Veterinary surgeons and lay members welcomed

New members have been appointed to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Disciplinary and Preliminary Investigation committees.

Joining from July 2013, the members are the first to sit on the newly-reconstituted committees, following a legislative reform order that came into force in April.

Beverley Cottrell and Catherine Goldie are both retiring as elected veterinary surgeons on the RCVS Council to take up their posts on the Disciplinary Committee.

Veterinary surgeons Jane Downes and Charles Grunchy will also be joining, and Stuart Drummond, Ian Green, Chitra Karve and Mehmuda Mian have been appointed lay members of the committee.

Meanwhile, the Preliminary Investigation Committee will welcome veterinary surgeons Andrew Ash and William Reilly, along with lay members Penny Howe, Sarah Pond and Elana Tessler.

The legislative reform order amended the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 to ensure both committees are made up entirely of veterinary surgeons and lay members who are not part of the RCVS Council.

This prevents the same people from setting the rules, investigating complaints and adjudicating.

"The legislative reform order fundamentally improves the way the veterinary profession is regulated and will help to ensure public confidence in our disciplinary processes," said Gordon Hockey, registrar and head of legal services at the RCVS.

An independent selection committee chose a shortlist of candidates from a list of veterinary surgeons and lay people, put together by recruitment consultants, and the final appointments were approved by the RCVS Council.

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