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Veterinary nurse scoops writer of the year award
Ciar Pembroke has been named winner of the VNJ Writer of the Year Award.
Ciar Pembroke's article explored the barriers affecting BAME veterinary students.

A veterinary nurse from Hertfordshire has been crowned winner of the 2022 VNJ Writer of the Year Award for her article on barriers affecting BAME veterinary students.

Ciar Pembroke's paper, published in the VNJ earlier this year, was titled Barriers affecting BAME students’ access and attainment in veterinary higher education. The award recognises articles that have driven positive change, encouraged discussions, or improved clinical standards in practice.

An RVN at Davies Veterinary Specialists, Ciar explained that the main aim behind her article was to help acknowledge and understand why the veterinary sector is the least diverse profession in the UK - with veterinary nursing being worse than veterinary medicine. 

In the second part of the study, Ciar explores the barriers and discusses potential solutions under the main themes of exposure, pathways, isolation/marginalisation, the learning environment and teaching styles.

Commenting on Ciar's achievement, Davies hospital director, Ben Orton, said: “We are extremely proud that she is a member of our nursing team here at Davies. Her drive, focus and commitment strongly reflect our hospital ethos, and her article pertinently and comprehensively tackles the very important subject of BAME representation within the veterinary sector.” 

The full article is available to read on the British Veterinary Nursing Association website.

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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."