Veterinary surgeon Noel Fitzpatrick, a pioneer of prosthetic implants, has launched what is being billed as Europe's most advanced neuro-orthopaedic centre for dogs and cats.

Fitzpatrick Referrals' £10m facilities at Eashing, near Godalming, Surrey, have been set up to offer a world-class "centre of excellence" in diagnosis, surgery and rehabilitation.

Facilities at the centre include:

• a closed-field Siemens Symphony MRI scanner, which can provide ultra-clear images of bone, spine, brain and soft tissue to enable rapid and accurate diagnosis of routine problems such as slipped discs as well as potentially life-threatening conditions such as tumours.
• a specially fitted-out physiotherapy suite and a hydrotherapy pool to facilitate patients' rehabilitation and recovery.
• a new conference facility which combines a cinema-style environment with a real-time interactive forum for the exchange of medical innovation between universities and centres of excellence worldwide.

Noel was the first veterinary surgeon to successfully apply a prosthetic limb to a dog where both bone and skin can grow into metal - a technique with far-reaching cross-over potential for human surgery. He believes in "pushing the boundaries" and creating solutions for conditions that may never have previously been treatable, and says the work being done at Eashing also provides valuable experience for medical science as a whole. Examples include cartilage resurfacing, limb-sparing cancer surgery and spinal vertebral fusion.

Professor Gordon Blunn of the Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Orthopaedics and Musculo-Skeletal Science at University College London said: "Orthopaedic conditions and diseases are common to both human beings and to animals. For example osteoarthritis is debilitating condition seen in humans, cats and dogs. Bone cancer which can lead to loss of life in humans and is usually associated with the peripheral skeleton is also seen in the peripheral skeleton of large dog breeds. Translation of ideas, orthopaedic practice and treatments, from humans to the veterinary field and visa versa has considerable advantages to all animals including dogs, cats and man. Noel Fitzpatrick is pioneering this concept and his work in limb reconstruction for dogs and cats has already had benefits in both veterinary and human orthopaedic practice."

DJ Chris Evans is one satisfied client. His dog, Enzo, a German Shepherd, was "written off" by other vets after becoming paralysed with two herniated discs. Noel fitted Enzo with two bolts to replace the collapsed disc and keep the vertebrae apart. The surgery was followed by extensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to enable Enzo to learn to walk again.

Chris said: "Noel lives out his dreams with boundless curiosity, ambition and genius, the product of which is hundreds, soon to be thousands, of fixed pets and happy owners - like me. I have huge respect for his endeavour, his integrity and his compassion and to me he's a superhero-vetman who will leave no stone unturned in his quest to heal, to create and to comfort. He thinks of solutions to medical problems that I'm sure no-one else could even dream of, let alone think of. Actually - I don't think he ever sleeps!"

The Red Tractor Assurance Scheme has announced that all veterinary surgeons registered to its scheme for pigs must be members of the Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) from 1 October.

The change has come about following a review of the assurance scheme's standards, when it was decided that all Red Tractor vets should be members of PVS, not just those carrying out Real Welfare assessments, as was previously the case.

Other changes in the review focus on the responsible use of antibiotics and a number of the animal medicine standards have been strengthened.

Red Tractor says the PVS membership requirement is in line with another new standard which will require veterinary surgeons to declare they only prescribe antibiotics for use on Red Tractor pig units in accordance with the PVS Prescribing Principles for Antimicrobials. 

Red Tractor technical manager Joanna King said: "Ensuring every Red Tractor registered vet is a PVS member will help keep them abreast of the most recent version of the Prescribing Principles, along with other guidelines and publications."

Assessors undertaking Red Tractor farm assessments can verify whether the retained farm vet is a current PVS member through their membership number which is required on the quarterly veterinary report forms. 

Membership numbers can be checked against an online PVS membership checker.

Warwick John Seymour-Hamilton, a former veterinary surgeon who was struck off 27 years ago, has had his ninth application to be restored to the Register rejected on the basis that he would pose a risk to animal welfare if he were to practise as a veterinary surgeon.

Mr Seymour-Hamilton made previous unsuccessful applications for restoration in 1995, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

Mr Seymour-Hamilton was originally removed from the Register in 1994 following an inspection of his veterinary practice premises in Orpington, Kent, that found that the condition of the practice, including the equipment and facilities, were of such a risk to animal health and welfare that it brought the profession into disrepute.

In considering his current application, the Committee had to take several factors into account, including: whether Mr Seymour-Hamilton had accepted the findings of his original hearing; whether he demonstrated insight into his past conduct; protection of the public and the public interest; the future welfare of animals committed to his care should he be restored; length of time off the Register; his conduct since removal; and evidence that he’d kept up-to-date in terms of the knowledge and skills required of a practising veterinary surgeon.

Mr Seymour-Hamilton accepted the facts of the original charges but did not accept the conclusions of the two veterinary surgeons who inspected his practice, who, he claimed, had falsely accused him.

As a result, the Committee concluded that Mr Seymour-Hamilton did not accept the seriousness of the original findings against him, nor had he demonstrated any insight into either the original charges, nor what was required of him to enable a successful application for restoration.

Judith Webb, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee is driven to the conclusion that the applicant has displayed total disregard for rules and regulations. In his evidence he stated that he is professionally competent to spay a cat  and  he had done so in Calais. This was in recent years and whilst struck off by the RCVS, and after more than 25 years out of the profession. He was unable to see that he had done anything wrong in this.”

As to protection of the public and the future welfare of animals committed to his care, the Committee found that Mr Seymour-Hamilton continued to display a lack of understanding of the role and purpose of regulation. He had shown no insight into previous decisions or of what was required of him to enable a successful restoration, despite being given advice in that regard. He presented no compelling evidence to indicate that he would be safe to practise veterinary surgery were he to be restored to the Register.  

Regarding Mr Seymour-Hamilton’s conduct since removal from the Register, the Committee found he did not demonstrate sufficient relevant conduct in relation to his fitness to practise. The Committee noted that, on previous occasions, he had indicated he had illegally practised veterinary surgery and admitted using his own animals to experimentally administer new and untested remedies.

The Committee found that, in relation to the 27 years since removal from the Register, Mr Seymour-Hamilton had not undertaken the prolonged, intensive and formal retraining needed to ensure he was now fit to practise. It also found that, since the last restoration hearing in 2020, Mr Seymour-Hamilton had undertaken very little continuing professional development, maintaining that he was too busy with his work relating to herbal remedies to attend formal veterinary training.

Judith Webb added: “He claimed that he does not find it difficult to keep up-to-date, because he is able to perform online searches if he is in need of information. He thinks that he is competent to operate even after 27 years out of the profession, and maintains that he could operate now. In the view of the Committee, the applicant is totally unaware of current veterinary principles such as it being an evidence-based profession, use of clinical audit and reflective learning. He does not appear to have accepted the purpose of the regulator in protecting public interest, including maintaining public confidence in the profession, nor its role in upholding professional standards and promoting animal welfare. 

The Committee considers that where some 27 years have passed since the applicant has practised, there will inevitably be a serious risk to the welfare of animals if he is restored to the Register. In addition, the Committee is firmly of the opinion that it would not be in the public interest for the application for restoration to the RCVS Register to be granted in this case.”

The full documentation from the restoration hearing can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary

The 2017 edition of the NOAH Compendium of Data Sheets for Animal Medicines has been published and a free copy posted to every practice in the UK.

The NOAH Compendium is also available online at www.noahcompendium.co.uk, and via a smartphone app which was launched in November 2016.

A special edition of the book for SQPs, commissioned by AMTRA, will be also available shortly.

NOAH chief executive Dawn Howard said: "The NOAH Compendium in all its formats is a major part of NOAH’s efforts to assist the appropriate and responsible use of all animal medicines.

"Every NOAH member, as well as the non-member participants in the NOAH Compendium, is a signatory to the NOAH Code of Practice on Promotion, which demonstrates their commitment to operate above and beyond any regulatory requirements.

"As well as product datasheets, the Compendium includes another vital resource – the contact details for each participating company. Company veterinary and technical advisors have detailed knowledge about their company’s medicines. They are ready to talk to prescribers about the use of a medicine in a particular animal or in a particular situation, as well as to explain any queries about the data sheet."

If your practice has not yet received its copy, perhaps because you are a new practice, or have changed address in the past year, contact Amy Davis at NOAH (a.davis@noah.co.uk).

Extra copies are also available to order now, for £45. NOAH says many veterinary surgeons choose to buy extras for each consulting room and special prices are available for bulk orders.

Brinsea has announced the launch of the new Vetario range of intensive care units.

The company says the new models are the result of a 2 year design programme to provide the ideal environment for the successful recovery of small mammals, reptiles and birds.

The new S40 and S50 models incorporate the features found on the previous S10 and S20 models, but with improvements to the control systems, sturdiness and ease of cleaning.

According to the blurb: "The two models are approximately 40 and 100 litres volume respectively, and available with either standard or 'M' control systems. The cabinets are moulded from tough, gloss-finished ABS, making them durable and easy to clean. The importance of cleaning extends to all aspects of the design: the cabinets split to allow the base to be immersed and the fan and heater are both easily accessed for cleaning. The digital push button control panels are wipe clean without disturbing the settings. The 'M' models show humidity (as well as temperature) and include temperature and power-off alarms, enriched oxygen compatibility and nebuliser fitting. Inlet and recirculating filters keep the risks of respiratory problems from airborne contamination to a minimum. Both models are portable, which makes them ideal for isolating animals: a sensitive cat recovering from an anaesthetic can be safely accommodated away from barking dogs, for example."

Prices start at £420 (including 20% VAT).

For more information, telephone: 0845 226 0120

The British Veterinary Association has launched 'Great Workplaces', a workplace accreditation scheme designed to help address some of the  recruitment and retention issues in the veterinary profession.

The BVA says that securing 'Great Workplaces' will be a collaborative assessment process.

Each workplace will have a dedicated, experienced accreditor from a veterinary background, who will work with leadership teams and employees to gather a full picture of their workplace. 

Workplaces will be assessed in four main areas: health and wellbeing, leadership and management, culture, and learning and development. 

Successful workplaces will achieve either gold or silver accreditation.

Those that don’t meet the criteria yet will be recognised as ‘working towards’ accreditation and will be supported to make the changes needed to achieve success next time around.

Successful workplaces will hold their accreditation for three years and at the end of that period they will be required to undergo reassessment to retain their accredited status. 

BVA President Anna Judson said: “As well as attracting more people to join our veterinary profession, ensuring we retain the incredible talent we already have is critical to building a resilient and sustainable veterinary workforce.

"Positive workplace culture is central to achieving this and Great Workplaces by BVA is an innovative new approach that puts the well-being of vet teams front and centre.

"The knock-on impact will be good for vets and vet practices, good for clients and ultimately, good for animal welfare.

Photo: BVA

“Workplaces accredited under this new scheme, will be seen as employers of choice, attracting top talent who seek fulfilling careers and a healthy work-life balance.

"For existing team members, working in a recognised Great Workplace could enhance job satisfaction.”

A number of workplaces have already undertaken Great Workplaces accreditation during a series of pilots in 2023.

Two, Westport Veterinary Clinic in Linlithgow and South Moors in Devon, have become the first veterinary workplaces to receive a silver accreditation.

Fiona Leathers at Westport Veterinary Clinic, said:  "At Westport Veterinary Clinic, our collaboration with the British Veterinary Association and its Great Workplaces accreditation scheme has been transformative.

"It has given us invaluable insights into how this initiative positively impacts workplace culture and employee well-being.

“The simplicity of the accreditation process and the approachable nature of BVA’s accreditors facilitated seamless integration of the scheme’s principles into our daily routines.

"The tangible impact of the Great Workplaces accreditation has been profound.

"It's fostered a more inclusive, supportive, and cohesive environment, elevating employee satisfaction and bolstering team morale significantly.

"This experience extends beyond personal growth; it solidifies our belief in cultivating healthy work cultures.”

www.bva.co.uk/great-workplaces  

Photo: BVA

Improve International has announced that the role of Official Veterinarians in animal welfare is the theme of this year's OV Conference, taking place on the 29th & 30th September. 

The conference programme includes lecture streams and round-table discussions on themes relating to both Large Animals and Small Animals, in addition to a series of lectures aimed at Equine Practitioners.

This second OV conference is a collaboration between Improve International, which handles OV registration and training in England, Scotland and Wales; 5m Publishing and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). They say their objectives are to provide a forum to discuss the latest developments in OV work and to offer an opportunity for OVs to network and share experiences and ideas.

Large animal topics to be discussed at the event include Bovine TB, Bluetongue and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea while small animal practitioners will focus on export regulations, certification, the Pet Travel Scheme, together with welfare and exotic disease issues. Equine lectures will include legislation updates and welfare and exotic diseases.

An exhibition of the latest products and services of interest to OVs will again run alongside the conference which will take place at the Alexandra House Hotel and Conference Centre, near Swindon, where Improve International is based.

David Babington MRCVS, Managing Director of Improve, said:  "The enthusiastic discussions following many of the lectures at our first conference and the resoundingly positive feedback we received from the 250 delegates attending convinced us of the value of a forum that brings OVs together with experts from private practice, other animal health-related organisations and the APHA. 

"Animal welfare is a particularly important topic for OVs so it is the theme for this year's event and all of the speakers will address it within the context of their lectures.  We look forward to, once again, welcoming OVs from across the country to Alexandra House in September 2016."

For more information on the Official Veterinarian Conference and Exhibition or to register visit: www.officialvet.com

Linnaeus has updated its two-year graduate programme, dividing it into two 12-month courses: the Graduate Development Programme (GDP) followed by a 12-month Early Careers Programme (ECP).

New graduates will work through both programmes during their first two years in practice.

Linnaeus says the GDP will continue to focus on support and networking, giving access to mentors, social events and a structured education programme that covers 12 educational days.

The GDP will cover primary care skills development and things like veterinary business training, leadership skills and time management.

All graduates will then complete the ECP, which is designed to offer greater flexibility as the participants start to focus on different clinical areas.

Professional and clinical skills training will be more tailored to graduates’ topics of interest, and funding will be available to cover the cost of CPD courses that support individual areas of development. 

Professor Séverine Tasker, Chief Medical Officer at Linnaeus (pictured right), said: "We decided to update the GDP after asking for feedback from across Linnaeus and our stakeholders. 

“While many graduates need a lot of guidance in the first 12 months of their veterinary careers, they will then start to develop more specific areas of interest.

"By developing two separate programmes, we can offer education, guidance, networking and flexibility that is adapted to the progression of our graduates.”

The next Linnaeus GDP starts in the summer of 2022 and is open for applications from now until the end of May.

The ECP provision will be available from mid-2022 to support recent graduates that join Linnaeus outside of their GDP intake. 

For more information, visit www.linnaeusgroup.co.uk/careers/graduates-students-and-apprenticeships.

Elanco (maker of Comfortis) has released the results of a survey of 1006 dog owners which showed that nearly half are not aware that turning on their central heating can cause pupal fleas to hatch and go in search of a host to feed on.

50% of those questioned said their dog has had fleas at some point. Of those, 79% said their dog gets infested at least once a year. 20% said they did not believe fleas would be found in the carpet, dog bedding and soft furnishings, and over a third didn't treat their carpets or soft furnishings when their home became infested.

Elanco says it has extended its range of practice support materials available to help educate dog owners about flea infestation and the benefits of veterinary prescribed flea treatments. They include client leaflets, waiting room posters and assistance with bespoke direct mail client communications. 

For further information, contact your local Elanco Animal Health key account manager.

The latest solution to the perennial problem of cat mess has arrived in the UK; CatGenie is the world's first self-flushing, self-washing cat loo.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here it is...

According to CatGenie UK, the loo eliminates the need for pet owners to touch, smell or change dirty cat litter again, or carry heavy bags of cat litter home from the supermarket.

Once hooked up to a water connection and plugged into an electrical socket, CatGenie is ready to use.  Instead of litter, it uses washable granules that look and feel like litter. Liquid waste drains and solids get scooped. All get liquefied for disposal down the drain, out of the home. The washable granules and cat box interior are then washed with water and SaniSolution. A built in dryer blows hot air through the granules to dry them completely for the cat's comfort. Sensors monitor when a cat visits the box and the CatGenie can be set to clean automatically at intervals throughout the day, or manually whenever required. 

CatGenie costs £289.99 including VAT and shipping. The company says that annual running costs are lower than traditional cat litter methods which cost approximately £155/year, with more than 30 hours a year spent on buying and carrying litter, changing and disposing of dirty litter. CatGenie's on-going costs are less than £100.

CatGenie is offering vets the opportunity to take advantage of this product launch in the UK.  By displaying CatGenie leaflets in your practice, you can earn £10 for every unit sold.  There's no financial outlay and no need to store bulky items.  Your leaflets will include a promotional code, unique to your practice.  If one of your clients buys a CatGenie online and types in the code from one of your leaflets, you automatically receive £10 and they receive a £10 discount off the purchase price. 

For further information on how to sign up to the promotional offer and for leaflets to display in your practice, please email courtney.morgan@catgenie.co.uk

Peter Harlech Jones has been elected President of the British Veterinary Association for 2012/2013. The ceremony took place during the Annual General Meeting of the BVA at the close of its Annual Congress, held in the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool.

Mr Jones, an international consultant on veterinary medicines, was born and raised in North Wales where he attended the Sir Huw Owen School in Caernarfon. He qualified from the University of Liverpool Veterinary School in 1971. After several years in practice in Wales and London - plus a spell in Ontario, Canada - Peter joined the pharmaceutical industry and spent 20 years in the animal health business both in the UK and overseas working in the fields of research and development and also regulatory affairs.

In 1995 he was appointed the first head of the Veterinary Division at the newly created European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA) in London, playing a leading role in the creation of the new European regulatory system and working at the centre of European institutions. His last post before semi-retirement in 2008 was as head of the global animal health industry association, the International Federation of Animal Health (IFAH).

Within the BVA Peter has served on the Veterinary Policy Group and as chair of the Medicines Group and is a former secretary and chairman of the Association of Veterinarians in Industry (AVI). He participates in the work of the Federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE) and acts as a consultant to GALVmed whose aim is to make livestock vaccines, diagnostics and medicines accessible to those in developing countries for whom livestock is a lifeline.

Mr Jones said: "My background is in pharma research and international regulatory affairs and I am confident that my experience will be useful as we anticipate the new EU Animal Health Law and medicines legislation. But I am driven to do much more for the veterinary profession than just in those fields.

"The word 'value' really began to resonate for me when I started thinking of my theme for the year ahead as President of BVA.

"In whatever role we play vets are adding value in so many areas of our professional lives to society at large in a huge and significant contribution to the public good. I firmly believe that we, as an association and as a profession, must use every opportunity to reinforce the message about the value we give in all aspects of our work, and to believe in ourselves.

"I want to see a greater appreciation for what we do and what we contribute, and BVA will lead from the front.

"Looking ahead it will be a busy year for all of us. But I am confident that we have the teams in place - through our committees and council, our regional representatives, our divisions and beyond - to do our wonderful profession proud.

"I am certainly very proud to be standing here today and I am committed to working hard for all our members as their President."

The BVA Officer Team for 2012/13 is Peter Harlech Jones (President), Carl Padgett (Past President), and Robin Hargreaves (President Elect)

Julian Hoad has taken up his role as BSAVA President for 2024-25.

Taking over from Carl Gorman, Julian says his focus is to continue the work undertaken this year as part of a ‘programme of change’ for BSAVA, that will continue to promote the strong sense of community within the membership and the wider profession.

Speaking at the BSAVA AGM, Julian said: “I am very humbled as I stand here today as your 67th President. It is certainly the pinnacle of my veterinary career, and the greatest honour yet bestowed on me in life.

"We continue to live in exciting times at BSAVA, and as ever, I join a team of utterly amazing staff at Woodrow House.

“I really do believe that the BSAVA will continue to go from strength to strength and will continue to maintain its relevance and position as the indispensable voice of the small animal veterinary profession.”

Julian started volunteering for the BSAVA after his graduation within the Southeastern Regional committee, becoming Chair of the committee after a few years.

He then became part of the BSAVA Education Committee, BSAVA PetSavers Grants Awarding Committee, and was lately part of the Publications Committee.

He then joined the Presidential ladder two years ago as Junior Vice President.

Outside of his volunteering for the BSAVA, he was at Crossways Vets in West Sussex for 17 years, initially as a partner, then as an owner, and finally as a Clinical Director.

He has since stepped down from the practice to devote his time to being BSAVA President this year.

Giles Yeo MBE, Cambridge Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology, will deliver a lecture looking at the genetics of canine obesity on Friday 21st November, 11:00am to 12:15am, at BVA Congress. 

Giles is the professor of molecular neuroendocrinology at the Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit and scientific director of the Genomics/Transcriptomics Core at the University of Cambridge.

He is a well-known broadcaster thanks to his appearances on programmes such as BBC’s ‘Horizon’ and ‘Trust me, I’m a Doctor’ and author of two books: Gene Eating: The Story Of Human Appetite and Why Calories Don't Count.

He also hosts the podcast Dr Giles Yeo Chews The Fat. 

Giles and his colleagues at the University of Cambridge recently identified a genetic mutation in Labrador retrievers that significantly increases their propensity for obesity and food motivation.

This mutation, a 14-base pair deletion in the POMC gene, disrupts the production of beta-MSH and beta-endorphin, hormones involved in regulating appetite and energy balance.

The study found this mutation is present in about 25% of Labradors and 66% of flat-coated retrievers, and is also more common in assistance dogs than pet Labradors.  

Giles' lecture: "The genetics of obesity: Can an old dog teach us new tricks?" will lay out the evidence for a genetic basis to body weight and explore the role of the leptin-melanocortin pathway in both human and dog obesity, and its conservation through evolution. 

Giles said: “It is clear that the cause of obesity is a result of eating more than you burn.

"It is physics.

"What is more complex to answer is why some people eat more than others?

"Differences in our genetic make-up mean some of us are slightly more hungry all the time and so eat more than others.

"I will highlight the fat-sensing 'leptin-melanocortin' pathway, as a key appetite control circuit.

"Not only is the pathway conserved in all mammals and many higher vertebrates, but genetic disruption of the pathway as an evolutionary strategy to influence feeding behaviour has also been conserved. In contrast to the prevailing view, obesity is not a choice.

"People who are obese are not bad or lazy; rather, they are fighting their biology.” 

British Veterinary Association President Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “I’m sure our BVA Congress delegates will appreciate both Dr Yeo’s scientific knowledge and his dynamic delivery style and I’m personally looking forward to learning more about this exciting topic.” 

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