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Former RCVS president among 10 to receive SRUC Fellowship
Kate Richards, former RCVS president, received an honourary Fellowship.
Kate Richards and Scotland CVO Sheila Voas were recognised in a ceremony.

The chief veterinary officer for Scotland and a former president of the RCVS were among 10 people recognised by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) for their impact on health in the UK.

Sheila Voas and Kate Richards received honorary Fellowships from SRUC as part of the college’s graduation ceremony at Bute Hall, Glasgow.

Mrs Voas became the CVO for Scotland in 2012. Since taking on the role, she has seen a reduction of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) herd incidence in the country, as well as achieving Scottish TB Free status.

Her work has also supported efforts to tackle avian influenza and prevent bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). Mrs Voas is an advocate for SRUC’s new School of Veterinary Medicine.

Also recognised was Kate Richards, who sat as president of the RCVS from 2021-2022.

Dr Richards’ career has seen her work in farm animal practice, pharmaceuticals and the civil service. As well as her RCVS presidency, Dr Richards’ non-executive directorship roles have included the Board of the SRUC and the Council of the RCVS.

While at the RCVS, Dr Richards chaired a number of RCVS committees including Education, Standards and the Mind Matters Initiative.

Dr Richards is also a member of the Food Standards Scotland and Moredun Research Boards, and serves as a governor of The Glasgow Academy.

Other recipients of honorary SRUC Fellowships included biologist Appolinaire Djikeng, presenter Carole Baxter and Iain Gillespie, principal of the University of Dundee. John MacDonald, who lectured at the SRUC for 40 years, has been made an Emeritus Fellow.

Wayne Powell, principal and chief executive of the SRUC, said: “We are absolutely delighted to appoint these extraordinary individuals as Honorary Fellows of SRUC.

“As SRUC progresses on its mission to become an enterprise university at the heart of the natural economy, their skills and connections will be of key importance in helping us to achieve our strategic goals. I look forward to working with each of them as we continue our collaborations moving forwards.”

Image © SRUC

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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."