The traditional NVQ 'portfolio' system for student veterinary nurses could be phased out from next summer, under draft proposals from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Awarding Body, which has responsibility for the delivery of VN qualifications.

Proposals include an initial year of full-time college study, during which the student does not need to be employed in a Training Practice (TP), the introduction of compulsory farm animal work experience, the phasing out of the separate Equine Veterinary Nursing qualification and a reduction in practice-based assessment.

The catalyst for reviewing the VN qualification came from Ofqual's plans to introduce the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) from summer next year, which effectively scraps the NVQ in its current form. This gave the RCVS Awarding Body an excellent opportunity to reconsider work-based training for VNs in order to improve its effectiveness and efficiency.

The Awarding Body's proposals, on which comments are invited, aim to reduce bureaucracy for those involved with VN training, increase the number of practices able to take part and improve accessibility of training, ultimately increasing the number of qualified VNs available to the profession.

Under the new proposals, VN work-based training would be a two-year, 70-credit Level 3 qualification, equivalent to 700 hours' learning. The first year of this qualification could be delivered either as a full-time college course, or as a part-time day-release over two years (extending the complete training to three years). The first year would incorporate 25 days' work placement, including small animal, equine and farm animal environments - the first time a compulsory farm animal component has been introduced. This first year of the course could be directly accessed by school leavers, as there is no requirement for them to be employed in a practice.

Students would be employed in a Training Practice for the second 'clinical' year (or third year for part-time students). An online log of practical experience, similar to the Professional Development Phase for new veterinary graduates, would replace the current portfolio, with a more comprehensive end-of-year practical exam. There would no longer be a requirement for practice-based assessors, although students would still need to be supported by an experienced clinical mentor, a role many current assessors may assume.

The economic feasibility of Equine Veterinary Nurse (EVN) training was also considered, with the conclusion that a broader-based primary qualification, with all students carrying out work experience in a range of practice types, was more sustainable.

The number of training practices has long been recognised as a limiting factor in the UK's capacity to train VNs. In addition to standard TPs, proposals have therefore been made for Auxiliary TPs (ATPs). ATPs would be able to employ and train VN students even if they do not have the facilities to provide all of the work experience required:  a formal agreement to allow students to fill the gaps at another practice would be in place.

Finally, the proposals include a beefed up range of post-registration education options, allowing Registered Veterinary Nurses to develop, and be recognised, in their own areas of interest. This would help to create a career ladder for RVNs and assist in their retention within the profession.

"The proposals have been developed following a period of consultation with those involved with the delivery of VN training, and with employers," says Jacqui Molyneux, RCVS Council Member and Chairman of the VN Awarding Body.

"Feedback suggests that the current syllabus and training provides competent nurses who are highly regarded within the profession, but that training is overly burdensome for the practices involved. This, coupled with a recognised shortage of both Training Practices and qualified VNs, meant it was appropriate to think more creatively about how the qualification could be delivered. We hope that the draft proposals will be welcomed by both the veterinary nursing and veterinary professions, and would urge people involved to let us know what they think."

The proposals are available on RCVSonline (www.rcvs.org.uk/latestnews ) - please email your comments to Miss Jane Dawson, Project Consultant (jkhdawson@aol.com), by 31 October 2009. It is appreciated that this is a short deadline, however, the time-frame of the QCF is driving development, as is the need to allow colleges and training providers the maximum possible time to develop the new training structure for 2010/11 delivery.

David Chalkley MRCVS has been suspended for three months by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after it found him guilty of serious professional misconduct over bovine tuberculosis (bTB) testing at a Cheltenham farm in March 2018.

Mr Chalkley faced three charges against him. The first was that he failed to identify some or all of the animals tested with Intradermal Comparative Tuberculin (ICT) tests at the farm.

The second charge was that Mr Chalkley had certified that he had carried out ICT tests on 279 animals at the farm and recorded the results on the accompanying paperwork but had, in fact, not adequately identified some or all of the 279 animals and had fabricated the skin thickness measurements recorded for some of them.

In addition, the charge alleged that Mr Chalkley’s conduct was dishonest, misleading and risked undermining government testing procedures designed to promote public health.

The third charge was that between June 2011 and September 2018, Mr Chalkley received payment of approximately £20,000 for ICT tests when, as a result of his conduct in relation to ICT tests at the farm, he was not entitled to such payment.

At the outset of the hearing Mr Chalkley admitted the first charge, that he had not adequately identified some of the animals.

On the third day of the hearing, during his evidence to the Committee, he admitted that his certification of the ICT testing was therefore misleading.

He denied the rest of the charges including that his conduct had been dishonest and that it had risked undermining government testing procedures designed to promote public health.

In considering the charges against Mr Chalkley, the Committee heard that discrepancies regarding the tests that were carried out on the farm in March 2018 were originally raised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), on whose behalf Mr Chalkley carried out ICT testing in his capacity as an Official Veterinarian.

When Mr Chalkley gave evidence during the hearing, he explained that he had taken over TB testing for the farm in 2008 and that working conditions on the farm had been difficult throughout the whole period 2008 to 2018. He stated that due to the harsh weather conditions of early 2018, TB testing was difficult, and that the farmer needed to complete the test by March 2018 to avoid a financial penalty.

Mr Chalkley explained that one of the reasons for there being limited time available for him to carry out the test within the time required by the farmer was that he was due to provide veterinary cover at the Cheltenham races the following week and he was unable to find anyone else to cover the tests. Mr Chalkley also explained that during the tests on 5 and 8 March there had been limited farmhands available to assist in processing the cattle through the tests.

In the course of being asked questions by counsel for the RCVS, Mr Chalkley accepted that he had failed to identify some 45% of the animals he had injected on 5 March 2018 and had, in respect of each of the skin thickness measurements for those animals, randomly chosen a figure that he believed would be appropriate based on the breed, age and sex of the animal.

The APHA guidelines state that specific measurements should be made and recorded for each individual animal using callipers. Mr Chalkley said that he could not remember seeing the “pop-up” declaration which appeared when submitting the results to the APHA online and had never read it. He stated that he was not aware that he was making a declaration.  However, he accepted that as an Official Veterinarian he was confirming that he had carried out the test properly. While he agreed that he knew that the test contained inaccuracies, he did not accept that he was being dishonest when he submitted the results.

Having considered all the evidence put forward by the RCVS and Mr Chalkley in his own defence, the Committee found that Mr Chalkley had acted dishonestly in deliberately choosing not to take the measurements on 5 March and had instead submitted fabricated alternatives, and so risked undermining public health by failing to carry out his duties as an OV.

The Committee also concluded that Mr Chalkley had been acting dishonestly, as he  knew that he was submitting the test results as if they were the authentic outcome of a properly conducted test when in reality, they were no such thing.

The Committee did not accept Mr Chalkley’s evidence that he was unaware of the declaration which accompanied the submission of the test outcome. The Committee therefore found both the first and second charges proved.

In respect of the third charge the Committee found that this was not proven noting that the RCVS had not disproved Mr Chalkley’s explanation regarding his reasons for returning the £20,000 in fees he had received for carrying out TB testing at the farm from the APHA since 2011.

The Committee then considered whether the first two charges, both of which had been found proven, amounted to serious professional misconduct.

Ian Arundale, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee was prepared to accept that the respondent considered the risk arising from his actions as negligible. Nonetheless, in the Committee’s assessment a real risk existed due to the respondent’s actions and it was precisely the risk which the authorised testing procedure was designed to negate. The simple fact is the respondent could not be sure that each animal he assessed on 8 March 2018 had also been seen by him on 5 March 2018.

“However, the wider point with which the Committee was concerned related to the importance of any member of the profession or public being able to rely absolutely on the integrity of veterinary certification. Those parts of the Code and supporting guidance [concerning certification]… were unequivocal. It was very difficult to conceive of circumstances in which it could ever be justifiable to certify the outcome of a test which had not, in fact, been conducted in a way which was demonstrably valid and reliable. Such conduct was bound to be regarded as disgraceful by members of the profession and the general public.

“Honesty is the bedrock of appropriate certification and the Code and Guidance for the Disciplinary Committee is also unequivocal. Dishonesty in professional practice is always an extremely serious matter and the respondent’s responsibilities in the discharge of his functions as an Official Veterinarian were clear. On this occasion those responsibilities had been compromised.

“For these reasons, the Committee has come to the conclusion that the respondent’s conduct in relation to the facts found proved was disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.”

The Committee then went on to consider the sanction for Mr Chalkley.

The Committee heard oral evidence in mitigation, including from a former colleague who had worked with him in practice since 2006, as well as receiving a large number of written testimonials from various sources that attested to his honesty, integrity, willingness to help others, and charitable work in support of animal welfare.

Mr Chalkley’s counsel, in mitigation, highlighted his long and previously unblemished career, and characterised the conduct as an inexcusable but explicable error of judgement that was entirely isolated and out-of-character. Mr Chalkley’s counsel added that he had not done anything that he thought was seriously wrong, and there was no evidence that any harm had been done and that any risk to public health was not serious.

The Committee accepted that the conduct was isolated and out-of-character and that, furthermore, Mr Chalkley had made early and frank admissions to the APHA and that he had displayed a degree of insight, although the Committee was less confident that he truly understood the seriousness of the potential consequences of his dishonest conduct.

The Committee took into account the aggravating factors, including Mr Chalkley’s breach of trust of his position as an OV, the undermining of the integrity of veterinary certification, dishonesty and the potential public health impacts of his conduct.

Ian Arundale added: “The Committee considered that, having regard to the mitigating features which it had identified, a suspension order would be sufficient to send to the profession and the public a clear signal about the importance to be attached to accurate certification. The Committee considered that in the particular circumstances of this case, a period of three months suspension would be sufficient to achieve this objective.”

The full findings for the case can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary

Ceva Animal Health has announced the launch of Vectra Felis, a new spot-on flea treatment for cats. 

The new product contains two active ingredients: dinotefuran and pyriproxyfen. The first is an adulticide which Ceva says kills fleas on contact, thereby stopping fleas biting before they die. The second ingredient is an Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) which prevents flea reproduction and adult flea emergence, so protecting the cat and its environment from future flea attacks.

According to the company, Vectra Felis ensures that over 95% of fleas are killed within two hours and the effects last for a month.

In addition, Ceva highlights the product's patented applicator, which has an elongated smooth tip for quick and easy application. The company says it also provides accurate dosing and facilitates clean administration as nothing comes out until the tube is squeezed. Kittens can be treated from seven weeks of age (weighing at least 0.6kg).

For further information on Vectra Felis, contact your local Ceva territory manager or call 01494 781510.

Merial has announced that a recent change of licence means you can now administer the new generation NSAID, Previcox® for the relief of post operative pain associated with soft tissue and orthopaedic surgery in dogs.

Mark Riggs MRCVS, Veterinary Technical Advisor for Merial said: "Previcox (firocoxib) is now licensed for the relief of post operative pain. Oral PREVICOX can be administered starting 2 hours prior to surgery and has a rapid onset of action reaching peak plasma levels within 90 minutes. The palatable tablet can be given without food and is a realistic option which should be seriously considered when choosing pain relief for surgical patients.

"Containing the active ingredient firocoxib, Previcox is also highly COX-2 selective, being 380 times more selective for COX-2 than COX-1. As a result, it offers a highly desirable efficacy and safety profile which is particularly beneficial in cases which have gone through the additional stress of surgery.

"The recently published study by John P. Punke et al strengthens the evidence reinforcing the benefits offered by firocoxib. The research evaluated the in-vivo effects of firocoxib, meloxicam and tepoxalin in target tissues of dogs suffering with chronic osteoarthritis.

"Eight dogs were used in the cross-over study and each dog received each of the treatments (and a placebo) for seven days, with an appropriate wash out period in between. Firocoxib significantly reduced inflammatory mediators within blood and synovial fluid at all time points, whereas meloxicam only showed a significant reduction compared to baseline values at day four.  

"With evidence demonstrating the speed of the anti-inflammatory effect of firocoxib, it may be time for vets to reconsider their post operative pain management. Previcox can be administered orally prior to surgery and can be given once daily for up to three days post operatively. For orthopaedic surgery this treatment schedule can be extended after the first 3 days upon judgement of the attending vet."

For further information please contact your local territory manager or call the Merial Customer Support Centre on 0845 601 4236.

Ceva Animal Health has launched Cardio Academy. The company says it's the first international cardiology e-learning programme offering CPD from leading international specialists.

The programme can be accessed at www.cardioacademy.cevalearn.com. It consists of a series of impressively well-produced interactive multimedia presentations lasting around 30 minutes, at the end of which you can download a CPD certificate.

The first two sessions, which are now available online, cover the Pathophysiology of Mitral Valve Disease, by Adrian Boswood, and Clinical Examination of the Cardiac Dog, by Gérard Le Bobinnec.

Product manager, Fraser Broadfoot MRCVS, said: "There have been many advances in the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure in recent years.  The aim of this website is to become a practical and up-to-date resource on the management of heart failure in practice."

VetSurgeon.org has relaunched its community as THE most effective way for veterinary surgeons to get answers to their questions.

It’s very simple.

If you’re a member of VetSurgeon.org, visit the site as soon as possible, and login.

You will then see a red box inviting you to subscribe to a NEW daily or weekly email digest of new questions posted by fellow vets. The box is on the main site home page, and on the community home page.

Subscribe. Today. Now. No time like the present.

Then, whenever you have a question, post it on the site and it will be added to the digest and sent to all subscribed members of the community.

When you get your VetSurgeon Digest, you’ll be presented with a list of the latest questions to skim, both clinical and non-clinical.

Some may catch your eye because you can help, others because you too are interested to know the answer.

Either way, time spent helping others with their questions, or reading answers, counts towards your annual CPD requirement for which you can generate a certificate on the site.

Furthermore, all questions and answers are databased as a searchable knowledge resource for everyone, so whether you’re asking or answering, you’re giving something back to your profession.

So, subscribe now! Did I say that already?

BENEFITS FOR VETERINARY SURGEONS

• Posting your question to be shared on the Daily Digest will be the quickest way to get your question out to the largest number of colleagues.
• The VetSurgeon Community now exists solely to help vets help one another.
• The new question format helpfully focuses the mind, both of the questioner and the answerer.
• All questions and answers add to a searchable bank of opinion and knowledge.
• Everyone who answers questions is strongly encouraged to share their level of qualification / experience, so as to put their answer in context
• Answers from referral practitioners, academia and industry are highlighted (when marked as the answer)

In short, this offers all the benefits of social media for knowledge-sharing, but with none of the baggage that so often comes with it.

The BVA has published a new policy statement outlining its 'hub and spoke' vision for the future of patient care, whereby veterinary surgeons are at hub of treatment, directing patients to and coordinating treatment by allied professionals.

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."

Fort Dodge has released figures today which point to a continued modest slowdown in the UK veterinary sector, being mitigated by a slight increase in average transaction value (the amount a client spends in a year).

Matthew Rowe, Companion Animal Marketing Manager at Fort Dodge, said:  "It's been clear for some time that the veterinary sector is being hit by static growth and an increasingly competitive environment.  The reduction in turnover being experienced by many practices is primarily down to current clients visiting less often and fewer new clients being attracted."

Key findings of the Fort Dodge Index for the first quarter of 2009 are:

• Turnover growth (derived from professional fees and drug sales) has decreased to 0.7% from 1.1% in March 2008 which, according to FDI analyst Alan Robinson, looks less optimistic for practices looking to achieve a 6-7% annual growth rate to maintain growth above inflation.
• Turnover per vet is up 1% partly due a slight reduction in overall vet numbers. The data shows that professional fees and vet generated turnover is up by 0.8% and 2.5% respectively, reflecting increased surgical consultations but slightly reduced surgical procedures. Nurse turnover is up by 1.7%.
• Transaction volume growth (derived from active client and patient numbers and their frequency of visits to the practice) has decreased to -0.7% from -0.3% last year. The reduction in client numbers is due mainly to reduced numbers of new clients (-3%) compared with -1.1% this time last year. On a more positive note, client retention at +2.5% helps to counteract this. It compares with a figure of 0.9% last year.
• Total client growth reduced by -0.5% this quarter and, when it comes to numbers of clients being lost by practices, Alan Robinson says it's clear that 'bonded' clients (those with vaccinated animals) are more easily retained with only -0.2% being lost. For non-bonded clients, the loss rate is higher at -0.7%.
• The contribution of nurse consultations to practice turnover has increased slightly. They now make up 6.7% of practice turnover, up 1.1% on March 2008
• Average transaction value has shown a 10.7% increase from £35.97 in March 2008 to £39.83 per visit in this quarter. Transaction value is generated by the prices charged for products and services and the number of products and services sold per transaction.

Alan Robinson said:  "In the current climate, the only contributor to turnover growth in many practices seems to be a steady rise in the price of professional fees, consultations and surgery.  These have continued to push up average transaction values (by 1.4%) and client values (1.2%) in this first quarter of 2009 despite reducing visit frequency.  Drug related income increases seem to be driven by a small increase of POM mark-ups in many practices.

"But this alone will not sustain a successful business and, with transaction volumes still falling, the priority for practices is to maintain client footfall despite increasing competition and falling pet ownership.  In today's market, retaining clients is a cheaper and more effective way to maintain client and patient numbers so an emphasis on 'bonding' clients though preventative health care and heath maintenance programmes is key.

"We're seeing a steady increase in the number of practices running these programmes but the percentage of pets involved is still woefully low so the message is that practices can and must do better.

Ceva Animal Health has launched Dermipred (prednisolone) for the management of pruritus and skin inflammation in cases of canine atopic dermatitis (CAD).

Dermipred is available in two pack sizes – 10mg and 20mg - to treat a range of dog sizes. Both presentations feature a four-way break tablet to enable accurate and flexible dosing, and the product is flavoured to aid compliance. The product is blister-packed for easy dispensing.

Ceva has produced an accompanying electronic brochure on CAD management options. It includes: understanding and decoding CAD, diagnosis and management of the condition.

Allison Henry, Dermipred product manager at Ceva said: "CAD affects approximately a million dogs in the UK, with 70% of all owners believing that the condition has had an impact on their dogs’ quality of life¹.

"The addition of Dermipred to Ceva’s extensive dermatology range will provide veterinary professionals with even more treatment options for the management of pruritus and skin inflammation in CAD cases."

To support the launch of Dermipred, Ceva will be running an offer on its dermatology range of products: every client purchasing a box of each Dermipred presentation and a bottle of Modulis will receive one box of Dermipred 10mg, one bottle of the same Modulis size and one bottle of Douxo Calm shampoo and mousse free.

For further information, contact your local Ceva account manager or email cevauk@ceva.com.

Reference

1. Linek M, Favrot C. Impact of CAD on the Health-Related Quality of Life of A ected Dogs and the Quality of Life of Their Owners. Vet Derm 2010 Oct;21(5):456-62. 

A new equine parasite supplement to the online peer-reviewed publication Parasites and Vectors has been published by Fort Dodge.

Entitled "Equine parasites: diagnosis and control - a current perspective," it contains papers on a range of topics including a major European resistance study into key anthelmintic molecules.  It is authored by equine parasitology experts and opinion leaders from around the world and was first published in September 2009.  It is freely available at http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/

The NOAH Code of Practice Committee, chaired by Mr Guy Tritton, has found Dechra Veterinary Products in breach of three items of the NOAH Code, following a complaint.

The complaint related to an advertisement and detailer promoting Felimazole with the wording "Are you taking a heavy-handed approach to hyperthyroidism?" and "with Felimazole, you don't have to!"

The Committee took the view that by implication this referred to Vidalta because Vidalta is the only other licensed oral treatment on the market for hyperthyroidism.

As a result, the Committee found both promotions in breach of Clause 4.3 because of the implication that Vidalta is less safe than Felimazole.

The Committee did not consider the promotions disparaged the manufacturer as there is no evidence to show it is unsafe.

The Committee also found that the table in the detailer (page 4) suggesting that one dosage of 5 mg per day of Felimazole has the same efficacy as two doses of 2.5 mg, (which is contrary to the dosing statement within the SPC: "If, for reasons of compliance, once daily dosing with a 5 mg tablet is preferable, then this is acceptable although reduced efficacy can be expected compared to a twice daily regime.") was misleading, contrary to Clause 4.3 of the Code.

Full details of the Committee's rulings are on the NOAH website at www.noah.co.uk/code.  The full report of this particular case will be available shortly.

A new study¹ published in Scientific Research has concluded that Vetoquinol's Phovia fluorescent light energy (FLE) therapy system can improve the quality of life for dogs with skin conditions, and their owners.

Phovia, which was launched in the UK last year, is a two-part FLE system consisting of a chromophore gel that is applied to the affected skin and a blue light LED lamp.

Vetoquinol says that when used together they produce light of varying wavelengths that penetrates the skin to different depths, helping to control bacteria and reduce inflammation on the surface of the skin and stimulating regeneration in the epidermal and dermal layers.

The unit is portable, and applications take four minutes once a week.

The authors of the Vetoquinol-funded study say that FLE has already been shown to support and accelerate natural skin healing, but this latest research shows that the benefits go beyond improvement in clinical signs.

The study looked at 35 dogs with a diverse range of skin conditions: 13 had interdigital furunculosis, 10 had deep pyoderma, 6 had wounds, 4 had pyotraumatic dermatitis, and 2 had perianal fistula on presentation.

Eight of 35 dogs were new cases, whereas the remaining 27 were undergoing recrudescence of a prior episode, including pyotraumatic dermatitis, wounds, deep pyoderma, interdigital furunculosis and perianal fistulae.

Thirty dogs (86%) achieved a clinical resolution: 18 with the Fluorescent Light Energy alone and 12 with the concomitant use of FLE and topical antiseptic shampoo.

Five dogs (14%) had a partial response and needed other therapies.

92% percent of owners attested to their pet’s enhanced quality of life, with 74% of dogs displaying at least a 50% improvement in owner-reported behaviour, mood, sleep and playing activities. 

The study also reported a 46% reduction in caregiver burden.

Felicity Caddick, Technical Services Manager at Vetoquinol said: “Managing skin conditions often requires the long-term use of shampoos or topical therapies.

"Many owners find this aspect of pet ownership challenging, especially with larger dogs, or less cooperative animals.

"FLE can reduce or in some cases eliminate the need for topical therapies at home, not only simplifying the treatment process but also enhancing convenience and compliance.

"Sharing responsibility for administering ongoing treatment with their vet practice also removes some of the worry associated with their pet’s health.”

Vetoquinol also highlights that Phovia can offer vets a drug-free management option for skin disorders that aligns with the principles of antibiotic stewardship. 

Reference

1. Mosca, M. , Briand, A. , Carrasco, I. , Luciani, L. and Fantini, O. (2023) Impact of Fluorescent Light Energy on the Quality of Life of Dogs with Dermatologic Disease and Their Owners. Open Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 13, 122-135. doi: 10.4236/ojvm.2023.137011.