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Surprise as RCVS propose changes to VN Bye-laws
RCVS proposals to change VN Bye-laws without consultation come as a shock.

On the eve of BVNA Congress and with only one week until the VN Council meeting, it has come as a surprise for many veterinary professionals to learn that the RCVS plan to introduce significant changes, including VN Bye-laws, without any apparent formal consultation.

Veterinary nurse training has been at the forefront of many discussions and in a recent RCVS Institute for Employment Studies survey, VN training was found to be the highest cause for concern, second only to pay.

With this being such a contentious issue at present, it could be expected that any changes to VN Bye-laws would attract publicity and wider consultation. Instead it has almost appeared to have been privately submitted to VN Council.

The proposed changes include:

- Changes to VN Bye-laws
- The Criteria for approval of awarding institutions
- Adoption of Day One Skills list
- Adoption of NPL
- Enrolment Fee changes

The above proposals have been contained within a 93 page agenda for the members of the VN Council to review before their meeting next week and it is believed that the RCVS would like a decision by the end of the meeting. Giving members barely a week to digest such important matters before asking for a vote leads to concerns over due diligence and time restrictions.

Considering there has been little to no prior consultation period with the veterinary industry and the momentousness of the changes being proposed by the RCVS, many are questioning the motives behind it.

Unfortunately, actions like these carried out by the RCVS opens them to further scrutiny and allegations of a partisan attitude.

If you have any views on this, you can send them to editor@mrcvs.co.uk

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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."