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Nominations for RCVS and VN Councils elections open
The nomination deadline is Wednesday, 31 January 2024 at 5.00pm.
Elected members will contribute to key industry decisions.

The nomination period for the 2024 Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council and Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council elections has opened.

Veterinary surgeons and nurses who wish to become members of a council will have until 5.00pm on Wednesday, 31 January 2024 to enter themselves as candidates.

There are three elected veterinary surgeon places available in the RCVS Council, and two elected veterinary nurse places in the VN Council.

RCVS Council acts as the governing body of the College, and is responsible for the regulation and advancement of veterinary professions. Members elected to the RCVS Council approve major policy decisions, strategic and financial plans and annual budgets.

RCVS Council members may also be asked to sit on committees, sub-committees and ad-hoc working groups for topics such as standards, education, registration, finance and profession advancement.

Members of the VN Council are responsible for veterinary nurse education and training standards, including post-qualification awards and the registration of qualified veterinary nurses.

VN Council also has oversight over the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) and RCVS VN Futures project, so members may be asked to sit on the VN Education committee and other committees, sub-committees and ad hoc working groups.

The RCVS has produced downloadable information packs for candidates to the RCVS Council or VN Council elections, which provide information about the responsibilities of each council member and the nomination process.

The packs also include the candidate nomination and information forms.

The RCVS has noted that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are currently approving amendments to the RCVS Council election scheme. Though there may be some minor changes to the nomination process, this will not affect nominations already submitted.

Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS registrar and returning officer for both elections, said: “RCVS-registered veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses of all backgrounds, at all career stages, and with all levels of experience are eligible to stand in their respective elections.

“So, if you want to help shape the future of veterinary regulation and our Royal College initiatives and activities, please consider standing in next year’s elections.”

Veterinary surgeons interested in joining RCVS Council should contact Dawn Wiggins, RCVS Council secretary, at d.wiggins@rcvs.org.uk.

Veterinary nurses interested in joining VN Council should contact Annette Amato, VN Council secretary, at a.amato@rcvs.org.uk.

Image © Shutterstock

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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."