The BSAVA reports that within 20 minutes of the opening of enrolment for its Medicine and Surgery certificates at 9:00am yesterday, both courses were filled and a waiting list had been established.

According to the BSAVA, interest in the courses had been flooding in over recent months, however the number of applications still surprised the Education team, led by Dr Frances Barr.

She said: "There was a lot of confidence in this programme from the start, and we had lots of people requesting information, but until yesterday we did not know for certain that we would meet the maximum number of 30 delegates on each Certificate. So to have a waiting list and pre-registration requests for 2013 is fantastic. As veterinary professionals we want to strive for clinical excellence, to have our achievements recognised, and be encouraged and supported on the way there. This is what BSAVA aims to do with the medicine and surgery certificates".

For more information about all BSAVA CPD visit http://www.bsava.com/ or call 01452 726700.

A new pet health advice line, similar in principle to the now-defunct NHS Direct service, has been launched for pet owners.

pet-gp.co.uk offers a 12 month subscription for £4.50 per month, or owners can seek one-off advice from its team of veterinary nurses (not veterinary surgeons as the name implies) for £12.50.

The company implies says on its website that the average vet bill is £300, and that 2 out of 3 visits are unnecessary anyway, so a quick call to them first could represent a considerable saving.

However, VetSurgeon.org sees a number of flaws in this logic:

• Even if the figure quoted for the average vet bill is correct (something disputed by the BVA), it doesn't cost £300 to consult a general practitioner veterinary surgeon; if an owner walks out of a practice with a £300 bill, clearly there was something wrong with the animal, and the trip was necessary.
• Therefore, the potential saving to the owner by avoiding an unnecessary consultation is nothing like £300. 
• Even veterinary surgeons are not able to diagnose illness properly without seeing an animal. Veterinary nurses are not allowed to diagnose at all. So the advice that can be given must necessarily be very limited. £12.50 perhaps sounds like value for money for veterinary advice, until you discover that the advice is 'go and see your veterinary surgeon'.
• Many - perhaps most - veterinary practices offer clients basic advice free of charge over the telephone anyway. 

BVA President Gudrun Ravetz said: "Although triage phone lines have been used in the NHS for several years, for pets these can be more problematic as animals are unable to speak themselves, and many symptoms may be subtle signs that will only be picked up in an examination by a vet."

The Sheep Veterinary Society and Flock Health Clubs have announced a series of free fortnightly 45-minute CPD webinars for vets looking to engage more productively with their sheep farmer clients and update their understanding of flock economics.

‘Sheep Vets - Fit for the Future’ are being presented by well-respected industry leaders, vets and sheep farmers on Tuesday evenings during May, June and July.

Webinar organiser, Dr Fiona Lovatt from Flock Health Limited (pictured right) said: "We are optimistic about the future for the UK sheep industry, but to grasp the opportunities farmers need proactive vets who can demonstrate an added value approach. As vets we must think more holistically about the challenges sheep farmers face and that means optimising our understanding of how flock health issues, soil and grassland management, and environmental factors all link together with the economics. 

"This webinar programme aims to help keen sheep vets consider how they can best engage with their sheep farmer clients."

The first webinar in the series was attended by more than 100 delegates, and is now available as a recording. It highlighted the current state of the UK sheep industry and what the future 10 years might look like. 

Future topics include how to improve engagement with sheep farmers (26th May), how vets can best ensure successful lamb growth (9th June), understanding sheep farming economics (23rd June) and exploring the veterinary possibilities arising from different sources of flock data (7th July). Watch live at 7.30pm or catch up later with the recording.

Register for free by visiting www.sheepvetsoc.org.uk or www.flockhealth.co.uk

Cresilon Inc., the US maker of the haemostatic gel, Vetigel, has signed a distribution agreement for the UK with Covetrus-owned Veterinary Instrumentation. 

In addition to the UK, Vetigel will be marketed and distributed to veterinary surgeons throughout Europe and elsewhere via Veterinary Instrumentation's global distribution network.

Matt Lewis, Vice President of Sales at Cresilon said: "Our partnership with Veterinary Instrumentation will help us provide more veterinary surgeons with a revolutionary hemostatic gel that significantly improves the standard of care for pets and animals.

"Vetigel has been used by thousands of veterinarians thus far and helps veterinary clinics and animal hospitals save time, reduce operating costs, and improve patient outcomes."

https://vetigel.com
https://veterinary-instrumentation.co.uk 

Veterinary Women In Leadership (VWIL) is to host an online CPD event designed to empower women in the veterinary profession to problem-solve and achieve career goals on 7th December 2022 from 1-7pm.

The event, sponsored by Provet Cloud, will include interactive workshop sessions on ‘Finding Flexible Working Solutions’, ‘Financial Security and Negotiation Skills’, and ‘Developing Your Personal Brand’.

Women from all areas of the veterinary industry will also be sharing their inspirational career stories. 

The speaker line-up for the event includes Flexee’s Silvia Janska, who takes a look at ‘Finding Flexible Working Solutions’, including how they can be implemented in practice to empower individuals and teams, and benefit the business.

Katie Ford and Paul Horwood from VetYou, will be addressing overcoming barriers in talking about, navigating, and creating security with money to arm delegates with negotiation tools and useable resources in their workshop session on ‘Financial Security and Negotiation Skills’

Hamzah Malik from Regent Animal Health will lead a workshop on ‘Developing Your Personal Brand’ to build delegates’ confidence in ways to explore and articulate personal identity and strengths, and apply brand marketing principles to boost career success.

The event will also feature ‘Seeing is Believing’ breakout sessions with female speakers from all spheres of veterinary practice, business, industry, nursing and education, sharing their career stories and taking part in Q&A sessions.

The event is suited to all those thinking about the next career step, considering leadership roles or already working within leadership positions in the veterinary sector.

Veterinary professionals and students can take advantage of an early-bird rate until 20th November.

For more information and to register for the event, visit: https://eu.eventscloud.com/website/7528/home/ 

CEVA Animal Health has published an information booklet on Q Fever to help broaden awareness and understanding of the disease.

Q Fever is an emerging, worldwide disease that affects goats, cattle and sheep as well as humans. It is caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetii and can induce late abortions, metritis, fertility problems, mastitis and low vitality in neonates born from carrier animals.

The new booklet explains how the disease is transmitted, the symptoms, diagnosis and how it can be managed and prevented. CEVA already have expertise in the treatment of diseases caused by Coxiella burnetii and have developed a vaccine that has been used under temporary license to control outbreaks in France and the Netherlands.

To obtain a copy of the booklet please contact CEVA Animal Health Ltd, 90 The Broadway, Chesham, Bucks, HP5 1EG. The proceedings from CEVA's recent symposium on Q fever, held in Marseilles in December 2009 are also available on request.

The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) reports that its annual Congress, held jointly with the Veterinary Practice Managers Association (VPMA) at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport last week, was a sell out.

Over 470 delegates attended, of which 40% were practice owners, 40% were vets, 30% were practice managers and 10% were nurses.

Held over two days, the line-up of speakers included TV presenter, expedition leader, leadership trainer and ex-Royal Marine, Monty Halls who opened Congress with a talk on the importance of pushing your own personal boundaries. Psychiatrist, broadcaster and journalist, Dr Max Pemberton presented a guide to mental health problems for vets and managers. Celtic Manor’s head of 5 Star Service Delivery, Michael Pagnotta, explained how they ensure all their staff operate to the same consistently high level of service provision and Ian McKelvie, CEO of US consultancy, Becauz, presented a number of leadership and management sessions.

VetSurgeon.org visited the commercial exhibition and ask a random selection of exhibitors: "What's New?"

This is what they said:

The Royal Veterinary College has launched a national online survey to understand the pre-purchase motivations and behaviours of owners of puppies purchased during 2021.

Data from the survey will be used as a comparison to previous years (2019 and 2020), to determine whether the changes in puppy buying in the UK seen during the COVID-19 pandemic have returned to their pre-pandemic baseline or persisted into 2021. 

Dr Rowena Packer, Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the RVC said: “The COVID-19 pandemic led to changes in the way many of us bought our household goods, with online ordering and delivery a common feature of lockdown life.

"The pandemic also led to changes in the way the UK bought puppies during 2020, due to the many restrictions to travel and social contact during this period.

"Many of these so-called ‘Pandemic Puppies’ became much-cherished companions, helping households cope with lockdown life; however, there are concerns that some owners were duped into buying from unscrupulous breeders.

"We are interested in whether pandemic-related changes in puppy buying persisted into 2021, so we can best support owners of puppies bought during this period going forward."

For more information, visit: www.rvc.uk.com/Pandemic-Puppies-of-2021-research

The survey is at: www.rvc.uk.com/Puppy2021-survey

North Yorkshire-based Amelia Briggs MRCVS has been reprimanded and warned by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee after she was found to have been dishonest in documentation relating to her official avian influenza surveillance visits. 

Dr Briggs faced four charges and admitted to her conduct in the first three at the outset. 

They related to three official Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) clinical investigation report forms she submitted following three official avian flu surveillance visits she'd undertaken as an Official Veterinarian (OV).

The three surveillance visits all took place during an outbreak of avian influenza in North Yorkshire and were on behalf of the APHA.

Dr Briggs admitted that she'd certified on each of the three forms that she had inspected specific poultry, that she had seen no clinical signs of avian influenza in the poultry and that in her opinion avian influenza did not exist and had not existed in the previous 56 days.

Dr Briggs also admitted that that she had subsequently submitted the three forms to the APHA.

The fourth charge alleged Dr Briggs conduct in certifying the three forms had been dishonest and that her actions risked undermining procedures, regulations and rules designed to protect animal welfare and public health.

Dr Briggs denied that she had been dishonest in any of her actions but admitted that her conduct had risked undermining procedures designed to protect animal welfare and public health.

Dr Briggs explained that in two cases she had relied on information given to her by the keepers of the poultry and in the remaining case it was possible that she had not visited the correct location of the poultry, had posted a letter through the wrong door and had then accidentally submitted a pre-populated inspection form to APHA.

Having heard evidence from the relevant poultry keepers, fellow Official Veterinarians, officials from the APHA and Dr Briggs herself, the Committee gave its determinations on dishonesty.

In relation to the first two charges, which concerned the visits that did take place, the Committee found Dr Briggs had been dishonest both in submitting the inspection forms to the APHA and also in certifying that she had seen no clinical signs or history of avian influenza in both cases.

The Committee concluded that an ordinary decent person would regard the submission of a signed form which contained false information as dishonest.

It also concluded that Dr Briggs had deliberately signed an official form which contained information which she knew to be untrue.

However, the Committee found that Dr Briggs was not dishonest in asserting on these forms that she was of the opinion that disease did not exist based upon the information provided to her by the poultry keepers.

In relation to the third charge, where Dr Briggs did not visit the property concerned, the Committee did not find it proven that she had been dishonest, having heard her evidence that, in this case, she had accidentally submitted a pre-populated inspection form.

The Committee next considered whether the admitted and proven charges amounted to serious professional misconduct.

Paul Morris, chairing the Committee and speaking on its behalf said: “In considering the seriousness of the misconduct, the Committee took into account the fact that the misconduct had involved dishonesty, that there had been a risk of injury to animals and humans (though this risk had not materialised), and that the misconduct had occurred when the respondent, as an Official Veterinarian, occupied a position of increased trust and responsibility.”

He added: “The Committee considered that honest, accurate and careful veterinary certification was a fundamental component of the responsibilities of a veterinary surgeon.

"The matters which the Committee had found to be proved fell far short of the standards expected of a registered veterinary surgeon and amounted, in the Committee’s judgment, to disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.”

In considering the sanction for Dr Briggs the Committee heard positive character testimonials from former employers and clients, as well as a representative from the APHA who said that Dr Briggs had shown contrition for the breaches while recognising that there was unlikely to be a repetition of the conduct and that Dr Briggs was a relatively new and inexperienced vet at the time of her actions.

Mr Morris said: “In the Committee’s judgement the circumstances of the incident were a mitigating factor in the sense that the respondent was working in a pressurised environment, and in a field of practice which was unfamiliar to her.

"The Committee had heard a considerable amount of evidence from various witnesses that the surveillance system created, to monitor the prevalence of avian influenza was one which placed considerable pressure on OVs and, perhaps inevitably, had some shortcomings.

"The respondent had not worked with poultry before so her inexperience in this area fed into this situation.

“The Committee took into account the fact that no actual harm had occurred and there was no financial gain to the respondent.

"The matters with which the Committee was concerned formed a highly unusual, and short-lived, episode in the respondent’s career.”

The Committee also considered that Dr Briggs had made open and frank admissions regarding most of the charges against her and had also shown genuine contrition over her failings.

In light of this, the Committee considered that a reprimand and warning as to future conduct was the most appropriate sanction.

Mr Morris added: “False certification can never be acceptable.

"Veterinary surgeons should never certify any matter which they know, or ought to know, not to be true.

"However, the Committee considered that this case was at the lower end of the spectrum of gravity of false certification cases, that there is no future risk to animals and that the respondent has demonstrated insight.

"In relation to the public interest, the Committee considered that a reasonable and fully informed member of the public would recognise that, in all the circumstances of this particular case, a reprimand and warning as to future conduct would be sufficient to satisfy the public interest.”

www.rcvs.org.uk/disciplinary

Merial Animal Health, makers of Previcox® have launched a new technical manual containing expert thinking on canine osteoarthritis (OA) and other orthopaedic subjects.

Recipients will also have the opportunity to test themselves and their colleagues on the technical content for their chance to win £500 worth of CPD vouchers.

Previcox product manager Claire Parry-Baggott said: "We have been very fortunate in being able to work with some of the UK's most highly regarded experts in the field of OA.

"The first issue just released contains two papers, the first from Gareth Clayton-Jones, BVetMed DVR DSAO HonFRCVS, RVC specialist in both small animal othopaedics and diagnostic imaging. Mr Jones discusses anterior cruciate ligament rupture, including examination, radiography and treatment options.

"The second paper in this first edition is from specialist in small animal orthopaedics Prof. John Innes BVSc PhD CertVR DSAS(orth) MRCVS, of the University of Liverpool, who looks at elbow dysplasia. In his paper Professor Innes provides a detailed but practical guide to the condition."

Additionally to support Gareth Clayton-Jones' first issue there is a DVD highlighting common clinical presentations of dogs suffering from stifle disease.

Claire said: "With two papers in this first issue there's a total of £1,000 of CPD vouchers up for grabs."

"Each paper has a related quiz containing key questions from the discussion. The winner will be the first correct entry drawn at random," she explains. "Other topics to be covered in the series include Osteochondritis Dissecans (OCD); pain and analgesics; rehabilitation; hips; and spines.

"The manual is set to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date practical guide to OA and related conditions. Subsequent papers will be issued on a quarterly basis and will also contain a quiz sheet with the opportunity to win £500 of CPD vouchers," concludes Claire.

If you haven't already received your copy, contact your local Merial territory manager or call the customer hotline on 0870 6000 123.

The RCVS will be holding a summit meeting this autumn to examine the issues surrounding veterinary workforce shortages and develop solutions.

The meeting follows growing concerns expressed both within the profession and in the national media about the shortage of veterinary surgeons in the UK. 

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO (pictured right), said: “Workforce shortages within the veterinary sector has been a concern for some time, however, in the past few months there has been a ‘perfect storm’ of circumstances, which have come together to exacerbate the problem. The issues include the ongoing impact of the pandemic, burnout and fatigue within the profession; the UK’s exit from the European Union, which has seen a significant reduction in the number of EU vets joining the Register as well as an associated increase in the need for veterinary certification; and an increase in pet ownership, and therefore demand for veterinary services, over the course of the pandemic."

In advance of the meeting, which is due to be help in November, the College will be conducting research to better gauge the extent of the problem both nationally and regionally.

The meeting will then consider how recruitment, retention and return to work might address the problem.

Lizzie added: “While there has already been a lot of focus and discussions around recruitment and retention, something less spoken about is return, and the summit will consider the reasons why members of the profession may move away from clinical practice, and if there’s more scope for different ways of working that could bring people back into clinical practice.

“Ahead of the summit we will be reviewing all the latest data that we and other organisations have shared to better understand the gap between capacity and demand, the push and pull factors on decisions to either join or leave clinical practice and build a more evidence-based picture of veterinary workforce trends.”

The summit itself, the date of which is yet to be confirmed, will involve key veterinary stakeholders including the veterinary schools, veterinary employers and representative bodies, coming together to ensure that there will be a joined-up approach in finding solutions to the issues confronting the profession.

Lizzie said: “It may not necessarily be easy to identify all the solutions in one day, and they won’t all come from the RCVS, but opening up the conversation and getting the professions focused on taking appropriate action is an important first step.”

Meanwhile, RCVS President Kate Richards this week wrote to all vets and nurses to reassure them them that the RCVS was aware of the problem and the additional pressures they are under as a result.

In the letter she wrote: “In the face of current shortages, I would like to stress that we support practice teams in prioritising cases strictly according to the health and welfare needs of their patients, and in informing their clients of the need to do so.

“We would also urge veterinary surgeons to share their caseload as much as possible, delegating permitted procedures to their veterinary nurse colleagues wherever appropriate to do so.

"And, we would like to remind veterinary surgeons that their current 24/7 emergency cover obligations, as set out in the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct, are limited only to taking steps to provide 24-hour emergency first-aid and pain relief to animals according to their skills and the specific situation."

She also added that, while members of the profession may be anxious about a potential increase in the number of concerns being raised by clients because they are not able to offer the level of service they would ideally like to, the RCVS would always take into account the entire circumstances surrounding a complaint as part of its investigation process.

She also said that the College would also continue to raise awareness amongst animal owners of the acute challenges currently facing veterinary teams around the country, and to request their ongoing patience and understanding.

To assist the profession, a series of FAQs have been produced to help with different situations that vets may encounter at the moment, particularly around the provision of 24/7 emergency cover, and to provide further guidance on delegating procedures to veterinary nurses. These can be found at: www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/

The Veterinary Products Committee, which advises Defra on veterinary medicinal products and animal feed additives, is seeking applicants for ten vacancies, including one veterinary surgeon.

The committee meets three times a year, typically in February, May and September, to consider issues relating to the marketing authorisations for veterinary medicines and animal test certificates, and reports of suspected adverse events relating to veterinary medicines. 

Meetings are held at offices of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate in Surrey. On occasion the committee holds additional ad-hoc meetings. 

Members of the committee are paid £148 for each meeting, plus £76 for preparation time. 

Further information about the Veterinary Products Committee can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterinary-products-committee, or from the secretary, Sandra Russell s.russell@vmd.defra.gsi.gov.uk. 

To apply, contact Chris Abbott: c.abbott@vmd.defra.gsi.gov.uk

The closing date for applications is Friday 27th October 2017.