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BVNA launches mental health toolkit
Veterinary nurses are invited to share their own mental health stories as part of the toolkit. 
Resources for vet nurses include webinars and personal stories.

The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) has launched a free mental health toolkit for veterinary nurses.

The toolkit features a range of materials which promote mental wellbeing, including webinars, personal mental health stories, and signposting towards sources of help and support. Topics covered include the importance of sleep, practising self-compassion, and resilience.

The development of the toolkit has been led by the BVNA council’s mental health and wellbeing working group. It plans to add additional resources over time and would welcome content from any veterinary nurses, employers and groups who want to share their stories, case studies, or mental health and wellbeing policies.

Rebecca Winter, BVNA council member and mental health and wellbeing team co-ordinator, said: “I am delighted that BVNA has led the development of this toolkit, as an easy-to-access resource available to the entire veterinary nursing profession.

“Whilst we know that a career as a veterinary nurse is incredibly rewarding, we also know that the veterinary workplace can be demanding and can result in challenges to our mental health. Not only will the resources presented in this toolkit be of benefit to individuals, it will also provide guidance to employers and colleagues of those affected by their mental health.

“We hope that this toolkit will help those individuals to feel as though they are not alone, and to feel confident to ask for any support they may need to help them to thrive in our profession.”

The toolkit can be accessed here.

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."