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Vet nurse makes history by joining SPVS board
"Julie Eastham stood out as someone who could bring a wider variety of skills to SPVS." - Pete Orpin
Julie Eastham is the first vet nurse to become an SPVS board member.

Julie Eastham has made history by becoming the first veterinary nurse to join the board of the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS). As a board member, Ms Eastham is looking forward to highlighting the good work that the organisation does for the veterinary profession.

Ms Eastham is a veterinary nurse and practice manager at the Cambridgeshire veterinary practice where she has worked for 18 years. She first became aware of SPVS after attending its congress. She said: “From talking to nurses and front of house teams, they have either never heard of SPVS or think SPVS is a society just for vets. 

“However, as a veterinary nurse I feel I can benefit SPVS as I straddle two parts of the veterinary business. 

“I am able to see the practice as a whole, working to ensure we have a high standard, quality business but I’m also able to see how business decisions affect my fellow nurses.”

SPVS is a not-for-profit organisation that provides advice, support and guidance for veterinary professionals.

Pete Orpin, SPVS board chair said: “In 2023, we had a strong group of new board members. Julie Eastham stood out as someone who could bring a wider variety of skills to SPVS. 

“The combination of nursing and managerial experience is highly valuable and we look forward to working with Julie during her time on the board.”

Image (C) SPVS

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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."