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VN award changed to boost nominations
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There are plans to allow each year's winner to give a speech at BVNA Congress.
Golden Jubilee award clarified and amended
 
Changes will be made to the VN Golden Jubilee award in a bid to boost the number of nominations.

At a meeting of the VN Council in Telford last week, it was revealed that there are generally just three or four nominations each year.

As well as a general lack of nominations, some of those submitted are not meeting the criteria - perhaps due to confusion with other awards, such as the Blue Cross Veterinary Nurse of the Year or CEVA Animal Welfare Awards.

In 2013, the panel decided none of the nominations fit the criteria.

Going forward, the award will be restricted so that only veterinary nurses may win and the criteria will be clarified. The award seeks nurses who have made an 'exceptional' contribution to the profession in terms of leadership, outreach, awareness-raising and ambassadorship.

The nominations period will also change, bringing it into line with the Queen's Medal award for veterinary surgeons.

Additionally, there are plans to allow each year's winner to give a speech at BVNA Congress.

VN Council vice chair Kathy Kissick expressed some concern over this, however: "I would be very twitchy about giving someone free rein to say what they like," she commented. It was suggested award winners will receive help in putting together a professional presentation.

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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."