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Cats Protection names first Vet of the Year
Dr Beynon (centre) with Bolu Eso (left) and Rory Cowlam (right).
Richard Beynon received the accolade at the National Cat Awards.

Cats Protection has revealed the winner of its inaugural Vet of the Year award.

Richard Beynon, founder and director of Swansea Cat Clinic, was presented with the honour as part of the charity’s National Cat Awards ceremony on 18 September.

The award has been introduced by the welfare charity to recognise veterinary surgeons with ‘unwavering dedication, compassion and expert knowledge’. Dr Beynon was selected from eight other finalists to receive the title.

He was nominated for the award by one of his clients, Sarah Knight. When Ms Knight brought her cat, Solomon, to his practice, Dr Beynon’s cat-focused knowledge meant he was able to provide a diagnosis that had previously been elusive.

He was then selected to win by a panel including Cat Protection’s central veterinary officer Sarah Elliott, Blue Peter’s animal health expert Rory Cowlam and ITV’s Love Your Weekend’s Bolu Eso.

The award was presented to Dr Beynon as part of a ceremony at London’s One Marylebone on 18 September, hosted by novelist Dawn O’Porter.

Dr Elliott said: “The judging panel loved how Sarah described feeling so well supported by Richard during Solomon’s illness.

“Sarah said he was a hero! He really put her at ease and relieved a lot of the anxiety she was feeling around her beloved Solomon’s health problems. Sarah praised Richard for his ‘kindness, honesty, humour and professionalism’.

“We felt strongly that Richard’s compassion and dedication should be recognised with this very special award.”

Dr Beynon said: “It's amazing to be nominated for this award and I am truly humbled.

“This job is exceptionally hard. It’s difficult with some of the cases we have to manage and we’re not looking for recognition as vets but when it does come along, like this, it’s extremely flattering and I am so grateful.”

Image © Cats Protection

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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."