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
Matt has taken over as hospital director from David Walker, who has now moved to the role of referrals managing director in the south of the UK for Linnaeus.
Matt said: “I certainly have some big shoes to fill but working as clinical director alongside David was a great grounding and we work well together.
“Essentially, I was his running mate back then but now I am stepping up to take on the main role, with all the additional responsibilities it entails, and I’m determined to make it my own.
“I know I have the drive, the desire, the clarity of purpose and the dedication to succeed.
"I also know what an incredible operation I have inherited from David.
“One of the key things about Anderson Moores is that every member of the team works together in the same location to support every aspect of a pet’s treatment and recovery, so whatever service they may need is all available under the same roof.”
www.andersonmoores.com/homewww.zeropainphilosophy.com
If you are speaking at or hosting a small animal CPD event in 2019, please email details to press@vetsurgeon.org for it to be considered for addition to this list.
This list includes events from CPD Solutions, Improve International, the Veterinary Poisons Information Service and the Small Animal Medicine Society.
BCF, Instrumentation Concept and VetSonic have collected 'VetSurgeon.org Best Stand Awards'; the first two at BEVA Congress and the latter at BCVA Congress.
Judging for the BEVA Congress awards was undertaken by members of BEVA Council. BCF picked up the Best Large Stand Award which was presented by outgoing President, Andrew Harrison.
Pictured left to right: BEVA President, Andrew Harrison, Gavin Mitchell and Carole Irvine of BCF, and John Alborough representing VetSurgeon.org.
Instrumentation Concept picked up the Best Shell Scheme Award
Pictured left to right: Outgoing BEVA President, Andrew Harrison; Tahir Afzac of Instrumentation Concept; John Alborough representing VetSurgeon.org, and Sheraz Ishaque of Instrumentation Concepts
At BCVA Congress, Vetsonic won the Best Stand Award.
Pictured left to right: Clare Walsh, Vetsonic Director; John Alborough, All Round Good Egg representing VetSurgeon.org; Gareth Hateley, then President BCVA and Sarah Vermont, Marketing Manager Vetsonic.
Ines, who graduated from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain in 2001, has spent the last seven years working at universities in America, Australia and Europe. She undertook her PhD in MR spectroscopy of the brain in dogs at the University of Bern-Zurich in Switzerland. She has a Masters in Radiology from University of Glasgow. She has also worked at the University of Illinois and Sydney University.
Willows clinical director Toby Gemmill said: "Ines is highly qualified and highly regarded, so is a very welcome addition to our talented imaging team. Her experience of working around the world will also be a terrific asset to the practice."
Ines said: "I am very happy and honoured to be joining Willows and to now be part of such a great diagnostic imaging team. "This is a well-known centre of excellence and I’m really looking forward to helping deliver the first class care and treatment that Willows always aims to provide."
For more information, visit www.willows.uk.net.
As a result, clients of LV=GI and Waggel will be able to book an online appointment with a veterinary surgeon within 30 minutes, without having to pay FirstVet's normal £20-30 charge.
Waggel is FirstVet's 26th insurance partner globally, and its third in the UK. The company now has 150 veterinary surgeons working on the platform.
Lucy Broadbridge, LV= GI Pet Product Manager, said: “At LV= GI we’re always looking for ways to help our customers protect what they love, so we’re very excited to be able to work with FirstVet to provide this service to our pet customers. With access to a vet from your smartphone or device, our pet customers will have peace of mind knowing that qualified veterinary advice is on hand 24/7, avoiding unnecessary time, cost and distress of visiting their vet if they don’t really need to."
Under current legislation, there is very little practical assistance that can be offered via an online consultation, other than recommending whether or not the animal needs to be seen by a veterinary surgeon in person. It may also be the case that the online consultation offers little more than a pet owner would get by ringing their normal vet. Nevertheless, online consultations will doubtless grow significantly in 2020, as the players line up to take advantage of any relaxation in the regulations that they hope will allow veterinary surgeons to prescribe medicines for animals they have not seen in person.
Regardless of whether that happens, there is a value in face-to-face communication between a veterinary surgeon or nurse and a client, whether it be for triage or follow up consultations. Independent practices might therefore be well advised to start implementing this kind of technology in practice sooner rather than later, in particular looking at ways that online appointments could be scheduled (perhaps between normal consultations) so as to compete with the short waiting times offered by companies like FirstVet.
Forte developed the new solution alongside Professor Gayle Hallowell, Professor of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Critical Care at the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham.
The company says Hydrafast delivers ideal levels of sodium and glucose. It also contains glycine, an amino acid, acetate, propionate and citrate.
Professor Hallowell said: “This new ORS formula for calves is both practical and research-based, and should address what we know calves need when they have diarrhoea. It provides nutrition as well as an optimal electrolyte balance.”
Hydrafast comes in sachets of 133g. Each box of Hydrafast contains 24 sachets.
Hydrafast is available now from all major veterinary wholesalers, or direct from Forte Healthcare Ltd.
For more information contact your Forte Territory Manager, email enquiries@fortehealthcare.com or visit: www.fortehealthcare.com/product/hydrafast/
This, says Spillers, suggests that older horses, whether or not they have been diagnosed with insulin dysregulation, need an appropriate diet and management plan to help minimise the risks associated with insulin dysregulation such as laminitis.
The two studies1,2, which were conducted in collaboration with Michigan State University, aimed to find out more about the relationship between insulin dysregulation, dietary adaptation, and ageing to help guide more appropriate feeding regimens for senior horses.
Both studies investigated tissue insulin resistance and the insulin response in healthy adults compared to healthy senior horses adapted to diets with varying levels and sources of hydrolysable and structural carbohydrate (starch, sugar, and fibre).
Results from both studies showed insulin responses tend to increase with age in healthy horses, regardless of the diet they had been fed prior to evaluation. The insulin response, for example, was highest in the senior horses fed a starch rich meal even when they had been adapted to such a diet.
Clare Barfoot, RNutr, the research and development manager at Spillers said: "These studies confirm that even healthy older horses can have an increased insulin response compared to younger animals.
"This suggests that the energy sources used in the diet of senior horses and their effect on insulin dynamics need to be carefully considered.
"Practically, this means restricting the overall amount of starch and sugar in the diet especially for those horses that already have additional risk factors such as obesity, native breeding or PPID."
References
Adrienne Conroy, Head of BSAVA Policy and Chair of the Big Issues stream said: "As a profession, we have a history of successfully dealing with the unpredictable and rising to the challenge of the unexpected, which in many ways have been the hallmarks of the past year or so and no doubt will likely continue to be so for the foreseeable future.
"This year’s Big Issues stream will look at some of the uncertainties encountered by vets in practice and how resilience and resolve in the face of challenge can continue to serve the profession well for the future."
Big Issue subjects include:
The ABC of Achievements, Brexit and ChallengesProfessor the Lord Trees will aim to support vets’ understanding of the rationale underpinning the Government's Brexit decisions and their impact on the profession. A panel of speakers will also look at how the Government and the profession has worked collaboratively to introduce legislation and policies across a range of areas affecting the companion animal sector, and the practical implications for veterinary surgeons.
Medicines: Ensuring Supply Despite CrisesProfessor Peter Borriello, CEO of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and Dawn Howard CEO of the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) will explore the unpredictable challenges, whether dependent on Brexit or other factors, that can potentially threaten the supply of medicines vital to companion animal veterinary practices and how these unexpected events can be tackled and resolved by working together.
The Perils of Passports and Certification: Avoiding LitigationBSAVA President Philip Lhermette, together with Dr Mauricio Lopez, Head of Veterinary Trade Facilitation, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Michael Stanford, Veterinary Claims Consultant, Veterinary Defence Society (VDS) will share for the first time the results of the BSAVA 2018 OV survey, and will endeavour to better equip and support vets in companion animal practice to manage the unpredictable aspects of pet passports and export certification.
Telemedicine: Patient Care in the Digital WorldDr Kate Richards, Chair of the RCVS Standards Committee, Dr Thom Jenkins, CEO of Gula, Richard Guest, CEO of telemedicine consultancy Morgan Frey and Simon Doherty, President of the BVA aim to help delegates navigate relatively the unchartered territory of telemedicine and make informed decisions on the future of telemedicine and its potential impact on not just them, but also their clients.
More information on the Big Issues agenda and speakers here.
Entitled ‘Managing mitral valve disease from start to finish’, the course will account for four hours’ CPD split into six short bite-size sessions which can be completed at your own pace.
The sessions are presented by Dr Mike Martin MVB DVC MRCVS, and business thought leader, Dr Alison Lambert BVSc CMRS MRCVS. They consist of a practical review of MVD both pre-clinically and clinically and how to diagnose and stage it following the new 2019 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Consensus guidelines.
The course also includes tips on how to treat and manage dogs with MVD with diuretic management; a step-by-step guide to treatment options for acute and long-term management of congestive heart failure and how to troubleshoot problem congestive heart failure cases.
There's also a bonus ‘Communicating Cardiology’ session which looks at how to communicate the heart disease journey to owners.
To register for the course visit www.veterinarywebinars.com/mvd-reg.
Ceva will donate £2 for every veterinary professional completing the course throughout February and March 2021 to Vetlife, which provides support to the veterinary community and their families who have emotional, health or financial concerns.
The Practice Standards Group, which comprises representatives from all of the key veterinary and veterinary nursing organisations, has updated the standards of the Practice Standards Scheme and a draft of the new Manual is now available for comment.
The Scheme is a voluntary accreditation programme that aims to promote and maintain high standards of facilities and care within UK veterinary practices. When it was launched in 2005, a commitment was made that the standards would not change for five years, unless new legislation (such as the Veterinary Medicines Regulations) required it. Following a detailed review of the standards, to ensure they continue to be relevant to current veterinary practice, proposals have been made by the Group for new standards to be implemented during 2010.
Jill Nute, Chairman of the Practice Standards Group said: "It is unlikely that any already-accredited practices will be required to invest in additional facilities or equipment to meet the new standards.
"Instead, greater emphasis has been placed on clinical outcomes and training. For example, performance review has been introduced for all clinical staff, including the Professional Development Phase for new graduates. We are keen to hear feedback on the proposed new standards."
One recommendation is that the 'tiers' should be dropped. The categories will retain their descriptive names, for example, Small Animal General Practice or Equine Veterinary Hospital. Feedback suggests that clients, and the profession, found the tiers to be misleading.
The layout of the Manual has been revamped, to include guidance that was previously available online. Guidance for each relevant standard can now be seen at a glance. There is also an icon to indicate if documentary evidence will be required by the inspector. In addition, the new format clarifies the derivation of each standard, so that legislative requirements are distinguished from those required under the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct and those indicated by better practice.
Membership of the Scheme continues to grow, with 126 applications to join the Scheme in the first six months of this year, representing 264 premises, compared with 61 applications in the whole of last year. There are currently 2,351 practice premises under the ambit of the Scheme - approximately 50%.
The draft new Manual is online at www.rcvs.org.uk/consultations.
Hard copies are available from Eleanor Ferguson, Practice Standards Scheme Manager: e.ferguson@rcvs.org.uk or 020 7202 0720.
The deadline for comments is 31 August 2009. Responses will be considered by the Practice Standards Group at its September meeting and thereafter by Council in November.
Norbrook Laboratories has launched Closamectin, a parasiticide which the company says will revolutionise cattle farming and parasite control in meat producing animals.
Closamectin Pour-on is a solution which can quite literally be poured onto the back of animals. It simultaneously treats fluke, worms and external parasites. The new product is the culmination of a six year research project costing £3.5 million and involving 80 scientists at the company's headquarters in Newry Co Down.
Norbrook says it will bring immense benefits for farmers whose cattle are often ravaged by parasitic attack. Fluke in particular can have devastating effects both on beef and dairy herds, seriously weakening, and in some cases killing the animals by destroying their livers. At the very least it collectively costs farmers around £17 million per annum by reducing the weight of beef cattle and the milk yields of dairy cows.
Fluke used to be confined to the western parts of Britain, together with Scotland and Ireland, but global warming has seen other parts of the UK experiencing the same mild and wet conditions on which the parasite thrives. Consequently it is on the rise.
Currently fluke is treated by injection or oral drench - both time-consuming and difficult processes for the farmers which can also be stressful for the animals. In contrast pour-on solutions can be applied swiftly and easily with no detrimental impact on cattle.
Norbrook has been awarded licenses for Closamectin Pour-on in both the UK and Ireland. This is a very significant market: the countries have a combined cattle population of 17 million. There are also plans to roll out the product in other countries.
Developing a pour-on to deal with these parasites has baffled scientists for 20 years. Alistair Couper, Norbrook's Chief Vet said: "This is the Holy Grail of farm animal veterinary medicine. It was a highly complex challenge for our research team. They had to develop a product which would treat different conditions simultaneously and have a molecular structure which could be absorbed straight through the skin. This is a ground breaking achievement and a brilliant piece of science"
Lord Ballyedmond, Chairman of Norbrook Laboratories said: "This is a very important milestone for Norbrook and for livestock and farmers worldwide. We have invested heavily in research and development and the results are there for all to see. We are delighted to have beaten other multinationals. We have now developed the world's most effective remedy for parasite control in cattle that our entering the food chain. I am pleased to state that our business has grown this year indigenously at 12% despite the recession, beating our competitors. This tremendous breakthrough is a great testimony to the brilliance of our scientists in Newry and also to our policy of investing in research. "
Unite, the largest trade union in the country, has announced that up to 17,000 members of the UK veterinary profession could become members within the next five years, following the establishment of the British Veterinary Union (BVU)The union says it will be able to give veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, practice managers, support staff and students in all disciplines, the additional muscle to tackle employment problems in the workplace, such as pay, contracts, bullying and professional development.Unite's General Secretary, Len McCluskey said: 'As a progressive trade union, Unite warmly welcomes BVU into the Unite family. The fact that a highly-regarded profession is looking to Unite for support in employment matters is an indication of the validity and relevance of trade unions in 2011 Britain.' Dr Shams Mir, Chairman, Professional Advisory Committee, British Veterinary Union in Unite said: 'Our biggest challenge will be to change the mindset of our profession to address the deep-trenched problems of working conditions and terms of employment for vets and nurses, and safeguarding their professional status. But, most importantly, we have to overcome the sense of fear amongst veterinary professionals in raising legitimate employment issues.''Veterinary professionals face the same problems in their working lives as any other health professionals, but never before have vets had a trade union to support and represent them. BVU in Unite is a great opportunity for the profession to develop and expand, and is a goal that many have aspired to for years. We believe that up to 17,000 veterinary professionals could join BVU in Unite in the next five years.'Dr Mir said that research has revealed that vets suffer from much higher levels of anxiety and depressive symptoms and they are five times more likely to have suicidal thoughts and four times more likely to commit suicide compared to the general UK population.
He said: 'Sadly, according to the most recent Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' survey of the profession, nearly half of the responding vets and nurses said that if they had their time again, they would choose a different profession.' 'This is a wake-up call for our profession and we must act to address all the underlying problems leading to this situation.'
Further information is available at: www.bvu.org.uk and www.unitetheunion.org/bvu
SureFlap, a microchip pet product company, will be launching SureFeed, a new automatic cat feeder at the London Vet Show, Stand L32, on the 21st - 22nd November 2013.
The company, which already sells a range of microchip-operated pet doors, says the new products are designed to keep food fresh and the kitchen free of smells and flies.
SureFeed will be available in two models: the SureFeed Pet Feeder, which opens when any pet approaches, and the SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder which in addition functions as a selective pet feeder that opens only when it identifies a cat with a registered microchip or RFID collar tag.
Both products feature a bowl which seals shut to keep wet food fresh.
Dr Nick Hill, inventor of SureFeed as well as founder and inventor of SureFlap says this is an exciting new development for the company: "Many cats are fussy eaters and prefer to eat food when it is fresh, others are on special diets and this can be a problem in multi-pet households. Even in households where each cat is on the same diet, a 'greedy' cat, or even dog, can eat most of the food. This can result in one pet becoming overweight while the other starts to lose condition. The SureFeed product range has been designed to address all these issues."
The SureFeed Microchip Pet Feeder recognises a cat's unique microchip number and when an authorised cat is present, the sealed lid over the bowl slides back to reveal the food. Once the cat has left the feeder, the lid slides back over the bowl. The SureFeed Pet Feeder features the same sealed lid which is triggered to open by any approaching pet, closing again when the pet has finished feeding.
Nick said: "The SureFeed product range is the culmination of two years' intensive development work. The feeders incorporate a number of features to maximise usability, such as the Microchip Pet Feeder's side guards and lid which folds up to the rear, which shield the food from other pets while the authorised cat is eating. The feeders are both easy to wipe clean and the food bowl, mat and lid can be removed and are dishwasher-safe.
"The SureFeed Pet Feeder and Microchip Pet Feeder are the first in a suite of pet feeding products from SureFlap incorporating sealed operation and flexible feeding options and we are looking forward to developing the range in the future."
SureFeed products will be available to order from early 2014 but in the meantime, you can see them in action at Stand L32 at the London Vet Show.
MSD has announced that the broad-spectrum clostridial disease vaccine for sheep and cattle, Bravoxin 10, is now available in a new 6 x 100ml farm vaccination pack. The pack contains enough vaccine for 600 sheep or 300 cattle boosters.
Buyers of the new farm pack will also get a free vaccine applicator worth £20. The new Bravoxin 10 applicator benefits from the sterimatic system, which protects and sterilises the vaccination needle with each injection. MSD says it can also be placed down between doses without risk of needle damage, self-injection or needing to remove the vaccine bottle.
Bravoxin 10 protects both cattle and sheep from clostridial diseases like blackleg and black disease, as well as other conditions caused by clostridial bacteria that usually kill the animal once infection has become established. The vaccine protects against disease caused by the 10 main clostridial bacteria; C. perfringens type A, C.perfringens type B, C.perfringens type C, C.perfringens type D, C.novyi type B, C.septicum, C.tetani, C.sordellii, C.haemolyticum and C.chauvoei.
Vets Now launched the service at the start of the pandemic to provide remote veterinary advice, and it has now expanded from eight to nearly 30 emergency vets.
In 2022, Video Vets Now had over 13,000 consultations, with 80% of these occurring out-of-hours. Sundays are the busiest day, with almost a third of all consultations taking place.
Of these total consultations, 17% of pets were discharged normally, 7% were immediately referred in-clinic, and 48% were discharged as non-emergency cases, but with a recommendation to get a daytime vet appointment within 48 hours.
Dave Leicester, Vets Now’s head of telehealth says the fact that so few of Video Vets Now calls are referred on to a face-to-face consultation is a real benefit for pet owners and the veterinary profession: “Over two thirds of cases don’t need to be seen urgently by a vet.
"A lot of the cases are pet owners needing some clinical reassurance.
"As cases are triaged remotely, the service therefore frees up clinical staff for genuine emergencies.
“Additionally, without the service, many clients would have no other option than to attend for a full consultation at an out-of-hours clinic; so, clients save money too, allowing them to save their budget to spend at their daytime practices.
“Following the triage consultation, if the pet does need a non-urgent face-to-face consultation, we always direct clients to their registered vet. The £24 Video Vets Now consultation fee is then refunded.
"We call this our ‘Never Pay Twice’ promise, and it applies regardless of where that follow on consultation takes place.
"We see this as a win-win situation for clients and practices.”
Dave continued: “Over the past three years, Video Vets Now has seen unparalleled growth, providing essential care and reassurance for pet owners during a time of many challenges to traditional veterinary practice.
“As the pandemic has drawn to a close, we have consolidated our position as one of the UK's foremost providers of teletriage.
"Looking to the future, the changes in veterinary regulation will allow us to grow further and expand the range of services we can provide, bringing telehealth to an even greater number of pet owners.”
Eurovet Animal Health has launched Marbiflox 10%, a new marbofloxacin preparation for the treatment of respiratory infections in cattle and pigs.
Eurovet says the product can be used flexibly to provide a single dose treatment, with a concentration-dependent effect and a relatively short withdrawal period. Marbiflox can be administered intravenously, subcutaneously or intramuscularly in cattle or intramuscularly in pigs.
The main indications, with reference to good prescribing practice, are for the treatment of respiratory infections caused by sensitive strains of Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, and Histophilus somni and acute forms of mastitis induced by marbofloxacin-sensitive Escherichia coli strains, during lactation. In pigs the main indication is in the treatment of MMA (metritis mastitis agalactia syndrome).
Further information about Marbiflox and the complete Eurovet range of products is available from Eurovet Animal Health. www.eurovet-ah.co.uk/.
Invicta Animal Health has announced its appointment as exclusive veterinary distributor in the UK for Chloraprep, a licensed human product for cutaneous antisepsis, prior to invasive procedures.
Invicta says Chloraprep is a single use, easy to apply, sterile system, available in a variety of sizes and in clear and tinted versions to enhance the visibility of the area requiring antisepsis, for instance, prior to surgery.
The sterile solution is maintained in a glass ampoule inside a protective outer case and, to prevent contamination, the patented design ensures users don't come into contact with either the contents or the patient's skin.
Rob Watkins, Managing Director of Invicta, said: "Most surgical site infections (SSI's) are the result of contamination from a patient's own skin flora1, a fact which highlights the importance of thorough and effective preparation of the skin as a proactive way to minimise the incidence of SSI's in patients."
According to the company, research has shown that Chloraprep, which contains 2% chlorhexidine and 70% isopropyl alcohol, has demonstrated significantly better antimicrobial activity than other combinations2.
Invicta says the way in which the solution is applied to the skin is as important as the solution itself. Studies show that the most effective way to apply Chloraprep is with a back and forth scrubbing movement because this gives a lower microbial count on the skin than using other application methods3. Once applied, Chloraprep is active in 30 seconds and is effective for up to 48 hours4.
Rob said: "The majority of UK hospitals and the Blood Transfusion Service already use Chloraprep and we are pleased to make this available under the provisions of the cascade."
He added: 'The veterinary nurses I've spoken to love this product, because they're fed up of immersing their dry, cracked hands in disinfectant!'
For further information, please contact Invicta Animal Health on 01403 791313 or email the company at mail@invictavet.com.
1. Florman S, Nichols RL. Am J Infect Dis 2007; 3: 51-61.2. Hibbard JS. J Infus Nurs 2005; 28: 194-207.3. Rosenthal K. Nurs Manage 2006; April: 55-66.4. Garcia R et al. Abstracts of the IDSA 40th Annual Meeting 2002; Abs 418.
All jobs posted on VetNurse.co.uk are valid for 60 days (double that normally offered elsewhere). They are also emailed automatically to any subscribers with matching search criteria, fed out onto Facebook and the like, and optimised for Google For Jobs.
To post an advert for a veterinary nurse, register on www.vetnurse.co.uk, login and visit: https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/veterinary-jobs/.
Alternatively, if your practice is looking for a veterinary nurse, do share this with the practice owner or manager.
Petplan has launched a new look policy range to give pet owners more comprehensive cover and make it easier for them to understand the types of cover available.
Simon Masding, Petplan's Head of Sales and Partnerships said the refreshed policies will not only benefit the pet and their owner but the changes will also allow veterinary staff to explain the policies with a lot more clarity: "Since Petplan started 35 years ago the pet insurance market and vet industry has changed significantly, especially in the last few years. There are now over 250 policies in the market with varying benefits and levels of cover, which often confuses customers to a point where they think they're getting lifetime cover but they're instead trapped with a restrictive policy.
"The veterinary industry is also continually changing with advances in new technology and better diagnostics allowing the industry to save and treat more pets, which means our policies need to evolve with them."
To better understand these changing market dynamics, Petplan held focus groups with veterinary staff from across the UK and undertook extensive research with charities, breeders, customers and non-customers.
Apparently, the feedback showed that Petplan needed to communicate its range of policies more clearly, to shift away from the confusion created by other brands and meet the changing demands of the vet industry and pet owners better.
For this reason, Petplan says it has simplified its policy range, adding and increasing each policy's benefits, making a 12 month policy available for practices to offer, and developing easy-to-understand policy names.
Petplan's new look policies for both cats and dogs are:
Petplan says its Covered for Life policies, Petplan Ultimate and Petplan Classic, will continue to provide pet owners with the best cover in the market. However, the company recognises that these policies are not always suitable for people with older pets or a limited budget.
Simon said: "Petplan Essential, our 12 month policy, will also now be available for veterinary staff to offer to their customers. While our Covered for Life Ultimate and Classic will continue to be our leading policies and at the heart of what we do, it's better that a pet owner has some type of cover rather than nothing at all and Essential is a market leading 12 month policy."
Zeta Frasca, practice owner and vet at Kitten to Cat in Richmond London said: "These changes will not only make it clearer for the pet owner but it will also make it a lot easier for us as an industry to explain pet insurance to our clients, which is really important."
For more information about Petplan's new look policies visit www.petplan.co.uk, call their dedicated Vetline on 0800 3168 8900 or talk to your Petplan Business Developer.
The following table outlines each policy and its benefits:
Kellie Price, a Kent-based Registered Veterinary Nurse has been suspended from the Register for nine months by the RCVS RVN Disciplinary Committee after she admitted dishonestly creating four prescriptions, one of which was then fraudulently presented to a pharmacy.
The Committee heard that in January 2013, Miss Price, who did not attend the hearing and had no representation, had dishonestly created a prescription for two inhalers while working at a veterinary practice in Kent.
This prescription had been written and signed in the name of a locum veterinary surgeon, Cristiana Tudini MRCVS, without her knowledge or consent. The false prescription was subsequently presented to a pharmacy for dispensing.
In addition, in March 2013, Miss Price dishonestly created a further three prescriptions - one of which was written in the name of her colleague Cormac Higgins MRCVS, and two written in the name of Cristiana Tudini MRCVS without either's knowledge or consent. All four false prescriptions had been made out for Miss Price's Jack Russell terrier.
Upon discovering the false prescriptions, Mr Higgins asked Miss Price for an explanation and subsequently suspended her from her position pending further investigation. However, after being interviewed by Mr Higgins, she resigned before any in-house disciplinary hearing could take place. The allegations were then reported to both the RCVS and the police, the latter giving Miss Price a formal caution in respect of the false prescription made in January 2013.
In considering Miss Price's sanction, the RVN Disciplinary Committee took into account a number of aggravating and mitigating factors. In mitigation, it accepted Miss Price's explanation that, in the early hours of 6 January, she had suffered an asthma attack and that she had created the false prescription at work in a panic after realising her inhaler was empty and fearing a further asthma attack. The Committee also took into account a witness statement from Cormac Higgins MRCVS which described her as a "great nurse" and "good with patients and clients".
However, the Committee also considered aggravating factors including Miss Price's dishonesty and the fact that she then made further false prescriptions in March, although these were not then presented to a pharmacy.
Professor Noreen Burrows, who chaired the RVN Disciplinary Committee and spoke on its behalf, said: "The Committee is... satisfied that the admitted dishonesty amounts to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect [and] is satisfied that the respondent's conduct fell far short of the conduct to be expected of a registered veterinary nurse."
On deciding the sanction she added: "Taking into account all of the circumstances, the Committee has concluded that the suspension of the Respondent's name from the Register for a period of nine months is the proportionate sanction in this case."
The Committee's full findings and decision are available on the RCVS website (www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary).
Ceva Animal Health UK has launched a new Galastop iPhone application to calculate the optimal date for spaying in order to reduce the risk of post-operative false pregnancy.
Enter the end of oestrus date (when the last season finished), and the app will calculate when to spay, i.e. 16 weeks later.
Ceva says it is important not to spay a bitch during a false pregnancy as post-operative chronic pseudopregnancy may develop, which can last longer and be more resistant to standard treatment. However, some cases of false pregnancy can be silent and difficult to detect. Product manager at Ceva Animal Health UK, Fraser Broadfoot MRCVS, said: "It is commonly recommended to wait until 12 weeks after the end of oestrus before spaying. However, silent pseudopregnancy can still occur at this stage so, to be on the safe side, many specialists are now recommending spaying later at 16 weeks after the end of oestrus."
Click here for more details, and to download the app in iTunes.
For further information, please contact your Ceva Animal Health UK representative or call the veterinary support team on 01494 781510.
Animalcare has launched Vetaclean, a new range of disinfectants which the company says has a notably high kill activity against canine parvovirus and common feline viruses such as FIV, FeLV and FCV.
The range comprises Vetaclean Parvo Advance, a surface disinfectant-cleaner, Vetaclean enzymatic instrument detergent-cleaner, and an instrument disinfectant.
Animalcare Product Manager, Tony Liepman, said: "Veterinary nurses tell us that canine parvovirus is the most challenging and resistant pathogen they work with, and so we set this as our benchmark for the Vetaclean disinfectant products. Tested under EN protocols and having 99.99% + kill activity against parvovirus, our new disinfectants demonstrate high efficacy against a broad range of bacteria, including MRSA/MRSP, fungi, viruses, mycobacteria and spores.
"Infection control is in the spotlight at the moment, highlighted by initiatives from within and outside our industry. Firstly, the new Practice Standards Scheme - launched at the same time as our range - places great emphasis on having a rigorous biosecurity policy. This includes requirements for personal hygiene as well as cleanliness of premises and equipment. High-level decontamination of instruments and equipment is ensured through the Vetaclean two-stage process, which works with even soiled instruments or equipment, and in under 20 minutes. The products have also been designed to be suitable for use on the most specialised equipment seen in today’s practices, including flexible or rigid endoscopes, ultrasonic baths, aspirators, arthroscopes and re-processing machines.
"Importantly, the active ingredients in the Vetaclean range meet the criteria of the new EU Biocides Regulations, policed by the Health and Safety Executive in the UK, which came into effect on 1st September 2015. All products with biocidal activity now need to undergo a complex registration process, ensuring the products are not harmful to people, the environment or animals. The rigorous process may see many disinfectant manufacturers pull out of the market, resulting in less choice. Further, the Vetaclean range does not contain Poly (hexamethylene biguanide) hydrochloride (PHMB). The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently proposing that PHMB is listed as a category 2 carcinogen."
The Vetaclean Parvo Advance range includes a 1 litre lavender product in a self-dosing bottle, 5 litre apple and lemon-fragranced liquid concentrates and unfragranced large surface wipes. There are two different dilution rates: a general purpose dilution rate for most pathogens at 1:100 (10ml per litre), and a parvocidal dilution rate at 1:50 (20ml per litre). Animalcare says the alkaline-based formula ensures that the products are compatible with a wide range of materials and are non-staining. Both the enzymatic instrument cleaner and instrument disinfectant are available in 2 litre concentrates (incorporating a calibrated dosing reservoir).
The Vetaclean range is available now in wholesalers. The company has also produced a brochure Hygiene in practice, a guide to veterinary infection control from Animalcare, designed to help familiarise veterinary professionals with the principles and uses of the product range. There is also a special launch offer of Buy-4-Get-One-Free available from Animalcare representatives.
For further information, contact Animalcare on 01904 487687, or speak to your regional Animalcare representative: www.animalcare.co.uk/contact-us.
The company has completed a health hazard assessment which concluded that any risk to animal and human health is likely to be low and no greater than expected for this product under normal conditions, as described on the product labelling.
The recall is for the following batches only:
Batch Numbers:
0265-900302-900246-900112-900295-909053-919103-91
Norbrook Laboratories Ltd is contacting veterinary surgeons to examine inventory immediately and quarantine products subject to this recall.
For further information, contact Gary Mckee on +44 2830 264435 or email gary.mckee@norbrook.co.uk
Dechra Brand Manager Craig Sankey said: "It can be a very worrying time for owners if their pet is being investigated for, or diagnosed with, hypothyroidism and the new website aims to help them understand more about the condition, how it manifests itself and what they can expect on the management journey.
"Effective management of the condition can significantly improve a dog’s quality of life and prevents the development of other, potentially life-threatening conditions, for which treatment can be intensive and costly."
The website also has a Frequently Asked Questions section and an interactive log book for owners to fill in which can also be emailed to their veterinary surgeon to assist in tracking the dogs’ progress and ensure that treatment is at its optimal level.
For more information, visit www.hypothyroiddog.com