VPMA/SPVS Congress gets underway
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President Nick Stuart expressed his delight at the delegate number.
The 2016 VPMA/SPVS Congress got underway this morning with welcomes from the two presidents.
SPVS President Nick Stuart expressed his delight at the delegate number, which this year has topped a record 500. He reiterated the Congress strap line - ’where practice teams come together’ - and talked about the quality line up of speakers at the congress and the diverse subjects that were going to be addressed.
Mr Stuart was pleased to announce the new mental health stream this year at congress, saying that vets and nurses are often driven people working in isolation and can often feel lonely and unsupported. This can lead to anxiety and depression.
He also talked about how, in conjunction with the RCVS mind matters initiative, SPVS is hosting the Mind Matters Awards. These are open to all practices which can show that they are providing a caring environment for their staff.
SPVS president Howard Brown then welcomed delegates and said how good it was to have a number of speakers from a outside the veterinary profession from whom we could learn.
He also talked about the ‘new to management stream' that is being held this year for those who have recently moved into management. The congress charity this year is Pets as Therapy and the Congress dinner theme for Friday night is James Bond.
Brian Faulkner then introduced the eagerly awaited keynote speaker Alistair Campbell. Alistair's father was a vet in Scotland and later Yorkshire, so he is no stranger to the veterinary world. He talked about his father's experiences as a vet in Glasgow before moving on to explain more about his role in politics, saying that although he had had a very different life from his father, the principles behind both heir jobs had been similar, that is to work hard for what you believe in.
He also talked about his book 'Winners' and about the need for good teamwork in any organisation. “Teamship is at the heart of leadership,” he said, and referred to many instances where good teamwork created success both in politics and in the world of sport about which he is passionate.
Alistair then spoke of the need to set bold objectives and be sure to have succession planning: First set objectives, then formulate a strategy and finally decide upon tactics was his message to delegates.
There will be a more detailed report on Alistair's lecture in our next report from the VPMA/SPVS Congress.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
