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Vet nurse to lead flagship Blue Cross hospital
Louise Newman and Paul Manktelow.

Louise Newman is the first RVN to be appointed to the role.

A veterinary nurse has been appointed to lead the Blue Cross flagship animal hospital in Central London for the first time in the charity's 125-year history.

Louise Newman, who joined Blue Cross as a night nurse in 2006, will oversee the veterinary and support services, budget and overall clinical decisions at the charity's Victoria Animal Hospital, which opened in 1906.

Having first joined the profession as a student nurse in 2001, Louise has gained a wealth of experience in roles such as nurse leader, volunteer coordinator and a practice manager.

She said: “It’s the love of animals that motivated me to join the veterinary nurse profession but it’s my love of people that has kept me here. I’ve always wanted to act as a role model and to coach and develop a team. 

“I’ve got a real passion for customer service which comes from working alongside my mother in a family run business and I’ve always wanted to do the best for people”.

Dr Paul Manktelow, director of veterinary services at Blue Cross added: “Louise is a great example of incredible talent within the veterinary nurse profession. It’s a role with very strong transferable skills around communication, compassion and the ability to get things done. 

“I think vet nurses are very well positioned to understand the challenges in the profession and make practical steps to protect the wellbeing of the team whilst ensuring the service meets the highest welfare standards”. 

This year marks the 125th anniversary of Blue Cross, first known as ‘Our Dumb Friends League’. The charity formed to help vulnerable pets and their owners and contiues this work today across its rehoming, clinical, animal behaviour, pet bereavement support and educational work.

Image (C) Blue Cross.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.