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Voting now open for RCVS and VN Council elections
Successful candidates will commence their term at the RCVS AGM in July.

Vets and vet nurses have until Friday 21 April to cast their votes.

The RCVS Council and VN Council elections are now open. Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses have until 5pm on Friday 21 April to cast their votes in their respective elections. Voting is entirely online, and instruction emails were sent on Friday 17 March.

For veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses that have not registered a unique email address with RCVS, an instruction letter will be sent in the post.

There are 10 candidates in the RCVS Council election. They are:

  • Professor David Barrett FRCVS
  • Linda Belton MRCVS
  • Dr Martin Chamberlain MRCVS
  • Daniel Doherty MRCVS
  • James Gartside MRCVS
  • Steven Howard MRCVS
  • Tim Hutchinson MRCVS
  • Dr Alice McLeish MRCVS
  • Professor Chris Proudman FRCVS
  • Dr Peter Robinson MRCVS

Candidates’ full biographies and and statements are available to read on the RCVS website. Each candidate has also answered two questions of their choice from those that were submitted by members of the profession.

The three candidates who receive the most votes will commence their four-year term at the RCVS Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday 7 July.

There are five candidates in the VN Council election. They are:

  • Sarah Jane Batt-Williams RVN
  • Heather Jane Mathieson Kirkness RVN
  • Katherine Ann Mortimer RVN
  • Matthew Edwin Rendle RVN
  • Simon Peter Williams RVN

The two candidates with the most votes will also commence their three-year term at the RCVS AGM.

Candidates’ profiles are available to read on the RCVS website, as well as the answers to their chosen two questions, from those that were submitted by the profession.

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.