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: 18th May 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

Veterinary nurse honoured for exceptional achievement
Louise O'Dwyer
Louise O’Dwyer received the award in honour of her pioneering role in veterinary nursing.

Bestowed with the RCVS Golden Jubilee Award
 
A veterinary nurse from Wigan has been crowned winner of the RCVS Golden Jubilee Award - an honour presented to one veterinary nurse each year in recognition of exceptional achievement.

Louise O’Dwyer received the award in honour of her pioneering role in veterinary nursing, acting as the first veterinary nurse clinical director within the CVS Group and the first UK veterinary nurse to be voted on to the US-based Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technician’s Board.

Miss O’Dwyer has also lectured across the globe and volunteered for several years at the Bella Moss Foundation, worked on a variety of BSAVA Committees, contributed to over 35 journal and magazine articles, and written three nursing textbooks.

Fellow veterinary nurse Kathryn Latimer, who nominated Louise for the award, said: “I feel Louise is a shining example of everything the Golden Jubilee Award encompasses – she has demonstrated exception abilities as a leader, not only to veterinary nurses, but to veterinary surgeons... [and] has demonstrated personal commitment to her personal education, and therefore to patient care, by pursuing a remarkable range of qualifications.”
 
Miss O’Dwyer says: “Nursing is about making your mark, about being there for your patients, and for me that’s what my career has been about. It’s a bit of a cliché, but we really are the voice of our patients, and so when people ask me ‘why do you spend so much time with getting extra qualifications?’, it’s really about making sure I’m better able to help my patients.
 
“As I get older it’s also about educating the next generation of veterinary nurses, helping to train them to do the same and to spread our knowledge and training. Our training is something British vet nurses can really be proud of, and it’s humbling to receive this Award when I know just how many other dedicated, passionate vet nurses are out there, but I am truly grateful that the RCVS, and my colleagues, think that I am a worthy recipient.”

The Golden Jubilee Award relaunched in 2015 to make it more leadership-focused and exclusive to veterinary nurses. It is awarded to members of the profession that actively demonstrate outstanding leadership, commitment to veterinary nursing and play an ambassadorial role.

Miss O’Dwyer will be presented with the Golden Jubilee Award at RCVS Day – the College’s Annual General Meeting and Awards Day - on Friday 15 July.

Image (C) RCVS/Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia

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."