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Nursing – a self inflicted wound
In a recent Sunday Times article “ Our flawed, uncaring NHS is a self inflicted wound” , Minette Marrin discussed the latest revelations that certain UK hospitals are not providing the basic level of care expected and deserved by patients.

The Care Quality Commission reports have been quite damming and thought provoking but distract from the excellent care offered by a large number of caring professionals.

In the article, it stated “uncritical faith in NHS nurses as angels of selfless mercy is finally beginning to fail” and this points to a fundamental flaw in the training of nurses as a root cause.

“Taking all nurses out of hospital training into universities and insisting that all should have degrees has been disastrous for skilled bedside nursing. It has devalued it in the eyes of nurses themselves …”

The recent survey into veterinary nursing, ‘ New Awarding Body Seeks Your Views” showed an overwhelming desire by practices to retain a focus on practical nursing skills. In the change over from an NVQ to QCF qualification the RCVS made a number of significant additional changes, which received a lot of criticism and sparked a call for change.

The RCVS VN department has very firm views and interests in veterinary nurse training and the power to control the veterinary nursing profession resides in its hands. Its role as both regulator and provider of qualifications has recently come under scrutiny and it continues to be a source of frustration.  

With a new veterinary nursing qualification from an alternative awarding body on the horizon it seems the RCVS can either embrace the changes for the good of the profession or construct barriers to oppose the changes.

In the interest of care for our patients lets hope it’s the former.

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FIVP launches CMA remedies survey

News Story 1
 FIVP has shared a survey, inviting those working in independent practice to share their views on the CMA's proposed remedies.

The Impact Assessment will help inform the group's response to the CMA, as it prepares to submit further evidence to the Inquiry Group. FIVP will also be attending a hearing in November.

Data will be anonymised and used solely for FIVP's response to the CMA. The survey will close on Friday, 31 October 2025. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
CMA to host webinar exploring provisional decisions

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is to host a webinar for veterinary professionals to explain the details of its provisional decisions, released on 15 October 2025.

The webinar will take place on Wednesday, 29 October 2025 from 1.00pm to 2.00pm.

Officials will discuss the changes which those in practice may need to make if the provisional remedies go ahead. They will also share what happens next with the investigation.

The CMA will be answering questions from the main parties of the investigation, as well as other questions submitted ahead of the webinar.

Attendees can register here before Wednesday, 29 October at 11am. Questions must be submitted before 10am on 27 October.

A recording of the webinar will be accessible after the event.