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Record number of candidates for RCVS elections
Members are invited to submit questions to the candidates.
RCVS members are invited to ‘quiz the candidates’.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has announced the largest number of candidates for its Council election in more than 25 years.

This year there are 20 veterinary surgeons vying for four available elected places on the RCVS Council.

Each of the candidates has shared a full biography and election statement, which are available on the election website. Candidates with the most votes will sit a four-year term on the RCVS Council.

The RCVS Council is the governing body which makes decisions relating to the regulation of the veterinary profession. This includes strategy, professional standards, education, registration and any other projects that might advance the professions.

There are also three candidates standing for two elected spaces on RCVS’ Veterinary Nurse (VN) Council.

These candidates have also supplied biographies and election statements, which have been published on the VN Council election page. The two candidates with the most votes will sit a three-year term on the VN Council.

The VN Council is responsible for matters including veterinary nurse training, post-qualification awards and the registration of qualified veterinary nurses.

All of the successful candidates will begin their terms at RCVS’ Annual General Meeting on Friday, 4 July 2025.

Ahead of voting, RCVS will be inviting members to ‘Quiz the candidates’. Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses can submit a questions to learn more about the candidates standing in their respective elections.

Due to the updated information in the candidates’ biographies, each candidate will answer one question of their choice. Members of the professions have until Friday, 28 February to submit their questions.

Simon Wiklund, assistant registrar and returning officer for both elections, said: “We are glad to see such a large number of veterinary professionals putting themselves forward as candidates for this year’s elections.

“It is worth noting that any future governance changes, including RCVS and VN Councils becoming all-appointed bodies, are contingent on new legislation and, until that happens, we will continue to hold our annual elections.”

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...
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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."