Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 17th February 2016
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

VN title petition now closed
vn
Defra responded to the petition in January of this year, saying it did not recommend that parliament give the title legal protection.
Council says it will keep calling for title protection

A petition urging the government to legally protect the 'veterinary nurse' title has now closed with just under 37,000 signatures.

The petition was launched by the RCVS in August last year and gained 10,000 signatures within the first week. When it closed on 14 February 2016, a total of 36,862 people had signed it.

Currently, anyone can call themselves a veterinary nurse as the title is not legally protected. The RCVS campaign called for legislation to criminalise any improper use of the term, so that only RCVS-registered professionals with the relevant education and training could use the title.

Defra responded to the petition in January of this year, saying that while it recognised the importance of veterinary nurses, it did not recommend that parliament give the title legal protection.

Chair of the VN Council Liz Cox said that while she was "disappointed" by Defra's response, the council would continue to argue that the veterinary nurse title should be protected.

On a positive note, she said the petition had raised public awareness of what veterinary nurses do and revealed a high level of support from veterinary nurses, veterinary surgeons, the public and MPs.

Defra has, however, agreed to work with the RCVS to review Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act - which outlines the procedures that can be performed by a registered veterinary nurse. It is hoped new ways may be found to bolster the nursing profession.

A joint RCVS and BVNA initiative called VN Futures aims to help veterinary nurses to prepare for and shape their future. The two organisations will also use this project to identify ways to strengthen and raise awareness of the profession.

Liz Cox said it is important that veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons continue to promote and explain the nurse title to clients.

"Good veterinary nursing can make a huge difference to the outcome and experience for both the animal and the client, we do a great job and we need to tell the public."

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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."