was to protect Mr Cheshmedzhiev.
In deciding on the sanction for Mr Lesolle, the Committee considered the aggravating and mitigating factors. Ian Green, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “Having taken the calculated decision to deceive the College as to what had occurred, he abused his position of responsibility to obtain support for his deceit by involving a junior employee, without any proper consideration of the effect of that decision upon her. Instead he continued with the deceit until he was presented with incontrovertible evidence that he had not carried out both procedures on the dog. In the Committee’s view he showed a wilful disregard for the College’s investigatory process.”
However, in mitigation, it also accepted that he was protecting a colleague and that there was no financial gain. It also considered his personal circumstances, the fact that he is sole principal of a small mixed practice which provides his sole source of income and that the rented accommodation also provides a home for his wife and two children. Taking all factors into account, the Committee imposed a sanction upon Mr Lesolle of four months’ suspension from the Register.
In regards to Mr Cheshmedzhiev, the Committee did not find the part of his charge relating to the letter sent in September 2013 to be proven but, in respect of the other two parts of his charge, found that his conduct fell far short of what is expected of a professional. It highlighted his willing participation in the deceit over a protracted period and his failure to take responsibility for his own involvement in the operation on Benson.
In deciding the sanction, the Committee said that the fact that Mr Cheshmedzhiev had lied to the College’s investigators on two occasions and did not admit that he had carried out the castration and apologise for his actions until February 2015, after he had returned to his native Bulgaria, was an aggravating factor.
Ian Green added: “The Committee accepts that he allowed himself to be persuaded by Mr Lesolle to provide a dishonest account of what had taken place to the College’s investigator Mrs Mosedale, and solicitor, Mr Hudson. It also accepts that he has been described by Mr Lesolle as a vulnerable person, lacking in self-confidence in his ability to practise as a veterinary surgeon in the United Kingdom.
“Nevertheless, Mr Cheshmedzhiev accepted the obligations contained in the Code of Professional Conduct when he registered as an MRCVS, which included an obligation to cooperate honestly with the College’s investigatory process. It has also noted that he has expressed a present intention not to work in or visit the United Kingdom again.”
Taking into account all factors, the Committee decided the appropriate sanction was to suspend him from the Register for two months.