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RCVS launches consultation on Schedule 3
The aim of the consultation is to improve understanding of how Schedule 3 is used and interpreted in practice, and how the legislation could be clarified.
Working party looking to gather views on current legislation

Veterinary professionals are being asked to share their views on Schedule 3 and the role of veterinary nurses, in a new consultation launched by the RCVS.

Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act provides that veterinary surgeons can direct registered or student veterinary nurses whom they employ to carry out limited veterinary surgery.

However, evidence gathered during the VN Futures project suggests there is some uncertainty surrounding the interpretation of Schedule 3 in clinical practice. Many veterinary nurses do not undertake this work or are uncertain as to whether they do, and some veterinary surgeons are reluctant to delegate these tasks to veterinary nurses.

The aim of the consultation is to improve understanding of how Schedule 3 is used and interpreted in practice, and how the legislation could be clarified. Furthermore, the Schedule 3 working party want to find out if there are areas of practice that could be opened up to veterinary nurses, but are currently prohibited by Schedule 3.

One of the ambitions to come out of VN Futures was to create a ‘clarified and bolstered VN role via a reformed Schedule 3’. The consultation forms part of this wider review.

Liz Cox, chair of the VN Council and Schedule 3 Working Party, said: “The future of veterinary nursing is both challenging and exciting, with the convergence of such factors as Brexit, the development of new technologies, and the increasing specialisation of veterinary surgeons, and we would very much like to know how you think the role of veterinary nurse will evolve.

“In light of this we very much encourage all veterinary nurses and veterinary surgeons to complete this consultation.”

The consultation is being run by the Institute for Employment Studies and all eligible veterinary surgeons and nurses have been emailed with a link to the survey.

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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."