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Setback for VN title protection
vn with rabbit
Despite this setback, the bill will receive a first reading on 10 June.
Bill comes 36th in House of Lords ballot

A bill to protect the 'veterinary nurse' title has come 36th in a ballot in the House of Lords, throwing into doubt its chances of receiving parliamentary time.

The Veterinary Nurses (Protection of Title) Bill hopes to prohibit the use of the title by anyone not listed on the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses.

Any non-registered person using the title or any name, title or description that implied they were listed on the register would face fines or conviction under the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Professor the Lord Trees submitted the bill to the ballot on 19 May. Bills must draw highly enough to receive parliamentary time.

Despite this setback, Lord Trees said during last week's RCVS Council meeting that it will receive a first reading on 10 June. Given the bill's non-controversial nature, it is likely to get cross-party support and may still get through to the House of Commons.

Meanwhile, the council approved a change to the code of conduct last week to help protect the VN title.

The code now reads: "Veterinary nurses must not hold out themselves or others as having expertise that they cannot substantiate, or hold out others as specialists or advanced practitioners unless appropriately listed with the RCVS, or veterinary nurses unless appropriately registered with the RCVS."

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."