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Brexit: Ministers respond on working rights
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Last month the government confirmed that there had been no change to the rights and statuses of EU nationals in the UK.
UK governments have answered questions on the future for EU vets

The UK's decision to leave the European Union (EU) prompted much concern regarding the future working rights of EU veterinary surgeons and nurses. Environment ministers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have now highlighted the importance of EU citizens when it comes to animal health and welfare.

Nearly half of the veterinary surgeons who register in the UK qualified from veterinary schools elsewhere in the EU, according to the RCVS.

In the wake of the EU referendum result, the BVA called on the UK secretary of state and environment ministers to ensure non-British EU vets and nurses who currently live, work or study in the UK, can continue to do so.

Last month the government confirmed that there had been no change to the rights and statuses of EU nationals in the UK and, after Brexit, it is expected that this legal status will be properly protected.

Responding to the BVA's questions, UK environment ministers voiced their priority to ensure the best possible outcomes for current constituents.

The responses were:
Fergus Ewing, Scotland's cabinet secretary for the rural economy and creativity, on behalf of cabinet secretary Roseanna Cunningham:
"The First Minister is seeking guarantees from the UK Government that the residency status and other existing rights of the 173,000 EU citizens living in their respective countries will remain unchanged now and in the future."

Lesley Griffiths, Welsh cabinet secretary for environment and rural affairs:
"The First Minister has also made it clear there are many sectors of business, which depend on EU citizens to fill vital posts and damage to public services and the wider economy would be immense if EU citizens were required to leave the country. I appreciate this could cause difficulties in relation to the veterinary profession and delivery of our Animal Health and Welfare programmes and policies in Wales."

Michelle McIlveen, Northern Ireland's minister of agriculture, environment and rural affairs:
"I will also endeavour, given the importance of animal and veterinary public health to the local economy, to ensure that this concern [you raise] is represented in the composite Northern Ireland input into the final United Kingdom negotiating position and strategy."

Andrea Leadsom, the new secretary of state, has offered to meet with BVA president Sean Wensley to discuss these issues. BVA is also forming a Brexit working group to prioritise and develop policies on key issues that should be raised in negotiations.

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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."