The charity says that it had already been suffering a period of 'dire financial constraints' and the economic effects of coronavirus are now having a direct effect on funding.
The charity's Trustees and Executive Committee is still trying to find emergency funding to try and save the organisation, failing which it will close on the 31st March.
The allied professionals that the BVA says should be led by veterinary surgeons include: Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs), Official Auxiliaries/ Meat Hygiene Inspectors, embryo transfer technicians, equine dental technicians, foot trimmers, farriers, hydrotherapists, animal behaviourists and veterinary physiotherapists.
To clarify where the responsibility for a patient sits and how it is shared between veterinary surgeons and allied professionals, the new policy statement also calls for:
The regulation of allied professionals to include mandatory veterinary diagnosis and oversight and appropriate access to veterinary records as pre-requisites before treatment;
Clarity on the delegation of duties for RVNs under Schedule 3 of the Veterinary Surgeons Act and protection of the ‘veterinary nurse’ title in legislation;
Consultation with the veterinary profession on any regulatory changes that may arise as a result of technological or other innovation.
British Veterinary Association President Simon Doherty (pictured right) said: "Against an evolving landscape, it’s essential that the veterinary profession keeps pace with change and addresses the challenges and opportunities it presents.
"Vets across sectors have always worked closely with allied professionals. The hub and spoke model acknowledges and clarifies this working relationship with clear lines of accountability and responsibility for the animals under our care. It also emphasises that vets’ right to diagnose, prescribe, and undertake surgical procedures and medical treatments must not be undermined.
"An effective and efficient vet-led team can help deliver better animal health and welfare, improved client care, and more effective use of skills within the veterinary professions. Given the ongoing workforce shortages, a strengthened veterinary workforce also has the potential to ease recruitment and retention concerns for both vets and RVNs and offer improved wellbeing.
"BVA will continue working with professional bodies and organisations to formalise the hub and spoke model, promote the value of regulation, and drive up professional standards."
The company says that the packs have been redesigned to make it easier for pet owners to identify the variety of products available.
The new packaging has stronger imagery, simplified and larger product names to improve readability, and kibble shapes displayed actual size to reassure owners of smaller breeds that it will be suitable for their pet. Flavour profiles and breed sizes are displayed on all packs.
Hill's says the new range is also presented in optimised bag sizes for more convenient feeding. Small and Miniature and Mini dog foods have been combined into a new Small & Mini product, designed to cover the needs of all small dogs under 10kg.
For more information, visit: https://www.hillspet.co.uk/science-plan/new-look.
The company says Bovela is the only BVD vaccine available proven to provide 12 months’ protection, against both types of BVD, and after only one shot.
Cattle business manager, Robert Bakewell said: "Provided Bovela is used as recommended on the product label, we are happy to guarantee that it will prevent the birth of PI (persistently infected) calves caused by transplacental infection by the BVD virus.
"We are also encouraging farmers to seek advice and input from their vet about BVD control by offering a £50 voucher towards testing for Bovela users. All herd owners need to do is speak to their veterinary surgeon or email bvdzero.uk@boehringer.com."
Petplan is giving away a VIP trip for two people to this year's 'Petplan Veterinary Awards' in Birmingham on 31st March.
The prize includes two admission tickets to the awards ceremony, as well as accommodation at a top hotel in Birmingham.
Veterinary staff can be in with a chance at winning this exclusive opportunity by nominating their practice or a member of staff for the following awards:
Alison Andrew, Petplan's Marketing Manager, said, "Veterinary professionals up and down the country show great commitment and dedication to our pets everyday and the awards are an opportunity to recognise all their hard work. By nominating a colleague you can not only show them your appreciation but you can also going into the draw to win a fantastic night out"
By making a nomination at www.petplan.co.uk/vetawards you'll automatically be entered into the draw to win the VIP tickets to the evening.
Nominations for the awards close on the 4th February and the winner of the VIP tickets will be announced in late February.
The BSAVA has announced the launch of its third smartphone app - the BSAVA Small Animal Formulary App.
This member-only access app is available to download now from iTunes and Android Market and offers the same reference materials found in the latest 7th edition printed version.
The BSAVA says the app contains more than 450 drug monographs and a wealth of additional information, allowing easy and rapid access to vital information about those medications that veterinary surgeons most commonly prescribe. It is hoped that the convenience of having the BSAVA Small Animal Formulary on a smartphone will mean that vets in practice will always have this valuable reference tool within easy reach.
Once the app is installed it will ask for a validation code that can be obtained from the smartphone app validation code page within My BSAVA pages at www.bsava.com. All future BSAVA member-only smartphone apps will be validated using the same process.
BSAVA IT Manager Emma Hayes said: "BSAVA is continually aiming to provide a range of valuable member benefits in a variety of formats so they can be used in the most efficient and effective way by our members. The BSAVA Formulary was a natural candidate for release as a mobile application, following the successful launch as an online searchable database at Congress in April. By developing this application it has also provided us with a platform that will enable us to produce additional useful applications in the future that can provide unrestricted content for our members."
The BSAVA Small Animal Formulary App follows on from the BSAVA Congress App and the BSAVA Guide to the use of Veterinary Medicines App. You can find out more about these other BSAVA smartphone apps through My BSAVA at www.bsava.com.
Merial Animal Health has announced the launch of its new feline vaccine Purevax Rabies in the UK and Ireland.
Merial says the product offers a simple but elegant solution to rabies vaccination, without the need for adjuvant. According to the company, the non-replicative vector is processed by the cat's immune system in the same way as a live virus, triggering both a powerful cell mediated and humoral response without the need for adjuvant. However, because the vector cannot replicate effectively in mammalian cells, there is no risk of any reversion to virulence.
Merial's Veterinary Technical Manager Kevin Whelan, said: "This is a perfect complement to our existing range of advanced technology vaccines, which already offer the benefits of highly effective protection, including updated FCV strains, without the need for adjuvant. It also represents Merial's continued commitment to the development of innovative products for the animal health market".
The vaccine is licensed for use in cats from 12 weeks of age, and administration of a single injection has been shown to provide protection against disease.
Contact your local Merial Representative or the Merial Technical Support line on 0870 6000 123 for further information.
The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has directed that the name of a veterinary surgeon who formerly practised in Norwich should be removed from the Register, having found him unfit to practise veterinary surgery following his Crown Court conviction for fraud.
During the one-day hearing, the Disciplinary Committee heard how Francisco da Cruz had abused his position whilst practising as a veterinary surgeon at Hellesdon Vets, his then workplace in Norwich, by defrauding a insurance companies of around £10,000 with fictitious claims for veterinary treatment on non-existent pets.
Following an investigation by the City of London Police's Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), Mr da Cruz was convicted on five counts of fraud by false representation on 21 February 2013 at the Old Bailey in London, and later sentenced to eight months' imprisonment (suspended for two years) and 200 hours of unpaid community work; he was also ordered to pay just over £10,000 in compensation and costs.
Although Mr da Cruz had left the UK for Brazil shortly after his sentencing and was therefore not present at the hearing, the Committee was satisfied that he was deliberately evading the disciplinary proceedings, rather than being genuinely unable to participate in them, and so the hearing proceeded in his absence.
First accepting the copy certificate of conviction against Mr da Cruz as true, the Committee then had no hesitation in concluding that these convictions rendered him unfit to practise as a member of the veterinary profession. It found that the five counts of fraud were deliberate crimes of dishonesty, committed over a significant period of time and for significant financial gain. He had abused his position as a veterinary surgeon and abused the trust which the insurers placed in him as a professional.
Chairing and speaking on behalf of the Committee, Professor Peter Lees, said: "The Committee has no real confidence that there is no significant risk of repeat behaviour from the Respondent. His conduct subsequent to the criminal proceedings gives it no confidence that he has reformed himself to the extent that he will in the foreseeable future be fit to return to practice. So far from satisfactorily completing his criminal sentence, it appears that the Respondent has deliberately gone abroad to avoid doing so."
Bearing in mind that the purpose of any sanction it imposed was not to punish Mr da Cruz, but to maintain public confidence in the profession and uphold proper standards of conduct within it, the Committee concluded that the convictions were too serious to allow any sanction other than removal from the Register.
The full details of the Committee's decisions are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
Running throughout October, it is Ceva's third TV campaign this year to raise awareness of the benefits of Feliway and Adaptil amongst pet owners.
The campaign starts with a Feliway Classic advertisement running from 3rd October until 16th October, followed by an Adaptil advertisement until 30th October, timed for the run up to the firework season.
The new TV advertising campaign will target 18.5 million pet owners and it will air on all the C4 channels, including Channel 4, E4, More4, Film4, Drama, Good Food, Really, W and Home, with two spots during the popular Channel 4 TV show Great British Bake Off, which has 6.7 million viewers.
The TV advertising campaign will be supported by a Sky Adsmart and social media campaign for ADAPTIL.
Claire Russell, product manager for Feliway and Adaptil at Ceva Animal Health, said: "Our autumn Feliway and Adaptil TV advertising campaign is our biggest, most extensive campaign to date. It demonstrates our commitment to raising awareness of how anxiety in pets can affect the relationship with their owners and how Feliway and Adaptil can help."
For further information, visit www.feliway.com or www.adaptil.com.
The charity says that one of the biggest issues it faces with guinea pigs is multi-animal households where breeding has become out of control.
Dr Jane Tyson, the RSPCA’s rodent expert, said: "We would always advise owners to have their male guinea pigs neutered before introducing them to a female. We also find that they can sometimes be mis-sexed by the seller or previous owner which leads to accidental breeding so it’s also important to make sure that guinea pigs see a vet regularly who would be able to spot if they have been identified incorrectly.
“Many of the guinea pigs that come into our care have come from a multi-animal home where there have been large numbers of guinea pigs living in often cramped, dirty and unsuitable conditions. This also means that they may have experienced very little handling and are wary and fearful of human hands and need their confidence building up in RSPCA care.
“This is why, this Guinea Pig Appreciation Day, we wanted to encourage people to neuter their guinea pigs and help tackle the problem of overbreeding.”
Bayer Animal Health has announced the launch of Ceffect (cefquinome), for the treatment of bacterial infections in cattle and pigs caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative micro-organisms sensitive to cefquinome.
Ceffect is available as a 25mg/ml suspension for injection of cattle and pigs, and as Ceffect LC, a 75mg intramammary ointment for lactating cows.
In cattle, Ceffect 25mg/ml suspension for injection is licensed for the treatment of respiratory disease caused by Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica, and also for the treatment of digital dermatitis, infectious bulbar necrosis, acute interdigital necrobacillosis, and acute E.coli mastitis with signs of systemic involvement.
In calves, Ceffect 25mg/ml suspension for injection is licensed for the treatment of E.coli septicaemia
In pigs, Ceffect 25mg/ml suspension for injection targets cefquinome-sensitive organisms including Pasteurella multocida, Haemophilus parasuis, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Streptococcus suis which can cause bacterial infections of the lungs and respiratory tract. It is also licensed for the treatment of Mastitis-Metritis-Agalactia syndrome (MMA) with involvement of E.coli, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. and other cefquinome-sensitive organisms.
In piglets, Ceffect 25mg/ml suspension is licensed for the reduction of mortality in cases of meningitis caused by Streptococcus suis. For the treatment of arthritis caused by Streptococcus spp., E. coli and other cefquinome-sensitive organisms, and epidermitis (mild or moderate lesions) caused by Staphylococcus hyicus.
Ceffect LC, 75mg intramammary ointment for lactating cows also contains cefquinome and comes in individual 8g prefilled syringes for treatment of clinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli, in lactating dairy cows.
For further product information, visit www.noahcompendium.co.uk or contact your local Bayer territory manager.
The first, which covers three topics: canine uveitis, canine glaucoma and non-healing corneal ulcer, is for the entire practice. It normally costs £95 per practice, but for VetSurgeon.org members, it's £70.
To book, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSSbUDCcC53cvPJtj1oPkJFEoDjJ3Tdij_y9iFtr7emBvkoQ/viewform?usp=pp_url
The second course is 'Ophthalmic Examination in the Dogs and Cats', which costs £25 for VetSurgeon.org members, that is reduced to £15 per person.
To book, visit: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnBizM5NmFGwWeDqtdXy9zCq8KdFgGI2e5D8pjuWOTuPln0Q/viewform?usp=pp_url
Originally from Belgium, Tamir, who qualified at Glasgow in 2001, started Vision Vet in 2009 and gained his National French Certificate in Ophthalmology (broadly equivalent to the UK Cert) in 2011.
https://www.vision-vet.co.uk
The research is being carried out by Cats Protection, RSPCA, PDSA, Wood Green The Animal Charity, Blue Cross, Celia Hammond Animal Trust, Battersea, The Mayhew Animal Home, SSPCA and International Cat Care, with support from Bristol University.
The study involves four short (<15 minute) questionnaires spread over a 6-month period, for which you could also win a £50 voucher.
Click here to find out more and sign up www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/neutering
Northwest Surgeons, the Cheshire-based referral centre which is now part of Pets at Home, has announced the expansion of its clinical specialisms into the field of neurology, with the appointment of Dr Lorenzo Golini.
Dr Golini underwent residency training in neurology and neurosurgery at the University of Zurich where he remained as a clinician after his residency. He holds the European Diploma in Veterinary Neurology and a Master's degree in behavioural medicine. His main interests lie in epilepsy and MRI.
Dr Chris May, Northwest Surgeons' Managing Director said: "Neurology is a natural extension of the services we offer currently and is an area of growth in response to an increased demand from our referring vets. I am delighted to welcome Lorenzo to our team."
Dr Golini will accept referrals for both medical and surgical neurology cases, expanding on the case load seen by Northwest Surgeons' existing specialist teams which offer referrals in orthopaedic, soft tissue and spinal surgery and internal medicine. These services are supported by veterinary specialists in anaesthesia, pain management and diagnostic imaging.
For more information, visit: www.nwsurgeons.co.uk
Anna, who has been with the Hertfordshire-based referral centre for seven years, is now an RCVS, EBVS and American Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine.
She graduated from The University of Liverpool in 2007 and spent four years working in general practice in Kent.
She then went on to complete a rotating internship, followed by a residency in Small Animal Internal Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College where she gained her Master’s degree and Diploma.
Whilst enjoying all aspects of Internal Medicine, she has special interests in endocrinology and haematology. The latter, combined with her love for cats, has fuelled her interest in feline transfusion medicine.
Anna said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Head of Internal Medicine at Davies.
“The Internal Medicine team are the detectives who work to establish a diagnosis, and we often have the added bonus of working closely with other disciplines in our multi-disciplinary environment.
"It is a challenging and highly rewarding service, with a wide variety of cases and I am delighted to work with a first-class team of clinicians and nurses.”
In the BVA/AVS Survey 2012, sponsored by Vets4Pets, 82% of students reported suffering from stress currently or while at university, with this figure falling to 63% of students in 2016. Those who reported suffering from depression also fell from 33% to 27%.
By far the biggest contributor to, or trigger of, mental health problems was veterinary students’ studies, with 83% citing this as the main reason. Other contributions to, or triggers of, mental health issues cited by students included:
Researchers say that the fall in students reporting stress could be attributed to improved university support for students, with almost three quarters (72%) of survey respondents saying they felt supported in terms of welfare.
In recent years, a number of initiatives have been developed to help and support students. They range from the counselling and peer mentoring services available through individual universities to the confidential support offered by the independent charity Vetlife through its helpline, health support programme and fund for financial support.
While the significant fall in veterinary students reporting stress is positive, the BVA/AVS survey also shows that there are a range of factors that affect students, including financial pressures. A third of veterinary students work part-time to supplement their income and around half of students say they usually have less funds than they need, with the average shortfall per term estimated at £1,231.
Hannah Mason, President of the Association of Veterinary Students, said: "There is no escaping that veterinary medicine is a challenging degree. On top of strenuous exams, holidays are filled with compulsory EMS making it hard to sustain part-time work which is often needed to supplement the expense of a five or six year degree. It is therefore no surprise that stress is a problem in the vet student population. Whilst it is pleasing to see that the numbers reporting stress have declined, the majority of vet students still report having suffered at some point during their degree. We now have various counselling services and peer support systems across the universities to help students to cope better. However, while it is important to have reactive strategies in place, we also need to examine the fundamental reasons why vet students are stressed and how we can prevent it from occurring."
Gudrun Ravetz, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: "A significant drop in those students reporting stress is very much to be welcomed. But any veterinary student feeling stressed, under pressure and unable to cope is one too many. The truth is that there will be pressure in the work we do and there will be times that we feel stressed. Veterinary medicine university courses are tough and that is reflected in studies being the number one contributor to mental health and wellbeing concerns in the survey. But as a veterinary family, we need to help our colleagues to cope from the earliest stages of their career and make the right resources available to them, along with creating the right kind of supportive culture. We also need to recognise and work on solutions for what can be a toxic mixture of a highly demanding course, little leisure time and huge financial pressure. It is the responsibility of everyone in the profession to nurture a robust, skilled, compassionate and happy new generation of vets."
The committee heard five charges against Dr Davies at a resumed hearing of an inquiry which was originally adjourned in January and then July 2018. The decision was made, at both the 2018 hearings, to postpone the final decision on the sanction.
The first two charges against Dr Davies related to convictions for drink driving in March 2014 and October 2015 for which she received driving bans of 17 and 45 months.
The third charge related to her breaching a number of undertakings she had entered into as part of the College’s Health Protocol, including her consuming alcohol on four occasions between May 2015 and January 2016 and missing a pre-arranged appointment with a consultant psychiatrist appointed.
The fourth and fifth charges related to being under the influence of alcohol on three occasions while she was on duty as a veterinary surgeon in December 2016 which was also in breach of her undertakings under the Health Protocol.
At Dr Davies' first Disciplinary Committee hearing in January 2018, she admitted all five charges against her and also accepted that her conduct was disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.
The Committee accepted her admissions and found, with the exception of one allegation, that her conduct was disgraceful in a professional respect.
At the conclusion of its hearing on 23 January 2018 the Committee decided to postpone its decision regarding sanction for six months on the basis of Dr Davies’ entering into undertakings, including not to practise veterinary surgery and to remain abstinent from alcohol during the period of postponement and to undergo blood and hair tests for alcohol consumption every two months.
At the resumed hearing on 30 July 2018, Dr Davies’ Counsel submitted on her behalf that she wished to return to practise and the Committee reviewed evidence that she provided to demonstrate she had complied with her undertakings.
However, the Committee retained concerns about Dr Davies' return to practise and therefore required her to identify a veterinary surgeon who would agree to act as her mentor, noting that the mentor would have to be acceptable to the College as someone suitable to act in that capacity.
The Committee also required the continuation of the requirements for abstinence from alcohol and the programme of blood and hair testing.
A further requirement of the Committee was that Dr Davies should make a disclosure to any new employer of her appearances before the Committee in January 2018 and in July 2018 and of the decisions it made.
The final requirement of the Committee was that the respondent should not accept a ‘sole charge position’ at any time during her employment during this next period of postponement of sanction. The Committee then directed that the hearing be postponed for a further 12 months.
The Disciplinary Committee resumed its inquiry on 7th August 2019, when Dr Davies submitted documentary proof and medical records to demonstrate she had complied with all her undertakings given at the last hearing. The Committee also heard from Dr Davies’ appointed veterinary mentor who provided a statement that concluded that she no longer needed monitoring or supervision.
The Committee then considered what sanction to impose on Dr Davies.
Ian Green, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "The view of the Committee is that the respondent has to date overcome her addiction to alcohol and, given that her competence as a practising veterinary surgeon is not disputed, that she should therefore be permitted to return to her chosen profession. However, in the judgment of this Committee the seriousness of the offences to which the Respondent has pleaded guilty means that a sanction of “No Further Action” cannot be justified."
The Committee therefore decided that the most proportionate sanction was for Dr Davies to be reprimanded as to the conduct she admitted at previous hearings and that she be warned as to her future conduct.
Ian added: "The respondent must understand that she has been given an opportunity to prove that, for the remainder of her time in practice, she can meet the high standards expected of all registered veterinary surgeons from both other practitioners and from members of the public who entrust the care and treatment of their animals to members of this profession."
The British Veterinary Association has welcomed the tightening up of sales of veterinary medicines on the internet but has expressed disappointment that the advertising of antimicrobials to farmers will continue.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate has today published its response to the public consultation on the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, which are updated every year.
The new Regulations, which come into force in April 2011, introduce new controls on internet pharmacies meaning that only approved websites will be legally allowed to dispense and supply veterinary medicines. The controls will come into force in April 2012 and the BVA supports the use of a logo on approved websites to help consumers buy medicines from reputable sources.
The BVA has previously expressed concern that pet owners could inadvertently buy counterfeit veterinary medicines online and urges veterinary clients to seek advice from their vet and only buy from UK-based companies.
Harvey Locke, President of the BVA, said: "Without proper regulation online pharmacies could be sourcing drugs from overseas and selling counterfeit medicines that look genuine to unsuspecting pet owners. These medicines are placebos at best and dangerous at worst.
"We therefore welcome the VMD's decision to clampdown on irresponsible online retailers and provide a clear logo for approved websites that will give pet owners confidence.
"We have also asked the VMD to put a stop to the increasing problem of prescription fraud and we hope the tighter regulation announced today will be a step towards achieving that aim.
"However, we would urge all pet owners to continue talking to their vet about sourcing medicines from the internet to make sure the right drugs are bought and administered correctly."
In light of increasing concerns about the growth of antimicrobial resistance the VMD's consultation canvassed views on restricting the advertising of antimicrobials to farmers. The BVA says it supported a ban on advertising as a sensible approach to the responsible use of antimicrobials, and is disappointed that the VMD has decided not to go ahead with it. Mr Locke said: "New antimicrobials are heavily advertised by pharmaceutical companies to vets and farmers so it is vital that the message of responsible use is not lost.
"Antimicrobial resistance is a serious issue for both animal and human health and we are disappointed that the VMD is not restricting the advertising of these products to farmers. The pharmaceutical companies must now undertake to advertise responsibly.
"Ultimately, it is the veterinary surgeon who will make the decision on which veterinary products to use and vets and farmers should work together to ensure antimicrobials are used prudently and responsibly."
The RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse Disciplinary Committee has suspended a Northants-based registered veterinary nurse who admitted to acting dishonestly with her employer, a client and a pet database company by taking home a patient that was supposed to have been euthanised.
During the two-day hearing, the Committee heard how Sally-Ann Roberts, formerly of the Best Friends Veterinary Group in Thrapston, had deliberately gone against the wishes of the owners of a 14-year-old Maine Coon cat called Jason that he be euthanised, rather than treated further, and instead had taken the cat home with her for "intensive nursing". Jason had subsequently escaped from Ms Robert's residence, leading her to fabricate a story, first to the pet database company, and then to Jason's owners and her employer, that he had escaped from the practice, before being returned by a member of the public two days later and then euthanised as originally requested.
Ms Roberts acted with her veterinary surgeon colleague Przemyslaw Bogdanowicz, who chose not to euthanise Jason and who, for his part, received a three-month suspension from the RCVS Disciplinary Committee in December 2012. She repeated the false account on a number of occasions, both orally and in written statements, and also forged the signature of Jason's owner on official documentation in order to substantiate her story.
Only when Ms Roberts was interviewed for a second time by her then employer's area manager, did she finally admit to what had actually happened. Shortly afterwards, Ms Roberts was suspended from the practice and, following an internal disciplinary hearing a few days later, was dismissed by them for gross misconduct, along with Mr Bogdanowicz. There was no evidence available as to what ultimately happened to Jason.
Explaining her actions to the Committee, Ms Roberts said she was upset that Jason's owners wanted him to be euthanised and felt that he could recover if given some love and attention. She had asked Mr Bogdanowicz to discuss this possibility with Jason's owners, but he had refused, agreeing instead that she could continue Jason's treatment at her home. After Jason escaped, Ms Roberts said she was "devastated" and had "panicked", inventing the story of Jason's escape to cover her actions, which she now acknowledged were "wrong" and "stupid", and which she "bitterly regretted". Ms Roberts expressed sorrow and remorse for her behaviour, which she said would never occur again, and stated that being a veterinary nurse was everything to her.
In view of the admitted facts, the Committee judged that Ms Robert's dishonesty and breach of client trust, as well the distinct risk of injury to which she exposed Jason, amounted to serious professional misconduct. In deciding on an appropriate sanction, the Committee balanced a number of aggravating factors (in particular, the forged signature) against Ms Roberts' "strong mitigation", which included her admitting the entirety of the charges against her, her medical and personal problems at the time, the insight she had shown into the effects of her actions on Jason's owners and her previous unblemished career.
Professor Peter Lees, chairing and speak on behalf of the Committee, said: "The Committee has concluded that the Respondent has shown insight into the seriousness of her misconduct and that there is no significant risk of repeat behaviour. In light of the Respondent's admission, her insight, her remorse and the high regard in which she is held by her professional colleagues, it is the Committee's view that the sanction of two months' suspension is appropriate and proportionate."
The Committee's full decisions on facts and sanction are available at www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary.
Petplan has launched a new look policy range to give pet owners more comprehensive cover and make it easier for them to understand the types of cover available.
Simon Masding, Petplan's Head of Sales and Partnerships said the refreshed policies will not only benefit the pet and their owner but the changes will also allow veterinary staff to explain the policies with a lot more clarity: "Since Petplan started 35 years ago the pet insurance market and vet industry has changed significantly, especially in the last few years. There are now over 250 policies in the market with varying benefits and levels of cover, which often confuses customers to a point where they think they're getting lifetime cover but they're instead trapped with a restrictive policy.
"The veterinary industry is also continually changing with advances in new technology and better diagnostics allowing the industry to save and treat more pets, which means our policies need to evolve with them."
To better understand these changing market dynamics, Petplan held focus groups with veterinary staff from across the UK and undertook extensive research with charities, breeders, customers and non-customers.
Apparently, the feedback showed that Petplan needed to communicate its range of policies more clearly, to shift away from the confusion created by other brands and meet the changing demands of the vet industry and pet owners better.
For this reason, Petplan says it has simplified its policy range, adding and increasing each policy's benefits, making a 12 month policy available for practices to offer, and developing easy-to-understand policy names.
Petplan's new look policies for both cats and dogs are:
Petplan says its Covered for Life policies, Petplan Ultimate and Petplan Classic, will continue to provide pet owners with the best cover in the market. However, the company recognises that these policies are not always suitable for people with older pets or a limited budget.
Simon said: "Petplan Essential, our 12 month policy, will also now be available for veterinary staff to offer to their customers. While our Covered for Life Ultimate and Classic will continue to be our leading policies and at the heart of what we do, it's better that a pet owner has some type of cover rather than nothing at all and Essential is a market leading 12 month policy."
Zeta Frasca, practice owner and vet at Kitten to Cat in Richmond London said: "These changes will not only make it clearer for the pet owner but it will also make it a lot easier for us as an industry to explain pet insurance to our clients, which is really important."
For more information about Petplan's new look policies visit www.petplan.co.uk, call their dedicated Vetline on 0800 3168 8900 or talk to your Petplan Business Developer.
The following table outlines each policy and its benefits:
The study “Hypoadrenocorticism in dogs under UK primary veterinary care: frequency, clinical approaches and risk factors1”, identified dogs diagnosed with hypoadrenocorticism from the electronic patient records of practices participating in the UK VetCompass programme during 2016.
The study aimed to estimate the frequency of hypoadrenocorticism in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK, describe the diagnosis and clinical management of hypoadrenocorticism and report the risk factors for the disease.
Cases were categorised as having a laboratory-confirmed or presumed diagnosis, based on the information available in the electronic patient records. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify demographic risk factors.
A total of 177 hypoadrenocorticism cases were identified from 905,543 dogs in 2016; 72 laboratory-confirmed and 105 presumed. The one-year period prevalence for hypoadrenocorticism in all dogs was 0.06%.
The most commonly recorded clinical signs included:
Imogen Schofield, corresponding author for the paper, said: “By presenting epidemiological data on dogs with hypoadrenocorticism attending primary-care practice, this study provides representative and relatable information for vets working in primary-care practice in the UK. It should be borne in mind that diagnostic and clinical management data were reported for laboratory-confirmed cases only.
“Breed, age, neuter status and insurance status were all associated with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of hypoadrenocorticism. The standard poodle had 51.38 times the odds of hypoadrenocorticism compared with crossbreeds. The labradoodle (OR: 7.40) and West Highland white terrier (OR: 5.84) also had increased odds.
Nicola Di Girolamo, Editor of JSAP, said: “This is the largest study to date to provide benchmark data on hypoadrenocorticism in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Given that the frequency of hypoadrenocorticism has rarely been reported, it is typically difficult to diagnose due to the non-specific clinical signs associated with the disease, and many previous studies have focussed on referral populations. This is a welcome publication adding to the evidence base of an important topic.”
The full article can be found in the May issue of the Journal of Small Animal Practice and can be read online here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsap.13285. It is open access and can be freely accessed by anyone.
Reference
There are 10 candidates standing in this year’s election, including four existing Council members eligible for re-election and six candidates not currently on Council. They are:
Mr David Catlow MRCVS
John C Davies MRCVS
Dr Mandisa Greene MRCVS
Miss Karlien Heyrman MRCVS
Professor John Innes FRCVS
Dr "Not Again" Thomas Lonsdale MRCVS
Dr Susan Paterson FRCVS
Mr Matthew Plumtree MRCVS
Mr Iain Richards MRCVS
Colonel Neil Smith FRCVS
The biographies and statements for each candidate can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vetvote18.
At the time of writing, the College is still waiting for the Legislative Reform Order (LRO) concerning its governance arrangements, including a reduction in the size of Council, to be approved.
Under current arrangements six candidates will be elected to RCVS Council – however, if the LRO completes the legislative process and is passed by both Houses of Parliament, then only the three candidates with the most votes will take up their places on Council.
Ballot papers and candidates’ details are due to be posted to all veterinary surgeons eligible to vote during the week commencing 12 March, and all votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday 27 April 2018.
Once again this year the College is inviting veterinary surgeons to email a question for the candidates to vetvote18@rcvs.org.uk or tweet it using the hashtag #vetvote18 by midday on Monday 26 February.
Each candidate will then be asked to answer two questions from all those received, and produce a video recording of their answers. Recordings will be published on the RCVS website and YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/rcvsvideos) on the week the election commences.
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar, said:"After last year’s record turnout in the RCVS Council elections we are continuing to work with Electoral Reform Services (ERS) to make it easier for members to vote for their preferred candidates.
"While the traditional paper ballot papers and booklets will be posted as usual, ERS will once again send personalised emails linking members to their unique secure voting website and then send regular reminders to those who haven’t yet had the chance have their say."
The Elsevier publication is edited by Dottie Laflamme, DVM PhD ACVIM (Nutrition) with an expert team of authors providing practical information on a variety of nutrition topics appropriate for daily practice. https://bit.ly/PurinaEBook2
The Elsevier publication is designed to help veterinary staff expand their knowledge and skills in nutrition topics, from discussing nutrition with clients, to the nutritional management of common health conditions, so that they can be confident in their own nutrition knowledge and ability to communicate about nutritional issues.
The current edition, edited by Dottie Laflamme, DVM PhD ACVIM (Nutrition), is available in English and in Spanish.
Daniel Rodes DVM, PhD, and regional leader for the Purina Institute, said: “The veterinary team is a valued source of nutrition information for pet owners, but vets do not always initiate discussions about nutrition with clients for various reasons, including the concern that owners may be unwilling to change their views on their choice of a pet’s diet1.
"In fact, one recent study reported that most veterinary clients (93%) 'were at least somewhat willing to change their pet’s diet on the basis of a veterinarian’s recommendation if it was phrased as benefiting their pets’ health'2, and in another, the veterinary healthcare team was reported to be the primary (43.6%) and most important source of nutrition information for pet owners3".
Although most articles cover nutrition for dogs and cats, there is also a review on nutrition for ferrets, rabbits and rodents, and another on effective communication, suggesting ways veterinary teams can empower clients to take positive action to support the health of their pets.
https://bit.ly/PurinaEBook2
References
At the hearing, the Disciplinary Committee considered whether she had accepted the findings of the Committee at the original inquiry hearing, the seriousness of those findings, whether she had demonstrated insight into her past conduct, and the protection of the public and the public interest.
In her restoration application, Dr Burrows included continuing professional development (CPD) certificates for the courses she had completed since her removal from the Register, letters/informal witness statements from the veterinary surgeons and nurses she had worked who had expressed a willingness to employ her again, together with character references and reflection statements.
She also made a detailed opening statement in support of her application, in which she said that the period since her name was removed from the Register was extremely difficult and also that she now unconditionally accepted all the Committee’s original findings in May 2021, some of which she had previously denied and had failed to acknowledge.
Dr Burrows went on to state that she only had herself to blame for her actions and that she now understood and accepted that the original sanction of removal from the register had needed to be severe given the serious breach of trust to the public, to the veterinary profession and the insurance industry that was a direct consequence of her dishonest actions.
Since removal from the Register, Dr Burrows had taken on the role of receptionist in a Vets4Pets practice in Cardiff, which required her to deal directly with the public and their insurance requests and entitlements.
She stated that as a result of her involvement over the past 18 months in processing insurance claims, she acknowledges the “delicate” relationship between veterinary surgeons, clients and insurers.
Additionally, working as a receptionist, had allowed her to recognise the need for contemporaneous and clear clinical notes.
She also highlighted her CPD, which was relevant to insurance, as well as the fact she’d undertaken a professional ethics course to assist her rehabilitation, reflection, and insight.
In support of Dr Burrows’ restoration to the Register, the Committee took into account three witness accounts from people who work at the Vets4Pets branch where Dr Burrows works as a receptionist.
All witnesses gave positive reflections on Dr Burrows’ character and assured the Committee that they would provide the correct level of support to allow her to return to work safely and that they would have all the necessary safeguarding measures in place to ensure that the public’s and the profession’s interest is always at the forefront.
Judith Way, chairing the Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee was impressed by the fact that busy professionals chose to give up their time to provide witness statements and give evidence in support of Dr Burrows’ application.
"All witnesses were clearly supportive of Dr Burrows’ request for restoration to the Register.
“The Committee found Dr Burrows to show remorse and she does now accept the findings of dishonesty that were made against her in the original enquiry hearing and stated that her conduct was dishonest.
"In the Committee’s view, the evidence given by Dr Burrows on affirmation was very believable and she now accepts her dishonesty together with the gravity of her dishonesty.
“The Committee also formed the view that the steps she has taken to address her dishonesty serve to confirm that she is passionate about the prospect that she be allowed to return to practise.
"The Committee was impressed by Dr Burrows and the evidence given and is now satisfied that she will ensure the highest standards of probity and honesty in the future.
“Having taken all evidence into account, the Committee is satisfied that the future welfare of animals under Dr Burrows’ responsibility will be properly protected, and that her future dealings with insurers will be honest in all respects and that the interests of the public will be met.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/concerns/disciplinary-hearings
Over 90% of the 156 respondents (predominantly vets, but also managers) believed CT was important in first opinion practice, but nearly half did not have access to a scanner.
25% said they were interested in buying a CT scanner, mainly for the improved diagnostics and desire to keep more cases in-house.
The main reasons for not buying a CT scanner were: space, cost and lack of confidence.
Matt Winter, radiologist and CVMO at VetCT said: “Imaging in first opinion practice is evolving rapidly with innovations in veterinary-specific CT technology, modern machines are more available and affordable than ever.
"We need to build confidence through training and understanding of the technology, and the comprehensive support available to practices.”
While practices with a CT scanner felt they were using it optimally for the most part, specialist radiologist reporting emerged as the most significant factor towards optimising its use.
However, a third of respondents not currently using teleradiology (the remote reporting by specialist radiologists of diagnostic images acquired by a practice), said they did not know enough about it and/or hadn’t considered it.
Matt said: “Expert teleradiology to support with image interpretation is enabling more practices than ever to offer advanced imaging and provide state-of-the-art diagnostics for patients, meeting growing client expectations, elevating patient care and improving outcomes."
VetCT’s webinars on CT optimisation are available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Vetctspecialists