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Vets welcome approval of lay TB testers in Wales
Under the scheme, any lay TB tester authorised by the APHA will be permitted to work in England and Wales. 
The decision follows a successful pilot led by the APHA in England.

Vets have welcomed the news that lay bovine TB testers can work in private veterinary practices in Wales, following a decision to grow
the capacity of Approved Tuberculin Testers (ATTs) in England. 

The decision, which takes effect this month (October), has received the approval of the Welsh Government and comes after a successful trial led by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

Under the scheme, any lay TB tester authorised by the APHA will, from 1 October, receive authorisation to work in England and Wales. Existing testers will also be permitted to work in Wales, subject to additional training.

Collin Wilson, BVA Welsh Branch president, said: “This is good news. The veterinary workforce in Wales has been universally stretched, including farm animal practices, and so the expansion of tuberculin skin testing capacity is a much-needed resource. 

“In the British Veterinary Association’s joint response with BCVA to the Defra consultation on this issue in 2018, we acknowledged the useful role appropriately trained and regulated lay TB testers could play as part of a veterinary-led team. We are reassured to see the new provisions lay down a requirement for all paraprofessionals to work within a vet-led team and meet strict veterinary supervision requirements.”

The BVA said it is now working with the Welsh Government and other stakeholders to roll out the scheme. 

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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."