Improve International has launched an online Emergency and Critical Care programme aimed at veterinary surgeons who want to update their knowledge and increase their confidence in emergency patient management. 

The programme is the first in a new series of ‘Accelerated’ courses from the company, designed to support those starting out on their postgraduate learning journey or experienced vets who want to refresh their knowledge in a specific subject.

The Accelerated Emergency and Critical Care programme comprises 15 modules covering pathophysiology, diagnosis, management and current treatments.

The modules are delivered on a weekly basis and delegates can study at their own pace. Delegates can also access all the modules for a 12-month period so they can revisit the contents as necessary.

In addition to the modules, delegates have access to a discussion forum and four live sessions with Specialists for clinical case discussions.

At the end of the course, delegates can take a Foundation Certificate from the International School of Veterinary Postgraduate Studies (ISVPS).

The programme was developed by Specialist veterinarians, both Fellows and Members of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Emergency and Critical Care, from Improve International’s Australian Partner, the Animal Emergency Service.

David Babington MRCVS, Business Development Director at Improve International, said: “The growing interest we are seeing from veterinarians around the world in updating their knowledge as we prepare to emerge into the post-COVID world, was the catalyst for the creation of our new Accelerated online course range.

"The Accelerated Emergency and Critical Care Programme is ideal for veterinarians at all stages of their career. It is an example of the ways we are delivering on our strategy of significantly expanding our e-learning portfolio and harnessing technologies, including video teaching and virtual/augmented reality, to offer a more engaging, affordable, accessible and rich learning experience to veterinary professionals around the world."

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the Veterinary Schools Council (VSC) have jointly published new guidelines on accommodating religious clothing and beliefs in veterinary education and clinical settings.

Although developed by the RCVS and VSC BAME Student Support Working Group ostensibly for use by Universities, EMS placement host practices and other educational establishments, it is recommended that all veterinary practices review the guidance.

The Guidance on Religious Clothing and Beliefs covers issues such as: balancing accommodations for religious dress with clinical considerations, and making accommodations for religious observance in academic timetabling and exams.

Gurpreet Gill, RCVS Leadership and Inclusion Manager said: “This document is about recognising that personal religious beliefs should be respected and accommodated as far as possible, while also not compromising professional responsibilities such as infection control, effective communication and the health and safety of individuals and their colleagues.

"Most importantly, it is about creating a welcoming and inclusive environment and ensuring that all students are able to express their religious identity whilst participating in educational and workplace settings.

“Although the guidance is not exhaustive, we would highly recommend that, where relevant, educators, practices and other veterinary workplaces review, adopt and adapt this guidance for their own settings to ensure that all members of the professions are welcomed and included.”

The Guidance on Religious Clothing is available to download from: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/publications/guidance-on-religious-clothing-and-beliefs/ 

The veterinary profession has started three new initiatives over the last few weeks to support Ukraine. 

Vets4Ukraine2022 is the brainchild of a group of twenty veterinary Specialists who are raising money by offering their knowledge and expertise in the form of free CPD delivered online, via Facebook and Linkedin.

So far, they've raised £2,236 for the British Red Cross.

For details of this group's activities and the free CPD it is offering colleagues, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/1491854917875566/permalink/1497308427330215/

Meanwhile the FECAVA and The Webinar Vet are running the Vets for Ukraine Online Conference, a CPD event online on the 9th April from 10:00am to 10:00pm. 

More details of that initiative, which is raising money for the Disasters Emergency Committee and Four Paws can be found here: https://www.thewebinarvet.com/pages/ukraine-veterinary-aid-conference/ 

Last but not least, British Veterinary Professionals for Ukraine is working to get essential medical supplies - both for animals and humans - delivered to Ukraine. 

BVP4U is asking for supplies to be sent to BVP4UA c/o Hoermann Equine,Wrights Lodge East, Oakham Road, Whissendine, Rutland, LE15 7HA. 

A list of specific requirements is available on the BVP4UA facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/britishvetsforukraine.

Alternatively, veterinary practices can buy supplies through their regular wholesalers (MWI/Covetrus/NVS) and have them delivered direct to BVP4UA by emailing their wholesaler with details of what they want to donate.

Other companies who do not operate through wholesalers may also be prepared to deliver direct.

Cash donations can be made via gofundme> to allow direct purchasing of the most needed veterinary supplies https://gofund.me/f7f25366.

A comprehensive review published open access online in the Veterinary Record today has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to support the use of homeopathy in food producing animals as a way to prevent or treat infectious diseases.

Homeopathy is widely used in livestock, especially to replace or reduce the use of antibiotics in the treatment of infectious diseases, although its use is often seen as controversial. For organic agriculture, homeopathy is even promoted. 

In the review, Dr Caroline Doehring and Professor Albert Sundrum from the University of Kassel, Germany, assessed peer-reviewed studies on the efficacy of homeopathy in cattle, pigs and poultry published between 1981 and 2014.

They analysed a total of 52 clinical trials, 34 with cattle, 12 with pigs and six with poultry. They were published in 48 publications. 

Of these, 28 concluded that the homeopathic remedy administered was effective, 22 showed no efficacy and 2 were inconclusive. 

Only 10 trials provided information on cure rates for the treatments. These varied to a high degree, while the remedy used did not seem to make a big difference. 

Trials on pigs were frequently efficacious, while studies with cattle or poultry had a similar distribution of efficacious and non-efficacious treatment. 

Double-blind randomised controlled trials reported efficacy of the homeopathic treatment almost as often as they reported lack of it. 

Meanwhile, single-blind and non-blind randomised controlled trials, and observational trials were more likely to present evidence of efficacy, suggesting that positive outcomes may be due to bias. 

Other study limitations, such as potential conflict of interests, low sample size, risk for selective reporting and bias, were found in the majority of trials. 

While some clinical trials showed effectiveness, the authors of the review question the reliability of the evidence, because all studies had a range of limitations. For example, all clinical trials were conducted under very specific conditions and none were repeated under comparable conditions.

Therefore, the authors say the findings cannot be be used to recommend homeopathy: "The current evidence of studies providing evidence in favour of homeopathy lacks reproducibility and therefore cannot claim to have sufficient prognostic validity."

"Due to a lack of prognostic validity, replacing or reducing antibiotics with homeopathy currently cannot be recommended unless evidence of efficacy is reproduced by RCTs and proven in various farm practice conditions."

The RCVS has announced dates for a range of new mental health and wellbeing training opportunities for veterinary professionals this year.

Expanding on the training available in autumn 2022, which was launched based on the results of an extensive training pilot, MMI is offering a total of 14 sessions taking place both online and in person over the next few months. Sessions will be running from January to April 2023. The courses will cover areas that have been identified as priority topics from previous MMI surveys, feedback from the professions, and evaluation of the training pilots.

Mind Matters Initiative Manager, Lisa Quigley, said: “Mental health and wellbeing are impacted by a whole host of structural and societal factors and maintaining a healthy workforce goes far beyond supporting people on an individual level.

"Whilst it is undoubtedly important to provide people with the skills they need to look after themselves, we are aiming to expand on this by providing individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to recognise and address wider collective issues. For example, the importance of creating and maintaining a positive workplace culture.

Session dates and specific topics are as follows:

Mental Health First Aid (£30 in-person)

9am – 5pm

• Wednesday 15 February – Exeter
• Friday 24 February – Swansea
• Monday 13 March – Liverpool
• Wednesday 22 March – Norwich 

Psychological Safety and Civility (£20 in-person, £15 online)

In-person – 9am – 4pm

• Wednesday 8 February – Oxford
• Wednesday 22 March – Peterborough
• Thursday 27 April – Edinburgh

Online – 9am – 1pm

• Tuesday 24 January
• Tuesday 21 February
• Tuesday 7 March
• Tuesday 4 April

Sustaining Your Emotional Health (£15 in-person)

2pm – 5pm

• Monday 13 March – Glasgow
• Wednesday 15 March – Newcastle
• Friday 17 March – Manchester 

For more information on the training courses, visit: https://vetmindmatters.org/training/ 

Lord Rooker, Minister for Sustainable Food, Farming and Animal Health has announced seven new members to the Veterinary Residues Committee (VRC).

The VRC’s role is to advise the Chief Executives of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) on the formulation of the residues surveillance programmes and on the significance of the results in terms of consumer safety.

The seven new members who have been appointed to serve on the VRC from January 2009 until December 2012 are:

• Jon Averns (Local Authority) is currently employed as Port Health Services Director by the City of London Corporation in its role as the London Port Health Authority.
• Tim Brigstocke (Agriculture Industry) runs a livestock consultancy business. He is the immediate past Chairman of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF).
• Gill Clare (Food Chemical Safety/Risk Assessment) is a genetic toxicologist, speciality cytogenetics, with a PhD gained in a hospital radiotherapy department.
• Andrew Grant (Fish Farming) is a veterinary graduate (Cambridge 1980). He worked in mixed, mainly agricultural practice for eight years.
• Declan O’Rourke (Pharmaceutical Industry), is a veterinary surgeon and works as an independent consultant in pharmacovigilance and livestock medicine.
• David Ralph (Feed Industry) comes from an agricultural background and has experience of a range of livestock production systems.
• Michael Roberts (Food Industry) has extensive experience in senior science management in the Research Councils and Defra dealing with a range of issues relating to the food chain and environmental objectives.

The appointments were undertaken in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The BVDA has teamed up with IM3 to launch a new course to help veterinary surgeons improve their knowledge and practical skills in dentistry.

The 2-day course, which includes both theory and practical sessions, will be taught by Ingrid Tundo, lecturer and head of the Dentistry and Oral Surgery Department at the University of Edinburgh (pictured right), at IM3's Advanced Centre for Education near Dublin on the 10th and 11th August 2021.

The course will cover all the basic aspects of veterinary dentistry including oral examination and charting, dental radiography, local anaesthetic techniques and basic oral surgery including extractions.

The cost of the course is £600 and there's a 15% discount for BVDA members (so if you're interested in the course, then joining the BVDA is a bit of a no-brainer). 

To register, visit: https://www.bvda.co.uk/education/courses/essential-dentistry-for-vets, or email Rob Davis (BVDA Education Officer) at davis4ginger@yahoo.co.uk for further information.

On the 15th anniversary of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, the BVA has emphasised the vital role of vets and veterinary surveillance in protecting the UK from devastating disease outbreaks.

The outbreak (confirmed in an abattoir on 19 February 2001) involved the slaughter of more than six million animals causing dire emotional and financial impacts on farmers, vets and rural businesses. Vets from across the profession, including those not working with livestock, were called upon to assist with disease control.

BVA is marking the anniversary by asking the government to reflect on the vital role of vets and veterinary surveillance after Defra was asked to make a further 15% budget cut in last year’s Autumn Statement (November 2015). 

BVA President Sean Wensley said: "15 years on from the devastation of the 2001 outbreak the UK must remain vigilant for Foot and Mouth Disease, but important lessons learned mean we are now better prepared if another outbreak does occur. Today we would have an immediate standstill on livestock movements, improved traceability systems and the possibility of using vaccination as part of the overall control strategy. But we cannot be complacent and the anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on the vital role of vets and veterinary surveillance in protecting the UK from disease.

"In recent years we have seen the impact of significant cuts to Defra's budget on veterinary fees for TB testing and other OV services. Vets’ frontline roles must be recognised and supported, backed up by an effective, coordinated system of data capture that will enable us to make the necessary links to detect and control new disease threats. We can never be free from the risk of disease, and in recent years the emergence of Schmallenberg and re-emergence of Bluetongue have brought new challenges. It is essential that we have the coordination and capability to identify and diagnose in order to protect our national herd and flock."

Vets Now, the Out Of Hours emergency vets has announced the launch of Winchester's first dedicated 24/7 pet ambulance service.

Specifically designed for the comfortable and secure transport of all small animals, the new state-of-the-art ambulance is fully kitted out with the latest in emergency equipment. 

After completing a course of rigorous training, the fully trained ‘Petamedics' (the animal equivalent of Paramedics), took to the streets of Winchester earlier in the month.

Gareth Roscoe, Vets Now Ambulance Service Team Leader said: "This service will make a real difference to animals in a distressed or critical situation. We've responded to a variety of cases over the past few weeks; one of the most recent ones being a nine week old puppy who was receiving emergency treatment at the Vets Now clinic in Winchester after his owner accidentally fell on him.  Charlie was brought to the clinic collapsed and unresponsive with signs of head trauma.  The vets set up an intensive treatment plan for him and by the morning, he was almost back to normal and we took him back to his daytime vet.

"The ambulance service provides owners in the Winchester area with the safest and fastest method of transporting their pets to get medical treatment twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.  What's more, the service is also available to owners who have routine transportation problems; so whether owners and their pets are visiting their clinic for a veterinary appointment, attending a referral centre or even going to the groomers, the Vets Now Ambulance offers them a reliable solution to all their pet transportation needs."

The ambulance is a significant new addition to the already established Vets Now Emergency Clinic which is based at the Mildmay Veterinary Centre, Easton Lane in Winchester.  Caroline Hirst, Senior Veterinary Surgeon at the emergency clinic commented; "The dedicated 24 hour ambulance has already been called out to help several of our clients ahead of its official media launch on 25 September.   As an emergency clinic, we often admit patients overnight, and a real plus of having the ambulance is that we can ensure that pets can be returned to their regular vet or back to their owner in the morning safely and with the minimum of fuss.  From experience, Vets Now knows that there are regular occasions when owners are afraid to move their pet if it is unwell or has been involved in an accident.  We hope that being able to offer the ambulance service will be of great benefit not only to pets but also to owners, giving them peace of mind that their pet is being cared for and transported in a safe environment until it receives the necessary veterinary treatment at the clinic."

The RCVS Disciplinary Committee has dismissed a charge against Nicholas Robert William Horniman MRCVS, a veterinary surgeon from Cinderford, Gloucestershire, that alleged he was guilty of pet insurance fraud, along with one of his clients, and of dishonestly altering clinical records.

The charge was that, between December 1 2008 and June 30 2014, in relation to Cassy, a Labrador retriever belonging to Jayne Bowkett, Mr Horniman:

• suggested to Mrs Bowkett that she take out an insurance policy for the dog using owner's details that were different from those used for its current insurance policy;
• dishonestly arranged for or allowed practice records for the dog in the name of Bowkett to be discontinued and separate records to be started in the name Griffiths;
• and, dishonestly maintained practice records for the dog as if she were different from the one for which previous practice records had been maintained.

The Committee heard that Cassy, who had previously been diagnosed with hip dysplasia, had been registered with Pets Barn Veterinary Group in Gloucestershire in May 2008 when Mr Horniman was the Principal and owner of the three-practice group. Cassy was treated at the Cinderford branch of the practice where she received regular prescriptions for her condition.

At some point in 2008/2009, Mrs Bowkett had relayed concerns to Mr Horniman that her current pet insurance policy needed to be renewed, that the renewed policy would not cover Cassy's existing hip problems and that she would be unable to pay for any future operations herself. It was alleged that, in response to Mrs Bowkett's concerns, Mr Horniman told her that they could take Cassy off the practice computer and put her back on under a different insurance policy in a different name.

Mrs Bowkett took out a policy with Petplan, beginning on 13 August 2009, using her father's details instead of her own. It was alleged that Mr Horniman then arranged for new practice records to be set up in the name 'Cassy Griffiths'. These new records were first used substantively in May 2010 when Cassy returned to the practice with hip problems, following which two separate records were maintained for the dog under 'Cassy Bowkett' and 'Cassy Griffiths'.

In August 2010 Dariusz Drozdz MRCVS, a vet who had treated Cassy several times, had been told by Mrs Bowkett that the dog had two separate records. He told the Disciplinary Committee that he queried this with Mr Horniman who suggested that it was a mistake and that they 'RIP' the name Cassy Bowkett. Mr Drozdz disagreed on this course of action but was told by Mr Horniman to 'leave it to me' and the records were then changed to say that Cassy Bowkett had died.

Mrs Bowkett alleged that, at some point in 2011, Mr Horniman explained to her that it would no longer be possible to claim for treatment for Cassy's hip dysplasia under the Petplan policy in her father's name. However, the policy remained active, and was transferred into Mrs Bowkett's name upon her father's death.

In July 2011 Cassy Griffiths was seen by Jennifer Jones MRCVS, a part-time locum vet at the Cinderford practice, who told the Committee that she was puzzled about why there were very few clinical records relating to the animal. A receptionist explained to her that there were two sets of records for the same dog and that Mr Horniman had instructed her to mark the original pet as having been euthanased and close its records and create a second new record for the dog. Ms Jones tendered her resignation shortly afterwards citing concerns that a pet had been 'reincarnated to ensure continued income from insurance claims'. In November 2011 Ms Jones submitted a formal complaint to the RCVS.

During the course of the hearing the Committee heard evidence from Mrs Bowkett, Mr Drozdz and Ms Jones, amongst others.

In giving evidence Mrs Bowkett admitted that she had knowingly engaged in fraud but maintained that at all times she had acted with the knowledge and on the advice of Mr Horniman. However, the Committee found that she was unable to remember any relevant material dates and was unclear about the chronology of events. It was suggested on several occasions that she was lying to the Committee, which she denied. However, the Committee believed that she took no responsibility for her own fraudulent actions but merely blamed Mr Horniman and that she had a strong motive to engage in the insurance fraud.

In regards to the evidence given by Mr Drozdz the Committee noted that he did not record his suspicions of possible fraud, that he continued to treat Cassy Griffiths after he raised his concerns, and that he appeared to have accepted Mr Horniman's assurance that he had dealt with the issue.

The Committee found that Ms Jones was correct in her suspicions that there was only one dog. However, it felt she offered no evidence to support her suspicion that this was part of Mr Horniman's 'scheme to maximise income for the practice' as she alleged in her witness statement.

The Committee also heard oral evidence from and on behalf of Mr Horniman who categorically denied suggesting to Mrs Bowkett that she commit insurance fraud and attempting to cover this up through the maintenance of two separate records. He maintained that it was not until Ms Jones voiced her concerns that he realised that Cassy Bowkett and Cassy Griffiths were the same dog.

The Committee voiced a number of concerns about Mr Horniman's actions and behaviour and, at times, found his evidence to be unsatisfactory. For example, the Committee found it difficult to understand why 'alarm bells' did not ring that he was dealing with only one dog when he prescribed medication for two almost identical dogs in May 2010 when only one was presented for examination. It also queried why, when he became aware that the insurance policy for Cassy Griffiths was fraudulent, practice records were not updated and no attempt was made to contact Petplan to inform them of this, as is clearly advised by the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct.

Furthermore, the Committee was concerned that, in his correspondence with the RCVS, he was less than transparent, candid and honest. The Committee considered this to be unacceptable behaviour from a professional in dealings with investigations undertaken by the regulatory body.

In making its judgment, the Committee had to make a decision on whose account it felt to be more reliable in regards to the first element of the charge.

Noreen Burrows, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: "In coming to its conclusion ... the Committee is faced with conflicting evidence from Mrs Bowkett, who is an admitted fraudster, admits to acting dishonestly and to lying to Petplan. This is in contrast to the evidence from the Respondent, who is of good character, had an unblemished personal record over 23 years and is supported by impressive character references."

The Committee found the evidence of Mrs Bowkett to be "vague, lacking in clarity and inconsistent with the facts" and therefore rejected her evidence concerning the first element of the charge. In regards to the second element of the charge, the Committee was not satisfied that Mr Horniman had arranged for or allowed the records to be changed as was alleged. In regards to the third element it found that, since it had already rejected the charge that Mr Horniman suggested to Mrs Bowkett that she embark upon insurance fraud, it was unlikely that Mr Horniman would have acted dishonestly in the manner alleged.

Noreen Burrows added: "In the light of the above findings, all charges against the Respondent are dismissed."

Fitzpatrick Referrals has announced the launch of a new outpatients diagnostic imaging service, available to all primary care veterinary surgeons. 

According to the practice, its Siemens CT and closed field MRI scanners are among the most advanced in small animal practice in the world, and enable more accurate and timely diagnosis of both routine and potentially life-threatening conditions, including tumours. The practice is now making these scanners available to outpatients from primary care practices.

The service will be available 7 days a week, from 09:00hrs to 21:00hrs. Primary care vets can access the service directly and schedule an appointment at a time convenient to them and their patient, without the need of referral. The qualified team of radiographers at Fitzpatrick will operate the scanners and all scans will be complemented by detailed imaging reports created and sent electronically by Vet CT Specialists, a teleradiology company headed by radiology specialist Victoria Johnson BVSc DVR DipECVDI MRCVS.

Fitzpatrick Referrals says it acknowledges that many primary care veterinary surgeons do not have the resources to provide advanced diagnostic imaging on site, so it is very pleased to be able to offer its CT and MRI suite to help expedite diagnosis, whilst the patient remains under direct supervision by the referring practice and the patient is immediately returned to their care thereafter.  This can be an extension of the service offered by the primary care clinician to the client, hopefully resulting in rapid and appropriate treatment for the patient and expanding the range of services offered by practices to their clients.

Dr Noel Fitzpatrick, Director said: "It's as if the MRI and CT were actually in your own practice, because our facility is just an extension of your care package and you can advertise it as such. This improves the profile of your practice and enhances the bond of the client with the referring practice whilst facilitating appropriate intervention in a timely fashion. All types of scanning, soft tissue, orthopaedic and neurologic, can be catered for and all patients will be cared for and monitored by qualified veterinary nurses at a time to suit the owner. I see this as a win-win situation. If the primary care clinician needs any further help with the case, they can just ask on the day.  Seven-day week advanced diagnostic imaging is now within the grasp of each and every practice, marking a new era of an integrated team approach to efficient cost-effective diagnosis and treatment."

To book an appointment, call Fitzpatrick Referrals on 01483 423761 and in due course there will be an online booking facility.  For more information on the Outpatients Diagnostic Imaging Service, call Simon Hester on 07802 584133 or visit www.fitzpatrickreferrals.co.uk.

The BEVA has published new guidelines to help veterinary surgeons assess and manage the health risks of working with horses.

The nine-page booklet is being distributed electronically to all BEVA members, together with a guide on spotting some of the warning signs horses may display, written by equine veterinary surgeon and behaviourist Gemma Pearson.

A report commissioned by the BEVA in 2013 indicated that an equine vet could expect to sustain between seven and eight work-related injuries that impeded them from practicing, during a 30-year working life.

Data available from the Health and Safety Executive suggests that this is a very high number of injuries compared to other civilian occupations, including those working in the construction industry, prison service and the fire brigade.

The new guide has been produced ‘by horse vets for horse vets’ with BEVA members contributing their views, experiences and suggestions to early drafts.

It provides information for those handling and involved with equine veterinary care; to make workers consider the steps that they can take to make their activities as safe as reasonably possible by assessing a situation and implementing measures to limit the risk that vets and others are exposed to.

The guide also aims to challenge prevailing attitudes and culture. It outlines how to make ‘on the spot’ or ‘mental’ risk assessments and when to stop if a procedure becomes unsafe.

The guide is accompanied by an illustrated leaflet Signs of Increased Arousal Combined with a Negative Effective State. Written by Gemma Pearson, BVMS Cert AVP (EM) MRCVS who specialises in equine behaviour and learning theory, it explains signs of increased arousal including facial expressions, stance, movement and response.

David Mountford, CEO of BEVA said: "The new guidelines have been carefully developed to ensure that they are as pertinent, pragmatic and helpful as possible for vets in practice. Hopefully they will help to make the equine veterinary workplace a little safer."

The new guides can be downloaded at: https://www.beva.org.uk/workplacesafety 

Petplan has announced the finalists for this year's Veterinary Awards. 

This year, there have been over 30,000 nominations for the awards. 

The finalists this year are:

Vet of the Year
Andrew Hayes, Towcester Equine Vets, Towcester
Clare McCabe (pictured right), Claymill Veterinary Clinic, Cookstown
Laurence Behrens, Goddard Veterinary Group, Dagenham

Vet Nurse of the Year
Caroline Jones, Battle Flatts Veterinary Surgery, York
Helen Rooney, Pet Blood Bank, Loughborough
Lesley Ramsey, Debenham Veterinary Practice, Stowmarket 

Practice Support Staff of the Year
Rhiannon Lewis, Streatham Hill Vets, Streatham
Laura Cameron, Lomond Veterinary Clinic, Helensburgh
Louise O’ Reilly, Vets4Pets, Llanrumney 

Practice Manager of the Year
Kristen Lorimer, Blue House Veterinary Centre, Stoke-on-Trent
Louise Newman, Blue Cross Vets, Merton
Nicki Ridgeway, Vets4Pets, Ridgeway

Practice of the Year
Hollybank Veterinary Centre, Northwich
Lanes Vets, Poulton
Milfeddygon Williams Vets, Gwynedd 

The awards will be hosted at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, Manchester on 23rd March.

Bella von Mesterhazey, Sales & Marketing Director at Petplan, said: “This year’s finalist line-up includes an outstanding array of veterinary professionals and practices, and Petplan is delighted to be celebrating the highest achievements in pet healthcare once again."