This is the first ISVPS-awarded certificate programme that has been directly accredited by the College without the prior requirement for a university Postgraduate Certificate (PgC), creating a new, streamlined route to Advanced Practitioner status.
The newly approved ISVPS GPCert combines 10 hands-on practical surgery days with structured online learning, human factors training, and additional active learning activities such as error management training.
Aidan McAlinden, Academic and Content Director at Improve International, said: "Over the last 12 months we have invested significant time and resources to develop an innovative, contemporary, and relevant Soft Tissue Surgery programme that meets the needs of the profession today."
www.improveinternational.com
Since 1 April 2026, the RCVS has required all practices to implement a practice-specific suicide prevention plan.
The requirement includes assessing potential risks within the practice setting and putting in place measures to address and mitigate each identified risk.
The new resources include a suicide prevention guide for all practice staff, a suicide prevention plan checklist, and a practical step by step suicide prevention toolkit for veterinary workplaces.
Further resources, including a recorded webinar, will also be published in due course.
A "Suicide awareness fundamentals" course is also available via the RCVS Academy.
The course supplements the resources by looking at the contributing factors behind suicide in the profession, how to talk about it, reduce stigma, and support those in crisis.
Rapinder Newton, Mind Matters Initiative Lead, said: "These resources are comprehensive and will help veterinary practices not only create plans, but also implement and communicate them with staff, and regularly review them to ensure they're fit for purpose as well as adapt them if needed."
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/veterinary-professionals/mind-matters/resources-and-cpd/suicide-prevention-in-the-veterinary-workplace
Fifteen candidates stood in the 2026 election and 6,289 veterinary surgeons (15.8% of those eligible) cast a vote.
Voter turnout compares with 19% in 2025, 19.7% in 2024, 16.7% in 2023 and 18.6% in 2022.
The winning candidates were: Ian Battersby FRCVS with 2,205 votes, Neil Smith FRCVS with 1,620 votes and Lara Wilson MRCVS with 1,598 votes.
Their four-year terms will start at the RCVS Annual General Meeting on Friday, 3 July.
Clare Paget, RCVS Registrar and Returning Officer for the election, said: "Thank you to all of this year's candidates for taking the time and effort to put themselves forward for the election, and to all those who voted as well."
"We look forward to welcoming our three new Council members later this year."
www.rcvs.org.uk/vetvote26
The charge was that between June and October 2022, the vet imported or arranged for the importation of approximately 1950 to 2010 tablets of a medicine which purported to be norethisterone when there had been no Special Importation Certificate (SIC) issued by the VMD.
The vet was also charged with supplying or arranging the supply of the medicine to a number of greyhound trainers, with a view to the medicine being administered to greyhounds.
Finally, the vet was also charged that he knew there was no SIC, that the medicine contained substances other than norethisterone, that he had made no assessment of whether any or all of the other substances were appropriate for administration to the greyhounds, and that the Greyhound Board of Great Britain did not permit greyhounds to race with the other substances found in the medicine in their system.
The vet admitted all the charges against him at the start of the hearing.
The Committee said aggravating factors included risk of injury to an animal or human, recklessness, and break of client trust.
It also noted that despite his practice being rated 4 out of 5 in a 2025 Veterinary Practice Premises Inspection Report in relation to the VMD’s most recent inspection of his practice, the report raised four matters relating to the issuing and labelling of medication.
In mitigation, the Committee accepted that the vet had imported the norethisterone from India with good intentions, in that he believed he was assisting the greyhounds to keep them racing.
It also noted that while this was not an isolated incident, he only ordered the norethisterone twice and supplied it over a five-month period in 2022.
He had also practised without incident since importing and supplying the norethisterone.
The Committee decided that the conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct, and that he had breached sections 1.5, 6.4 and 6.5 of the Code of Practice for Veterinary Surgeons in 2022.
Deciding the sanction, the Committee also noted that the vet had a previous disciplinary finding against him relating to findings of dishonesty regarding his communications with the Animal and Plant Health Agency in the taking of blood samples for horses due to be exported to Serbia, which resulted in a six-month suspension from the Register.
Neil Slater, chairing the committee, said a six-month suspension would allow the vet time to “develop insight and understanding of the importance of regulatory compliance” and reflect on his practice, while also signalling to the profession and the public that such compliance is essential.
He said the committee had considered whether removal from the register was warranted, particularly given a previous similar disciplinary finding, but concluded that this could be “career ending”. A longer suspension was also ruled out on the same basis.
However, the committee expressed significant concern that the case, alongside the earlier finding, demonstrated a “persistent disregard for regulatory legislation”. It said the sanction imposed was necessary to protect animal welfare and maintain confidence in the profession.
The vet will be suspended for six months following the expiry of the appeal period.
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/veterinary-professionals/conduct-and-guidance/concerns-for-veterinary-professionals/disciplinary-committee-hearings
The nurse was suspended from the Register for three months after admitting dishonesty over a dog's bile acid stimulation test, falsely saying she had taken a second blood sample when she had not.
She also admitted removing blood from the first sample and presenting and/or labelling it as if it were a second sample, falsely telling colleagues that the second sample had been taken, and falsely saying a veterinary nurse colleague had assisted her.
She also admitted a second charge that she had been dishonest and misleading.
The Committee said the conduct breached the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses on honesty, integrity, trust and accountability.
It found aggravating factors including a risk of harm to the dog, breaches of employer and colleague trust, false implication of a colleague in the dishonesty, and repeated misconduct.
In mitigation, it said there had been no actual harm to the dog.
Paul Morris, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "All the charges found proved involved not only misleading statements or behaviour but also dishonesty.
"On three occasions the respondent lied to her colleague about having taken a second blood sample.... BAST is an important test of liver function.
"Such behaviour struck at the heart of the profession of an RVN where honesty is crucial in the undertaking of professional work and is a fundamental tenet of the profession.
"The respondent breached the trust of her colleague as well as her employer's trust, and had the potential to interfere in the care which was being given to the dog... thereby creating a clinical risk, because the correct procedure was not being carried out, and the veterinary surgeon did not know about this.
"The Respondent did not act in the dog's interests."
In deciding sanction, the Committee considered a medical report on the nurse's ill-health at the time, along with mitigating factors including no financial gain, limited opportunity for reflection, insight and remorse, positive testimonials, admissions, a previously unblemished career, and the fact the dishonesty was confined to a single day.
It also said the dishonesty was not premeditated, but arose after she had mistakenly fed the dog when she should not have, meaning the second blood sample should not then have been taken.
Paul added: "The respondent has insight into her conduct and as set out above, there is no real risk of repetition.
"There are no concerns about the respondent's competence or clinical practice in general, and there is no evidence that she would be unfit to return to practice after a period of suspension.
"This process has been a salutary lesson.
"The Committee, therefore, concluded that a period of suspension of three months would be proportionate in this case."
Although the regulator says the changes should impose only limited administrative costs, VetSurgeon.org estimates that implementation may still run to several thousand pounds for some practices.
Under the reforms, practices will need to:
In total, the CMA package introduces more than a dozen new operational requirements for veterinary practices.
Practices will also have to pay a new levy to the RCVS to fund its expanded role running the price comparison service, estimated at £450-£550 annually, after a £150-£250 setup charge.
Once the Order is made — currently expected in September 2026 — most of the transparency measures will need to be implemented within three months by larger veterinary groups and six months by smaller practices.
More operational changes, such as written estimates, itemised billing and the new prescription rules, follow later, with smaller practices typically given up to 12 months to comply.
The final stage will see practices submitting data to the RCVS for its upgraded Find a Vet comparison platform once the system has been built.
Prescription fees will be capped at £21 for the first medicine prescribed in a consultation and £12.50 for each additional medicine, with both figures rising annually in line with CPI, and practices will need to assess the impact on their business model.
The CPD events, which are part of the College's Next Steps project, are aimed specifically at returning parents, those coming back from a career break, and individuals moving into management.
They offer a blend of practical guidance, peer support, professional networking, and careers expertise.
Tash Goodwin Roberts, RCVS Projects Implementation Manager, said: "Navigating change can be exciting, but it doesn’t come without challenges.
"Our Next Steps project is designed to make those transitions as smooth as possible, to make sure you feel confident in reconnecting with your professional identity."
The events will take place on 12 May, 21 May, and 18 June at the RCVS' offices in London.
Tickets cost £50 for those booking at least six weeks in advance.
https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/rcvs-next-steps-4825743
David has been an elected member of RCVS Council since July 2024 and is currently Professor of Bovine Medicine, Production and Reproduction at Bristol Veterinary School, as well as an RCVS-recognised Specialist in Cattle Health and Production and a European Veterinary Specialist in Bovine Health Management.
He said: “The veterinary professions stand at a defining moment.
"The Competition and Markets Authority investigation and hoped for legislative reform will shape the future of veterinary regulation, practice, and professional standards.
"At such a time, the professions and the public need the RCVS to provide steady, confident, and principled regulation and direction, guided by experience, sound judgement, and professional credibility.
"It is a great honour to be elected to this position by my fellow RCVS Council members, and I look forward to working with them, VN Council members and RCVS staff.
"As Junior Vice-President I will bring experience, judgement, and a collaborative, person-centred approach to Council, supporting thriving professionals, promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion, maintaining the highest standards, and ensuring the College regulates transparently and responsibly delivering leadership the professions and public can trust now and into the future.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/about-us/councils-and-committees/rcvs-council
Voting emails were sent by Civica Election Services (CES) yesterday.
Each email contains a secure link and unique codes for voting.
You have until 5pm on Friday 24 April 2026 to cast your votes for up to three of the 15 candidates, who are:
Sharon Alston MRCVSIan Battersby FRCVSLaura Davies MRCVSIoana Dobre MRCVSHannah Eastwood MRCVSViliam Hoferica MRCVSBenjamin Kennedy MRCVSTom Lonsdale MRCVSRachael McKinney MRCVSAlison Price MRCVSPeter Robinson MRCVSNeil Smith FRCVSDavid Tweedle MRCVSSamantha Webster MRCVSLara Wilson MRCVS
Candidates were also given the opportunity to answer a question of their choice submitted by members of the profession. Answers to these questions can be found on individual candidate profiles.
The three candidates with the most votes will start four-year terms on the RCVS Council at the Annual General Meeting on Friday 3 July 2026.
Miss Cook was charged that, while in practice at the BHA:
From the outset of the hearing Miss Cook admitted all parts of charges 1, 2 and 3, and that her conduct had been misleading.
Having heard Miss Cook’s position, the Committee noted the allegation of dishonesty as being denied and proceeded with the hearing on that basis.
The Committee decided it was sure that Miss Cook had created both documents in the knowledge that they represented themselves as having been prepared by her GP, when she knew that was not the case.
The Committee was satisfied that this conduct would be regarded as dishonest and therefore found charge the charge of dishonesty proved.
On deciding whether Miss Cook’s conduct amounted to serious professional misconduct, the Committee found that her conduct fell far below the standards expected of a veterinary surgeon and breached the fundamental principles of honesty, integrity and professional accountability.
It therefore found the proved charges amounted to serious professional misconduct.
Aggravating factors included:
In mitigation, the Committee considered:
Paul Morris, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “Miss Cook had placed her own interests, in seeking to avoid or influence the employment disciplinary process, above the principles of honesty, integrity and professional accountability.
"The Committee concluded that, in all the circumstances, her misconduct in a professional respect was so serious that it was fundamentally incompatible with continued registration.
“The Committee decided that no lesser sanction than removal was sufficient to maintain public confidence in the profession as a whole, or to uphold proper professional standards, and therefore directed that Miss Cook’s name be removed from the Register.”
The standard annual fee has increased to £431 from last year’s £418, which is due for payment on or before Wednesday 1 April 2026.
RCVS Treasurer Tshidi Gardiner MRCVS, said: “This is a small increase in our fees largely in line with current inflation levels.
"The unique set-up of the RCVS means it remains good value for money compared to other professions where separate fees would have to be paid to a regulator and royal college.
“The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development.”
The Privy Council also approved a further 3% increase in the annual renewal fee for 2027/28.
www.rcvs.org.uk/fees
It replaces the College’s previous website, which dated back to 2011.
The main change is consolidation of content, with resources previously spread across separate webpages now brought into a single structure.
As part of that, the College says the number of pages has been reduced from more than 1,500 to 600, with content reviewed and rewritten in plain English.
The site has also been redesigned to align with the new RCVS brand and visual identity.
RCVS Council member Linda Ford, who chaired the Website Project Board, said: “This project has been a major undertaking for the College team over the past 18 months… and the 500 or so veterinary professionals and animal owners who have helped us with testing along the way, to ensure the new site works for them.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/
Mr Makepeace was removed from the Register in 2024 after being convicted of assaulting his ex-partner in 2022.
He then submitted a character reference to the RCVS which purported to come from his partner, stating they were “still happily together”, and forged her signature.
It also found he sent offensive, insulting, abusive and threatening WhatsApp messages to his ex-partner between December 2022 and January 2023.
The committee said removal was the only proportionate sanction, citing the public interest, deterrence, and maintaining confidence in the profession and regulatory process.
During the restoration hearing, the committee was also told that since removal Mr Makepeace had continued to hold himself out as a vet, including emailing a practice seeking work experience with the opening line: “I’m a vet”.
The committee found the email used deliberate and careful wording and was a calculated attempt to mislead, omitting his removal from the Register and creating a distorted impression of no disciplinary concerns.
It concluded the email and lack of transparency with potential employers were further examples of dishonesty alongside the earlier forgery, and found the conduct misleading and dishonest.
The committee accepted Mr Makepeace understood he had assaulted his ex-partner, but was not convinced he understood the impact of previous manipulative and coercive behaviour.
It found nothing to suggest he would be of harm to animals, but concluded he was more likely to put his own interests first, including through recent communications stating he was a vet.
Kathryn Peaty, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “While the Committee recognises Mr Makepeace’s desire to advance his career and that his prospects would be enhanced by restoration of his name to the Register, that is not a factor relevant to his application.
"The Committee’s obligations and duties are to ensure that the interests of animal welfare are properly protected by ensuring that those whose names are on the Register are properly trained, knowledgeable and experienced in the treatment of animals and that public confidence in the standards of the profession is maintained.
“The Committee cannot restore someone to the Register who is not fit by virtue of their repeated dishonest and unacceptable conduct, without insight into the impact of the lack of probity by a vet."
The College response welcomes Defra’s incorporation of many of the College’s longstanding recommendations for legislative change in its proposed reform of the VSA.
This includes giving the RCVS statutory powers to regulate veterinary businesses and protection of title for veterinary nurses, alongside reforms that could allow VNs to take on more roles and responsibilities.
It also supports enabling statutory regulation of the wider veterinary team, including allied professionals such as equine dental technicians and behaviourists, and a modernised registration and licensing system.
The response also backs an updated, forward-looking, fitness to practise regime with a greater range of sanctions available and interim powers of suspension.
In terms of the future governance structure for the RCVS, its response strongly favours Option 1 in Defra’s proposals - the ‘Royal College that regulates’ model – rather than Option 2, which would see the RCVS shorn of its broader public interest and professional leadership objectives and left with a purely regulatory remit.
RCVS President Professor Tim Parkin said: “It is our strong belief that the ‘Royal College that regulates’ model retains the best of both worlds, because it takes a proactive and holistic approach to regulation and fitness to practise.
“For example, professional leadership projects such as the Mind Matters Initiative and our reasonable adjustments campaign have opened up conversations around mental and physical health, and how we can better support our registrants to continue to meet professional standards in the public interest, while the RCVS Academy helps our registrants understand and navigate their professional responsibilities via innovative learning content.
“Furthermore, given the importance of supportive, preventative approaches to modern professional regulation, there can be no clear or fixed dividing line between the College’s regulatory and Royal College functions.
"Not only would Option 2 not create clarity, it would also risk undermining and leaving in limbo, without funding, much of the good work we have done with projects in mental health, workforce, environment and sustainability, and through our Fellowship.
“If you want a balanced and holistic approach to regulation for the benefit of animal health and welfare, public health and wider society, then please make sure you support Option 1 when you complete the consultation.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/veterinary-professionals/consultations/vsa-reform-time-for-change
Dr Herlea MRCVS was convicted on 15 January 2025 at the Cluj Court of Appeal.
He was sentenced to 15 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and made subject to probation/supervision during the period of the suspended sentence.
The Committee heard he was stopped shortly after midnight on 5 February 2023 during a routine police stop and tested over the alcohol limit.
His licence had previously been suspended for three months following a speeding offence in December 2022, ending on 27 February 2023.
The Committee took account of his statement that he had been drinking at home when his father became unwell and he drove to a nearby pharmacy because his father did not have his medication.
The Committee found the conviction was incompatible with paragraph 6.5 of the profession’s governing code and found him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon.
Aggravating factors included disregarding the prohibition on driving, the extent his blood alcohol exceeded the limit, and the risk of injury to others.
Mitigation included early admissions and notification to the RCVS, a favourable probation report, remorse and insight, and positive colleague references, with no actual harm and an otherwise unblemished record.
Hilary Lloyd, chairing the Committee, said: “The misconduct of Dr Herlea is serious but, considering the mitigating factors present in this case, the Committee concluded that a period of suspension was neither necessary nor proportionate.
"The consequence of a period of suspension is that the Registrar removes the veterinary surgeon’s name from the Register during the period ordered. It is then automatically restored to the Register at the conclusion of the period of suspension.
"Dr Herlea would be obliged to inform the Home Office that he was no longer able to comply with the terms of his work permit, as would his sponsor practice.
"It is not therefore unreasonable to assume that under current Home Office guidance, even a short period of suspension would result in Dr Herlea being unable to practise in the UK, with permanent effect, which would be disproportionate.
“The Committee concluded that a reprimand and warning as to Dr Herlea’s future conduct was the appropriate sanction.”
Questions will be collated and shared with candidates, who will each be able to answer one question of their choice.
This year's election is for three available elected places on RCVS Council.
The candidates are:
Th candidates’ biographies and statements are all available on the College website.
Questions must be emailed to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk by Wednesday 25th February 2026.
The workshops have been co-authored with a workplace wellbeing company called Ultimate Resilience, and will be delivered by two of the company's clinical psychologists: Dr Felicity Baker and Dr Jackie Allt.
The sessions will focus on leadership skills, recognising early signs of stress and burnout, and practising conversations to support colleagues.
The workshops will run for designated groups across the profession during March, April, May and June.
Places are limited to 16 per workshop and cost £150 per person and online places cost £120.
The RCVS is also running a free ‘Work, mental health and mood’ webinar on Monday 30 March, 6.30pm to 7.45pm.
The webinar will cover recognising mood and affective disorders at work, supporting colleagues, reducing stigma, and signposting to help.
Speakers are clinical psychologist Dr Marco Vivolo, veterinary mental health researcher James Glass MRCVS, and wellbeing instructor Emma Sadler RVN.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/managing-mental-health-in-the-workplace-for-everyday-veterinary-leaders-tickets-1981567626112
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/events/mmi-work-mental-health-and-mood-webinar
The change marks an expansion of practice standards beyond physical workplace safety into psychological and suicide-risk governance.
The new requirement will oblige practices to assess suicide risk within their workplace and introduce measures to mitigate identified risks.
The requirement recognises that different practices will need different approaches, depending on factors such as access to lethal medicines, access to firearms, and the likelihood of lone working.
The move forms part of the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative’s preventative strategy and follows the College’s response to two coroner-issued Prevention of Future Death reports involving the use of veterinary medicines.
The requirement will apply to all accredited practice types and, through the Code of Professional Conduct, to practices outside the Practice Standards Scheme, which must maintain standards equivalent to the Core Standards.
The College points to three resources to help practices meet the new requirements: the RCVS Academy’s Suicide Awareness Fundamentals course, workplace suicide prevention guidance from the British Standards Institution, and safety planning resources from Samaritans.
Zara Kennedy MRCVS, chair of the RCVS Mind Matters mental health initiative, said: “Many veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and other colleagues in the veterinary team have been deeply affected by the suicide of their friends, colleagues and peers in the professions.
“While it may not be possible to prevent every death by suicide, we hope that by taking proactive measures such as the requirement for practices to have suicide prevention plans, we can prevent some.
"In doing so we can help those people who may be thinking about taking their own lives to get the treatment and help they need.”
https://academy.rcvs.org.uk
https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/insights-and-media/insights/brochures/bs-30480-suicide-and-the-workplace
https://www.samaritans.org
Mr Ghinescu faced three charges:
Mr Ghinescu admitted the facts of charges 1 and 2 but denied that this rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon, although Dr Ghinescu has had the status of a non-practising Member of the RCVS since May 2021.
Regarding Charge 3, Mr Ghinescu said that the failure to declare the conviction had been a genuine misunderstanding about whether he needed to declare a driving conviction as part of his annual renewal.
The Committee found that while his position was ‘plainly unreasonable of him and wrong’, it could not be sure beyond all reasonable doubt that his mistaken beliefs were genuine or not – therefore it found it not proven that he had been dishonest.
Nevertheless, it found that Mr Ghinescu had been misleading by failing to declare his convictions, even if unintentionally.
Having found Charges 1, 2 and part of Charge 3 proven, the Committee considered Mr Ghinescu’s fitness to practise, taking into account the part of the Code of Professional Conduct that says veterinary surgeons ‘must not engage in any activity or behaviour that would be likely to bring the profession into disrepute or undermine public confidence in the profession.’
It found that the convictions outlined in Charges 1 and 2 rendered him unfit to practise as a veterinary surgeon and that whilst Charge 3 demonstrated carelessness, it did not amount to serious professional misconduct.
Mitigating factors included having had no previous disciplinary history with the RCVS, admissions at both court and to the College and developing insight into his behaviour, with an acceptance he had acted shamefully and had no mitigation for his behaviour.
Hilary Lloyd, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee was of the view that the nature and seriousness of Mr Ghinescu’s behaviour, which led to the convictions, particularly the assault on his wife, was fundamentally incompatible with being registered as a veterinary surgeon.
"They are clearly serious offences as reflected in the prison sentence Mr Ghinescu was required to serve.
“There were two separate assaults on [his wife], one in the car and then a prolonged attack in the house, involving repeated punches to the face and kicks to the body, followed by threats to kill.
"The Committee considered this to be disgraceful conduct of the most grievous and reprehensible kind.
“The conduct represented a serious departure from professional standards; it was inexplicable, abhorrent behaviour, resulting in injuries to his wife.
"In light of these conclusions, the Committee decided that the only appropriate and proportionate sanction in this case was removal from the Register.”
Mr Ghinescu has 28 days from being informed of his removal from the Register to appeal the Committee’s decision.
www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary
The Statutory Membership Examination needs to be taken by overseas vets who hold veterinary degrees that are not recognised by the RCVS.
The exam is made up of two components: a written theory exam, and a clinical, practical exam.
Candidates must also have demonstrated their English language competence and professional good standing before being entered into the exam.
53 of those who passed the exam attended a ceremony earlier this month, hosted by Clare Paget, RCVS Registrar and Director of Legal Services, and RCVS President Professor Tim Parkin, at Central Hall, Westminster.
Tim said: “Presiding at the Statutory Membership Exam Ceremony is one of the best jobs we get to do as Officers of the College, and I feel very fortunate to be able to share this special day with you and your friends and family at this magnificent venue.
He added: “You should all be very proud of your achievements here today, especially as I know some of you came to the UK under difficult circumstances.
“The UK veterinary profession is very lucky indeed to have you joining it and I know that you will make a massive difference – you’ve already demonstrated amazing energy and drive, and you will also no doubt bring fresh and different perspectives with you - that, as I said, will only serve to enrich all of our lives.”
Among those who attended the day was Zahra Mohammedi MRCVS, who came to the UK after fleeing Afghanistan four years ago.
She said: “It wasn’t easy. When I first arrived in the UK, I still had the trauma from everything that had happened in my country.
"I struggled a lot because I’d never left my family before and when I arrived in the UK, I was alone.
“I’ve had a lot of support from many people to get me to where I am today, and I feel like one of the luckiest people to have all these wonderful people around me.
"There are millions of girls in Afghanistan who don’t have this opportunity. I never gave up because I didn’t want the Taliban to win. Now I feel like I’ve won and they’ve lost.
"I’ve proven that Afghan women are worthy to study and work and can do whatever they want.”
Sohail Idrees MRCVS from Pakistan said: “Completing the Exam was always a dream. When I was in Pakistan working as a veterinary surgeon I used to go on the RCVS website and say one day I’ll get there.
"I’ve always wanted to work in the UK as a veterinary surgeon, and I would like to thank Sonia Green and Chorley Vets for all their support throughout the exam process.
“I’ve already secured a job – working as a veterinary surgeon in Birmingham, but I plan to go for my advanced veterinary practitioner qualification, in soft tissue surgery and orthopaedics.”
Chibuzor Onyekwelu MRCVS, from Nigeria, said: “I dreamt of becoming a vet from the age of seven. When I qualified in 2016, I practised in Nigeria for five years but then I decided I wanted to work at a global level – I love a challenge and wanted to do something new.
“Having passed the exam I’ll now be able to work in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland so that one certificate will allow me to practise in four other countries.”
The EMS database began development in 2022.
It was launched for placement providers a year ago and for students in March this year.
The College says it was implemented following a lengthy consultation amongst veterinary students, EMS placement providers and the veterinary schools, which resulted in broad commitment to the project.
Feedback from graduates had indicated that EMS was a hugely valuable part of their undergraduate studies, but that access to placements could be difficult.
The aims of the database were to streamline the EMS placement booking process for providers, to support vet schools in their implementation of EMS and to help students find placements relevant to their learning needs and personal circumstances.
According to the RCVS, initial reaction to the database from providers and students was positive.
Hundreds of providers joined the system, reporting that they appreciated having a central system which allowed students from all schools to be able to book placements.
Students accessing the system said the database was easy to use and contained features that improved EMS accessibility.
However, the College says that despite all this, the majority of schools were, in part due to a range of IT and legal complexities, no longer able to commit to the project now or within the time needed to make it viable.
Tim Hutchinson, Vice-Chair of the Education Committee, said: “This decision has not been taken lightly, as the Education Committee recognised both the substantial work from EMS providers in creating and maintaining their placement profiles, and the support shown from students using the database.
“RCVS staff and stakeholders have put a tremendous amount of effort into getting this system off the ground, however it could only have worked with all parties continuing to engage and, despite best efforts, this unfortunately has proved not to be.
“On behalf of the Education Committee, I would like to thank those stakeholders who signed up to the database for their engagement, and I share their frustration that this project did not succeed.”
The RCVS says it will provide support for those veterinary schools that were signed up and using the database whilst the system is wound down.
Any bookings already in the system will be relayed to veterinary school internal systems.
It is expected that the software will be retired by February 2026.
In November 2024, the RCVS Education Committee agreed to grant the veterinary degree conditional accreditation after an accreditation visitation earlier that year found deficiencies with the degree meant it only met 27 of the 77 RCVS accreditation standards.
55 recommendations for improvement were made by the visitation panel.
A subsequent visit in September 2025 found that while there were still a significant number of standards to be met, many of the recommendations for improvement had either been achieved, or significant progress had been made towards them being met.
The Education Committee therefore decided to grant the programme conditional accreditation for one year, with an action plan and timetable being put into place to guide how and when the 20 outstanding recommendations would be met.
The next accreditation visit to Cambridge will take place in October 2026.
It was agreed that this timeframe and accreditation status would ensure that progress towards meeting accreditation standards continued at pace, allowing the Department to demonstrate its commitment to student wellbeing and support for learning across the entirety of the veterinary programme.
An RCVS spokesperson said: “We appreciate the considerable efforts and hard work that the staff team within the veterinary department at Cambridge University have put into rectifying many of the issues identified in the 2024 accreditation event, for taking on board the constructive advice that was given and working together to make many of the necessary improvements.
“However, as the report shows, there are still several outstanding areas of concern, and so the Education Committee agreed that it was not yet in a position to grant Cambridge’s veterinary degree full accreditation.
“We have collaborated with Cambridge on putting together an action plan and timeline for meeting the 20 remaining recommendations and we hope that it will continue on its current trajectory towards meeting the RCVS accreditation standards.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/document-library/university-of-cambridge-2025-report/
Photo: © Copyright John Sutton and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
The research took the form of a voluntary survey asking those voluntarily leaving their registers to explain why.
643 veterinary surgeons in the survey were leaving the UK-practising category, mostly to be close to family or friends, whilst 306 were leaving the Register altogether.
The next most common reason for veterinary surgeons leaving the UK-practising category was retirement (23%), most of whom were retiring before the state pension age.
Of those retiring before state pension age, one-third cited health and wellbeing reasons.
Vets were asked to explain in greater detail their decision to leave either the UK-practising category or the Register altogether in free text boxes at the end of the survey.
Those leaving the UK-practising category were most likely to mention health and wellbeing issues, closely followed by issues in the profession such as the demands of working in clinical practice.
A third of the comments left by those leaving the Register altogether mentioned issues to do with RCVS regulation, such as cost and continuing professional development (CPD).
Vicki Bolton, RCVS Research Manager, said: “This data is invaluable to us in understanding the reasons why people choose to leave the RCVS Registers.
“The reasons given don’t always make for easy reading, especially when they are to do with dissatisfaction over the direction the professions are taking, physical and mental health and wellbeing, financial pressures and concerns about regulation and its costs.
“However, it is important to remember that, overall, relatively few veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses leave the professions each year.
"There is no mass exodus from the professions and the numbers joining the UK Register annually well exceed those leaving, as demonstrated by consistent year-on-year increases in the number of veterinary surgeon and veterinary nurse registrants.
“That being said, these results will form an invaluable part of our ongoing work on veterinary workforce and gives the RCVS food for thought about how and where we can better support veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to stay in the professions rather than leave prematurely.”
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/our-consultations/exit-survey-2022-2024/
Photo: AI generated.
Miss Davies faced four charges:
Miss Davies made no admissions to any of the charges.
Miss Davies wrote to the College prior to the hearing stating that she would not be attending and she was not represented.
The Committee found all charges bar one proved.
Charge 1a, relating to the anaesthesia increase, was found not proved due to lack of evidence.
In deciding on whether the proven facts amounted to serious professional misconduct, the Committee took into account the aggravating factor that all charges caused risk of injury to an animal or human.
There were no mitigating factors.
The Committee found that Miss Davies’ conduct indicated an unwillingness and inability to act according to the veterinary surgeons’ instructions/directions.
It noted that Miss Davies acted on at least seven occasions contrary to the instructions given or without seeking direction or authorisation, despite her position within the surgical team.
It also found that Miss Davies had breached multiple areas of the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses, including the Code obligations that veterinary nurses must make animal health and welfare their first consideration when attending to animals and that veterinary nurses must communicate with veterinary surgeons and each other to ensure the health and welfare of the animal or group of animals.
It therefore found that, with the exception of administering intermittent positive-pressure ventilation without direction or authorisation, the remaining proved facts amounted to serious professional misconduct.
The Committee then went on to consider the most appropriate and proportionate sanction.
In doing so, it took into account aggravating and mitigating factors.
Aggravating factors included that the conduct was sustained over a period of approximately eight months and took place during four separate surgical procedures, and that Miss Davies posed a risk to animals on each occasion.
The Committee considered that there were a number of mitigating factors including the fact that Miss Davies had been on the Register of Veterinary Nurses since 17 January 2006 with no previous disciplinary findings against her, positive testimonials from a colleague working with Miss Davies at the time of the incidents, and the fact that Miss Davies had expressed some remorse in a letter regarding her conduct in relation to charges 3 and 4.
Colin Childs, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee found that the charges represented a serious departure from the Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses and also that there was evidence that Miss Davies had put her own interests before the health and welfare of animals either by not following the instructions of veterinary surgeons or by acting unilaterally, in relation to the administration of medicines or the placement of a catheter or feeding tube during four surgical procedures.
“Since the Committee could not assess Miss Davies’ future risk or her insight in her absence, it therefore decided that removal was the only proportionate sanction because any other sanction would not protect animals or the public in the future without those matters having been adequately assessed.
Such a sanction also met the wider public interest.
“The Committee therefore directed that the Registrar remove Miss Davies from the Register of Veterinary Nurses.”
Dr Butterworth’s practice was a member of TBAS, a Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs-funded (Defra) project administered by Farmcare Solutions Ltd which provides advice to eligible farmers via its veterinary partners.
The farm to which the charges relate to was owned by Dr Bexon’s partner. It had no cattle on-site (though was still eligible for the TBAS).
Dr Butterworth was charged with signing a TBAS visit report, in which he was named as the TBAS advisor, relating to a visit to the farm in February 2023 which had, in fact, not taken place and then subsequently signed a report about a follow-up visit in July 2023 which also hadn’t taken place.
Dr Bexon was charged with signing the same two false reports as a representative of the farm in question.
Both faced a secondary charge that their actions were dishonest, misleading and risked undermining procedures relating to public health and animal welfare.
Dr Butterworth and Dr Bexon admitted all the charges against them and that these charges amounted to serious professional misconduct.
The Committee also found that their actions amounted to serious professional misconduct in that they had breached three of the five key principles in the Code of Professional Conduct relating to: honesty and integrity; client confidentiality and trust; and professional accountability.
The Committee also found that the actions of both veterinary surgeons had breached the ’10 principles of certification’ outlined in the supporting guidance to the Code.
Considering Mr Butterworth’s conduct, the Committee found that there were a number of aggravating factors including: the premeditated nature of the conduct as he was the driving force behind the deceit, the fact there was financial gain as his practice would have been paid for the non-existent visits, breach of confidentiality for the farmer, breach of client trust for Farmcare Solutions Ltd, and abuse of professional position as a TBAS advisor.
For Dr Bexon the aggravating factors were breach of confidentiality for the farmer, breach of client trust for Farmcare Solutions Ltd, and the fact that, as a TBAS advisor, she should have known that physical visits to farms within the scheme were mandatory.
Paul Morris, chairing the Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “The Committee considered both respondents’ conduct was liable to have a seriously detrimental effect on the reputation of the profession and undermined public confidence in the profession and the TBAS process.
"The Committee considered that members of the public would be deeply troubled that registered veterinary surgeons had behaved in this way.”
At the hearing the Committee received a large number of positive testimonials for Dr Butterworth, including three given directly to the Committee – one from a veterinary surgeon colleague and two from farmer clients.
The Committee also considered his lack of previous disciplinary history and otherwise unblemished career, open and frank admissions at an early stage, insight into his misconduct, genuine remorse and positive reflection, efforts to avoid a repetition of behaviours and evidence of a more mature approach to management, lapse of time since the incident.
Taking everything into account the Committee decided reprimanding Dr Butterworth and warning him with regard to future conduct was the most appropriate and proportionate response.
Paul added: “The Committee did give serious consideration to suspending Dr Butterworth’s registration with the College.
"Such a sanction would have sent out a clear message that this sort of behaviour is absolutely not to be tolerated.
"However, in light of the extensive mitigation, his honesty and significant insight throughout these proceedings and the unlikeliness of behaviour of this type ever being repeated, the Committee considered the public would not be best served by suspending an otherwise exemplary veterinary surgeon and that such a sanction would be disproportionate and punitive.”
"In such circumstances, the Committee was satisfied that a reprimand and warning not to behave in this way again, would provide adequate protection to animals and would satisfy the public interest.
"The Committee was persuaded that Dr Butterworth would be most unlikely to make such a flawed set of decisions again.
"Notwithstanding the serious nature of Dr Butterworth’s conduct, the Committee was satisfied that a fully informed member of the public would not be shocked if he were allowed to continue to practise.”
The Committee also received a significant number of positive testimonials for Dr Bexon, with three veterinary surgeon colleagues giving oral evidence to the Committee.
The Committee also considered her lack of disciplinary history and hitherto unblemished career, her open and frank admissions, her insight, remorse and positive reflections, her efforts to avoid repetition of the behaviours and the lapse of time since the event.
Taking everything into account, the Committee decided to reprimand Dr Bexon.
Paul said: “This was not a case where she had been motivated by any financial gain.
"Indeed, everything the Committee had read and heard about her indicated the opposite and furthermore, it was apparent that she had nothing to gain by her actions beyond satisfying Dr Butterworth.
"As already stated, the Committee acknowledged that the role played by Dr Bexon was less than that played by Dr Butterworth.
"Moreover, there was a power imbalance at play and Dr Butterworth was able to take advantage of, albeit unknowingly, Dr Bexon’s lack of self-confidence.”
"The Committee has already indicated that it believed the likelihood of her repeating such behaviour to be non-existent.
"Her significant insight, together with the reflection and remedial work she has undertaken are as much as any person could do.
"She had truly learnt her lesson in the harshest of ways.
"In the Committee’s view she did not represent any risk to animals or the public, indeed quite the contrary as she is a very able vet, in high demand by her clients.”