The session will be conducted in the style of the BBC Radio 4 Moral Maze discussion programme, with panelists and witnesses arguing for and against the viewpoint corporatisation is inevitable and will benefit vets and their clients.
Moderated by Madeleine Campbell, Keith Chandler and Karl Holliman will argue for corporatisation and Andrew Harrison and Tim Greet will be against. They will call upon a series of 'witnesses' for detailed questioning before the topic is more broadly debated.
CVS, the UK’s biggest veterinary group now owns more than 410 veterinary practices, of which over 30 are specifically equine or mixed practices.
The latest equine acquisitions include Bell Equine, a one-site Equine Referral Hospital in Kent, in January 2017 and Severn Edge Veterinary Group, a mixed practice with 12 sites in Shropshire, including a six-vet dedicated equine practice, in April 2017.
One line of argument says that the commercial and business advantages of a corporate, together with their scale and diversity, can give veterinary surgeons greater potential for a more flexible career path and advancement within the industry, and a more sustainable working career in equine practice.
On the flip side, there's the removal of any opportunity to buy into ownership, reduced decision-making ability because of adherence to corporate procedures, extra paperwork, longer approval processes and an increased emphasis on the bottom line.
David Mountford, Chief Executive of BEVA said: "The auditorium is usually full to bursting for our Moral Maze sessions because they bring a broader and more engaging dimension to important topics. The statement Corporatisation of equine practices is inevitable and will benefit vets and their clients is bound to generate some stimulating and possibly heated debate."
This year's BEVA Congress will be held at Liverpool Arena Convention Centre, and anyone who registers before 3rd August will receive significantly reduced booking fees.
For more information, visit: www.beva.org.uk.
Before joining Defra, Christine served as the CVO for New South Wales, Australia, a position she'd held since August 2016. During her tenure there, she led the implementation of new outcome-focused and risk-based biosecurity legislation, online animal certification processes and improved evidence- and risk-based disease control approaches.
Christine comes from a farming family in the south of Scotland, with a background in beef cattle and sheep.
Prior to moving to Australia, she worked for a number of years in private practice in Scotland and the north of England with specific interest in research, meat processing and livestock genetics. She then joined the Animal Health agency (now part of the Animal and Plant Health Agency) in 2008 as a Divisional Veterinary Manager in Scotland. She also led Defra’s Animal Traceability and Public Health policy team, detecting and responding to new and emerging diseases such as Schmallenberg and Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea.
Christine said: "I am delighted to have been appointed. It is a privilege to take over from Nigel and lead my veterinary colleagues to support our farming and food industry on the UK reputation for high health and welfare of our animals.
"I am very much looking forward to working again with the team at Defra, its agencies, the devolved administrations and all the individuals and groups who will contribute to meet future challenges.
"Our Secretary of State has confirmed he wants to cement the UK’s place as a world-leader on animal health and welfare as the UK leaves the European Union, and I’m delighted to have an opportunity to play a part in that."
Jinx, a 9 month old black Labrador, has become the first patient at Peterborough's recently-opened NuVet practice to undergo pioneering 'single port' keyhole surgery for a retained testicle
The operation was performed by Marwan Tarazi, owner of the NuVet practice, using Biovision SurgAssist laproscopic equipment.
Marwan said: "When we opened the NuVet practice in May, we wanted to offer our clients the option for less invasive surgical techniques wherever possible. Jinx's condition made him a good candidate for keyhole surgery, and the 'single port' approach we use reduces the risk of post-operative infection and speeds up recovery time. His owner nursed another dog through serious complications following more traditional cryptorchid surgery twenty years ago, so she was very keen to try a less invasive approach. This time the procedure went without a hitch and Jinx was very quickly back to his old self, helped by plenty of love and attention from all our staff".
Jinx's owner is delighted with the results. She said: "I had heard that NuVet were doing procedures through keyhole surgery and so I took Jinx along to the practice in Bretton. All the staff were very welcoming and helpful, and the vet explained the procedure thoroughly beforehand, showing me both the theatre and the equipment he would use, which helped to reassure me. When I went to pick Jinx up after the surgery, he came out wagging his tail, and two days later he was back to his normal self - running around and jumping over impossibly high fences!
"20 years ago I had a German Shepherd with the same condition. Then the vet had to open him up with a large incision, and it was very stressful and uncomfortable for the dog. The recovery time for him was 10-14 days, compared to Jinx's of around 2 days. The difference was amazing."
Marwan is one of a very small number of vets in the UK to use the 'single port' technique. He has invested tens of thousands of pounds in training and equipment to allow the NuVet practice to offer this specialised service to the pets of Peterborough and beyond.
If you want to know more about this procedure and the equipment being used, click here to talk to Marwan!
See also: www.nuvet.co.uk
Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has announced the replacement of its Bovilis® IBR with Bovilis® IBR Marker Live vaccine, a move that brings the UK into line with the rest of Europe where marker vaccines are favoured.
Many EU member states, including Scandinavia and Austria are now declared IBR-free, and others (Germany and Hungary) operate national eradication programmes. Using a marker vaccine will help farmers wishing to export animals, or semen, or those working towards an eradication programme in their herds.
Recent bulk milk and blood screening via Intervet/Schering-Plough's complimentary BeefCheck and DairyCheck has revealed that 72% of herds tested were positive for IBR exposure. Given the latent nature of infection, and the rumbling losses associated with subclinical disease, it should come as no surprise that farmers are increasingly interested in controlling IBR. Studies have shown that IBR infection can result in a milk yield reduction of 173 litres per infected animal, or over £400 a year, for a 100-cow herd.
According to Intervet/Schering-Plough, Bovilis IBR Marker Live is Europe's leading IBR vaccine. It can be given intra-muscularly or intra-nasally to calves as young as two weeks old, as well as pregnant dams. It is also licensed to be given together with the pneumonia vaccine Bovilis® Bovipast RSP. The primary course involves one dose in cattle over three months of age, with immunity in just four days from the intra-nasal method, and 14 days from injection. Stock need re-vaccination every six months.
The vaccine reduces the amount of virus excreted into the environment, so minimising the risk to stressed cattle which may have been brought into the herd, and be latently infected. It also makes it an excellent choice for producers with breeding bulls, which should not be vaccinated. Bulls have to be kept naïve, however, the marker vaccine can be used on females in the herd to minimise virus circulation. This way the threat is minimised, and bulls can be kept infection free.
VetSurgeon member Anthony Todd has started a petition amongst veterinary surgeons and nurses, calling for the installation and routine monitoring of CCTV in all pre-slaughter areas of licensed abattoirs in the UK.
The petition was triggered by a news report in the Daily Mail exposing shocking cruelty to pigs at an Essex slaughterhouse run by Cheale Meats. Staff were seen stubbing their cigarettes out on the pigs' faces, punching them and failing to stun the animals correctly, in undercover footage filmed by Animal Aid.
The Food Standards Agency, which is responsible for breaches of welfare at abattoirs, has refused to submit the footage to Defra for prosecution, on the basis that it was filmed illegally.
Anthony said: "Prosecution will automatically follow with legal video evidence.
"The exposure of the Cheale incident was fortuitous and may well be the tip of the iceberg which must be eliminated."
To sign the petition, please visit: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/abbatoir-abuse/
John said: "This is a great opportunity to raise awareness for what is a very serious problem in our profession - we all know someone within the veterinary community who has had mental health problems - and I am very proud that it is a strong community trying to tackle this issue.
"But it is not just about one day – we can’t forget about it for the rest of the year. We all live extremely busy lives and if we are not functioning as people, we are not going to function as professionals."
John says veterinary professionals must take a balanced and holistic view of their lives and develop strong teams at local, regional, national and even international level, to build resilience in dealing with stress and dispelling the stigma about mental illness that may prevent people seeking help.
Mental ill-health will affect one in four people over the next 12 months[i] and in England, one in six people experience a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week[ii]. There are particular issues within the veterinary profession, with higher than average rates of suicide, and patterns of distress, anxiety and depression, among other illnesses.
The BSAVA will launch a new ‘Beyond the Clinics’ personal development stream at Congress next April, including a non-clinical series of lectures on physical and mental health, and, with RCVS, it hosts a series of Mind Matters CPD courses across all 12 regions – all of which were sold out in 2016.
John added: "I’m looking forward to inviting colleagues to Beyond The Clinics on the Sunday of Congress, which is a great opportunity for the whole profession to think more deeply about how we look after each other, by increasing knowledge about mental wellbeing, building resilience in dealing with stress and dispelling the stigma about mental illness that may prevent people seeking help.
"I’m also very proud of the BSAVA’s involvement in the Mind Matters initiative, set up by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. All 12 of our regions hosted sold out courses during 2016, which is part of the profession’s response to research showing that the stress of working in modern veterinary practices has taken a heavy toll on the mental wellbeing of many staff."
Limited places are available for the BSAVA’s Mind Matters regional meetings – more information is available at www.bsava.com/Education/CPD/Mind-Matters
The meetings provide training for all members of the practice team to help them recognise any signs of mental problems in their colleagues – and, perhaps, in themselves. The training aims to help individuals know how to communicate with people they are concerned about and offers tips on stress management and staying well.
John, who has suffered mental health difficulties himself, says it is important to reach out and respond as a profession to this serious problem.
"My main advice is to be aware of others, be supportive, understand and appreciate them, notice when someone isn’t acting normally, and also remember that you are in a team together with people to talk to and you should do that. You can’t take stress away completely but you can’t put everything on the practice owner, this is a whole team responsibility – upwards, sidewards and downwards."
References
MSD says the campaign will help veterinary nurses and front-of-house staff start the conversation about parasite control by asking clients about their pets' favourite hiding places, where parasites are often found. The supporting campaign tools and materials are designed to help practice staff then uncover pet owner needs to ensure they get the best recommendation.
Amanda Melvin, Marketing Manager at MSD Animal Health said: "Vet nurses and front-of-house staff are usually the first contact pet owners have with the practice. Yet the potential they have to add value to the whole consultation process is often underestimated.
"Our ‘No Hiding’ campaign has been designed to make use of this expertise by helping them find a way of sharing their knowledge. When it comes to pet owners this is usually best achieved by sharing those conversations about the unusual quirks and habits of their pets. That way they can uncover their hiding places and give them the best advice on parasite control."
The ‘No Hiding’ campaign offers a range of resources for practices including in-practice training, social media support, and interactive waiting room resources - demonstrating the practice’s expertise and allowing pet owners to share in the unique hiding habits of their pets.
For further information, contact your MSD Animal Health account manager.
8,834 of the 33,857 eligible voters cast their votes, a turnout rate of 26.2%. This compares to a 25.5% turnout in the 2019 election and 22.7% in 2018.
The results of the election were as follows:
Dr Kate Richards (pictured right) – 4,399 votes (elected)Dr Richard Stephenson – 3,943 votes (elected)Dr Melissa Donald – 3,807 votes (elected)Professor Stephen May – 3,121 votesDr Kit Sturgess – 2,816 votesPeter Robinson – 2,642 votesJohn Davies – 808 votesDr Tom Lonsdale – 535 votes
Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS Registrar and Returning Officer for both elections, said: “Many congratulations to all those who were elected this year and we look forward to welcoming them to their places on Council at our Annual General Meeting later this year.
“I would like to thank both Professor Stephen May and Dr Kit Sturgess for their many years of combined service, both as members of RCVS Council and for serving on numerous committees, subcommittees and working groups. In Stephen’s case this includes his service as President of the RCVS in 2017-18 and for Kit as Treasurer of the RCVS from 2017 until the present.
As Dr Sturgess had been elected to the position of Junior Vice-President of the RCVS for 2020-21 earlier this year, a new election for the position will need to take place amongst RCVS Council members during their June meeting. An election for a new Chair and Vice-Chair of VN Council will take place take place amongst VN Council members at a meeting in June.
Petplan has announced the finalists for the 2009 Veterinary Awards.
The company says it was inundated with more than 2300 nominations this year and that the public response was 'astonishing', with tales ranging from midnight rescues to simple acts of kindness and this year was no exception.
The finalists for each of the categories are as follows:
Vet of the YearJamie Rushton, Village Vet Hampstead, LondonBen Jones, Ben Jones Veterinary Surgery, Chester, FlintshireMatthew Fry, Quarrington Veterinary Surgery, Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Vet Nurse of the YearCharlotte Maude, Companion Care Veterinary Surgery Chesterfield, Markham, ChesterfieldKaren McQuaid, The Old Golfhouse Veterinary Group, Watton, NorfolkRachel Smith, 608 Veterinary Group, Solihull, West Midlands
Vet Receptionist of the YearYasmin Morowa, Melton Veterinary Surgery, Woodbridge, SuffolkJackie Crampton, Companion Care Veterinary Surgery Chesterfield, Markham, ChesterfieldSara Abbott, Pet Doctors, East Horsley, Surrey
Vet Practice of the YearAshfield House Veterinary Hospital Limited, Long Eaton, NottinghamshireCarrick Veterinary Group CVS (UK) Ltd, Newbold, ChesterfieldSt Clair Veterinary Group, Kirkcaldy, Fife
Simon Wheeler, Petplan's Head of Marketing said he was thrilled by the record number of nominations received:
"This year we are celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Veterinary Awards which were launched so pet owners could thank their practice for the tireless and wonderful work they carry out. We are delighted that the awards, which we often hear referred to as the 'Vet Oscars', are still going strong. This year we have received over 2300 nominations and the quality and standard really challenged the skills of our esteemed judging panel. We would like to wish those short listed every success on the night."
All finalists will be invited to a 'glittering' awards ceremony that will take place on 2nd April at the Burlington Hotel in Birmingham where the winners will be announced.
The new pass offers both physical and virtual tickets so that the practice rota doesn't have to stop any member of the team from attending.
BEVA says the new tickets also offer a saving of up to £113 per vet.
David Mountford, Chief Executive of BEVA said: “We know that not every vet at a practice can attend congress every year because someone is always going to have to stay behind and work.
"So, by offering a mix of physical and virtual tickets in the pass it means those staying at home to look after the practice can still benefit from the live stream as well as the six-month access to all the lectures afterwards.
"Congress always contains plenty of relevant and dedicated content for nurses, so the pass obviously includes nurse tickets too.”
Practice Passes are available for BEVA members in three packages: small (£599), medium (£1,333) and large (£2,666).
Individual early bird BEVA member prices are £499 for vets and £187 for vet nurses for all three days (with concessions available for those in their first three years’ post-graduation or on a lower salary).
Practice Passes and early bird tickets are available to purchase until Monday 1 August 2022.
Day tickets are also available.
Virtual tickets are £199 for vets and £40 for nurses.
For more information, or to book tickets, visit http://www.bevacongress.org
The scholarships are designed to support veterinary surgeons who demonstrate exceptional commitment to professional growth and a passion for improving patient outcomes.
Each award covers the tuition fee for the 12-month programmes, including both online learning and practical training sessions.
Applications close for the Small Animal Soft Tissue Scholarship on 15th August 2025, and the Small Animal Medicine Scholarship on the 5th September 2025.
Improve says shortlisted applicants will be assessed based on professional motivation, career aspirations, and commitment to the profession.
https://subscriptions.improveinternational.com/small-animal-medicine-scholarship-2025
https://subscriptions.improveinternational.com/small-animal-soft-tissue-surgery-scholarship-2025
Strangvac has been in development for over 25 years and Dechra says it's the first and only intramuscular vaccine to help protect against strangles.
Strangvac contains recombinant proteins CCE, Eq85 and IdeE from Streptococcus equi and has DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) capability.
The vaccine contains no live bacteria or bacterial DNA, so will not trigger positive culture or PCR tests.
In trials the new vaccine protected more than 94% of horses1.
Dechra says it reduces the clinical signs of strangles including a high temperature, coughing, inappetence, difficulty swallowing and changes in demeanour, while also reducing the number of lymph node abscesses.
Strangvac can be given to foals from five months of age and two injections should be given at a four-week interval.
Horses at high risk of Streptococcus equi infection, such as those in livery, should be revaccinated after two months.
Based on measured antibody titres, immunological memory was found in horses following repeated vaccination six months after primary vaccination.
Dr Andrew Waller, chief scientific officer at Intervacc AB, the company that developed the vaccine, said: “Strangvac is a ground-breaking new vaccine which, alongside good stable management and biosecurity procedures, can play a really important role in improving herd immunity and reducing the number of strangles cases in the equine population, thereby preventing major economic loss to the equestrian industry.”
https://www.dechra.co.uk/equine/vaccines
The programme is for vets who are more than five years qualified, and thus not eligible for BEVA’s Leg Up coaching.
It has been developed in response to numerous BEVA members reporting periods of feeling lost or adrift in their career as life progresses after graduation, particularly following a career break.
The programme is led by a team of individuals who have experienced the challenges of working in equine practice and have all undergone extensive coaching training.
It takes the form of group sessions where participants can discuss, learn and share knowledge in a workshop style environment.
Lucy Grieve, Veterinary Projects Officer at BEVA said: “Back in the Saddle provides a safe, supportive and encouraging environment to help individuals understand what it is they want from their career, following a break, for example for parental leave or injury.
"By reflecting on their career achievements, learnt skills and professional needs, in the context of their life as it is now, it enables them to prioritise appropriately, create achievable goals, and find their place in the profession again.
“Our coaches are professionally trained, friendly and empathetic, and the nature of group coaching means peer support opens up to all involved.
"This helps counter feelings of isolation and self-doubt and enables a sense of purpose and confidence to return and develop further.”
The first Back in the Saddle programme starts on 11 June 2024 – applications are now open and will close on 17 May 2024.
https://form.asana.com/?k=5BoRR89NDXQ_CAsWZ-g-HQ&d=11947487954206
The lower age limit for student veterinary nurses - previously set at 17 - has been removed by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, in order to comply with age discrimination legislation.
The entry requirements remain unchanged: five GSCEs at grade C or higher, or five Scottish Standards at grades one to three (including English Language, Maths and a Science subject).
Candidates must also have a place with an RCVS-approved Training Practice or on a recognised veterinary nursing degree course.
Libby Earle, Head of Veterinary Nursing said: "We hope that the removal of this age barrier will be seen as a positive step that will serve to improve access to training. Practices remain free to recruit as they see fit to meet the particular demands of their business."
New veterinary nursing careers leaflets have been produced to reflect the change and are available from vetnursing@rcvs.org.uk / 020 7202 0711, or to download from RCVSonline: www.rcvs.org.uk/publications
Merial has launched Equioxx, a new pain management product which the company says is the first COX-2 specific NSAID for horses
Traditional NSAIDs act by blocking the action of both COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes at the same time. Although COX-2 produces prostaglandins associated with both inflammation and pain, COX-1 has a pivotal role in maintaining normal physiological function, so inhibiting this enzyme may have an increased risk of side effects e.g. gastric ulceration. Merial says Equioxx is the only NSAID that is highly COX-2 selective (up to 643 times more selective for COX-2 than COX-1), acting to reduce pain and inflammation but without affecting the COX-1 enzyme at therapeutic levels.
Equioxx contains the active ingredient firocoxib, and Merial says it is proven to be effective at reducing chronic lameness in horses. Appearing in blood plasma within 30 minutes of oral dosing, its pharmacokinetic profile allows once daily dosing. Field studies have confirmed that firocoxib is highly effective at controlling pain and improving function in horses with chronic osteoarthritis.
Equioxx is available as either a low dose injectable solution or a palatable oral paste.
For more information contact Merial Customer Services on 0870 6000 123
Hill's is holding the Top Dog Challenge: a race to see which vet school can mobilise the largest number of students to support the school's nomination as 'Top Dog' before May, for a prize of €10,000 to support student activities.
Voting is already open at www.hillstopdog.com. Once the preliminary round votes are counted the top five colleges will be selected to go through to the next round for final judging at the Southern European Veterinary Conference (SEVC) 2011 in Barcelona at the end of September. One nominated student from each of the participating vet schools will get the chance to enjoy an expenses paid trip to SEVC to act as a student ambassador and one lucky winner will collect the prize on behalf of their school.
Every vote makes a difference and students who want to remind their colleagues to vote can send them a SMS text message direct from the site. A really determined, committed and well organised student body can make all the difference and ensure their college has a place on the winner's podium.
Last year's winner the Hebrew University of Jerusalem won with in excess of 95 per cent of their students voting, so winning presents quite a challenge. But this is the first time UK vet schools have taken part and they could upset the apple cart.
Adrian Pratt, Veterinary Affairs Manager is looking forwards to seeing how students at UK vet schools rise to the challenge. He said: "We really have excellent vet schools in this country and it would be great to see the students demonstrating how UK students can perform on the European stage and the passion and loyalty they have for their own school!"
BSAVA has launched its Postgraduate Certificate website.
The site contains all of the online materials and activities which support the BSAVA postgraduate certificates. The BSAVA says students enrolled on the programmes will find it invaluable.
There are also sections of the site for those who have agreed to act as mentors for students enrolled on the programme, and exclusive material for BSAVA members who missed out on enrolment in 2012, but have pre-enrolled for 2013.
The BSAVA Postgraduate Certificate website may be found via the CPD section at http://www.bsava.com/ (direct link http://www.bsavaeducation.co.uk/). If you would like to know more about the BSAVA Postgraduate Certificate programmes, please email certificate@bsava.com.
The ESVE has become aware through its Endocrine Quality Assurance (EQA) Scheme that there will be a permanent change in the antibody used for the cortisol test for the Siemens Immulite 2000.
The change affects the antibody pool from kit Lot 550 onwards, meaning that it has already affected some laboratories and others will be affected in the next few weeks to months. At present, the new antibody lots are not being released to the USA market. Other analysers are unaffected.
The ESVE has been working with the laboratories in its EQA scheme to quantify the impact on results and reference limits. The Society says an initial review by the ESVE-EQA based on >400 canine serum and >40 urine results suggests that canine serum cortisol results are lower (average bias -23% in canine serum) than diagnostic laboratories and clinicians have been used to in the past. The effect is more marked in canine urine cortisol (average bias -70%).
Since being alerted by the ESVE-EQA, the manufacturer has derived mathematical adjustment factors that laboratories can incorporate into their systems to mitigate the impact on results. If the manufacturer adjustment is used, then the results will be around 8% lower on average in serum and around 60% lower in urine. Cut-offs to diagnose hyperadrenocorticism and rule out hypoadrenocorticism may need to be validated again with the new assay. There is not yet sufficient data in the ESVE-EQA collaboration to assess the impact on feline and equine samples.
Professor Ian Ramsey, President of the BSAVA and one of the founders of ESVE, said: “Individual laboratories may have different ways of dealing with this change and therefore it is important to keep in touch with your laboratory provider concerning their approach. Some may choose to make the mathematical adjustments to results so that common and historic cut-off values can continue to be used. Others may report their results directly but change their guidance on interpretative cut-off values."
Dr Peter Graham, ESVE-EQA Co-ordinator, concluded: “ESVE advises that all cortisol results from Siemens Immulite 2000 assays that are close to a threshold are interpreted cautiously. ESVE also advises that all endocrine results should be interpreted in the light of clinical findings and would like to remind clinicians that spurious results may occur in any assay, though this is rare.”
The BSAVA and ESVE encourage laboratories to tell clinicians which analyser they are using. Suitable wording regarding the interpretation of any values of cortisol based on Siemens Immulite 2000 results should be provided by laboratories for the foreseeable future.
Photo: A dog with hyperadrenocortism, courtesy Professor Ian Ramsey
The GDP offers one-to-one mentoring, alongside professional and clinical skills development in primary care practices across the UK.
Chloe Roberts, clinical and educational development manager at Linnaeus, said: “This fourth cohort of graduates is looking likely to be the biggest yet, which is testament to how successful the programme has become over recent years.
“We’ve received so many high-quality applications and look forward to welcoming many of them into our practices.
“There’s still time left for people to apply via our online portal, so we’d love to hear from any prospective candidates interested in roles in the Midlands and Yorkshire.”
Linnaeus delivers all clinical training in-house through its extensive network of specialists, referral clinicians, certificate holders and experienced primary care clinicians.
Graduates take part in 20 core educational days as part of their clinical and professional skills training, with access to an additional 10 CPD days to undertake training of their own choice over the course of the programme.
For more information about the Graduate Development Programme, visit https://graduates.linnaeusgroup.co.uk.
Photo: Bristol University graduate Abigail McCarthy, a vet at Blacks Vets in Dudley
During a welcome reception, leaders and representatives of the veterinary profession were given tours of the facility and shown the advanced surgical training and ultrasound equipment available.
The wet-lab is equipped with 13 electrically-adjustable surgical tables, each with their own operating light and an audio-visual (a/v) system connecting them to the lecturer. The a/v system enables the lecturer to carry out demonstrations of procedures and to provide individual or group guidance to delegates practising surgical and other practical techniques.
Delegates are able to use the latest surgical and diagnostic equipment, including IM3 dental equipment, Logic E ultrasound machines and new surgical instrumentation for a range of orthopaedic and soft tissue procedures.
Improve's Managing Director, David Babington MRCVS, said: "Newly qualified vets have a huge need for additional training in practical skills and this demand extends into their ongoing professional life as new techniques are developed and existing ones refined.
"We already offer practical training facilities to delegates attending our training programmes at our HQ in Swindon but wanted to make it easier for vets and nurses in the north of the UK to access these facilities. This new 'wet-lab' offers an ideal training environment for our delegates to accelerate their learning and take new skills back to their practice."
He added: "Learning new techniques, whether surgical or diagnostic, is a proven way to boost practice profitability because it reduces the need to refer more complex cases. We hear from many of those who have trained with us that their increased skillset has enhanced their job satisfaction and increased the volume of cases they treat. In many cases, the training has paid for itself many times over. We are excited at the prospect of helping even more veterinary professionals to advance their skills."
The RCVS has published new guidance for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses on the use of social media and online forums, such as those on VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk.
The guidance sets out the professional standards expected of veterinary professionals, as well as providing advice on good practice, how to protect privacy, maintaining client confidentiality and dealing with adverse comments from clients.
The guidance has been developed by the Standards Committee, partly in response to demands from the profession and partly in light of recent decisions by the courts and other regulatory bodies which demonstrate that professionals can be at risk of legal or disciplinary action where their online conduct is unprofessional or inappropriate.
Laura McClintock, RCVS Advisory Solicitor said: "Whilst social media is likely to form part of everyday life for veterinary professionals, who are just as free as anyone else to take advantage of the personal and professional benefits that it can offer, its use is not without risk, so vets and vet nurses should be mindful of the consequences that can arise from its misuse."
The new guidance explains that vets and vet nurses are expected to behave professionally online, whether publishing material as themselves or anonymously. The College highlights the fact that demonstrably inappropriate behaviour on social media may place registration at risk, as the professional standards expected online are no different to those in the 'real world'.
Laura added: "Understanding and applying our new guidance should help vets and nurses to meet their professional responsibilities and reduce the risks of receiving complaints from clients or others, as well as potential civil actions for defamation."
The new guidance can be found on the RCVS website at: www.rcvs.org.uk/socialmedia
Ed's comment: The new guidance seems like common sense to me. A couple of things stand out as useful reminders, though. The first is to anonymise details of the cases you discuss on vetsurgeon.org, or get your clients' prior permission to discuss their animal in a professional forum. The other is the fact that being disparaging about a colleague online is as much of a breach of the Code of Professional Conduct as if you do it offline. So don't!
Animalcare has announced that a new indication for chronic renal insufficiency in cats has been approved in the licence for Benazecare 5mg.
Benazecare is a POM-V ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor containing benazepril hydrochloride, which was originally launched in the UK in 2007 for the treatment of congestive heart failure in dogs.
For more information, contact Animalcare at www.animalcare.co.uk
BCF has launched a new operating lease scheme to make it easier for veterinary practices to afford the latest ultrasound and x-ray digital imaging systems.
According to the company, only one scan per week will cover the cost of leasing a system. BCF provides a range of training options to help practices offer imaging services to clients and increase revenue.
Practices pay a fixed monthly payment with no capital outlay. After 3 years they can upgrade to a new system or return the system to BCF. Service and maintenance cover can also be included in the monthly payment to avoid unexpected service or maintenance bills.
For more information call 01506 460023, email info@bcftechnology.com or visit http://www.bcftechnology.com/
The centre, which is one of the largest animal hospitals in the UK, offers 14 specialist-led services.
Hospital director Daniel Hogan said: “The new hospital will provide the region with one of the largest and best-equipped veterinary centres in not only the UK, but also throughout Europe, with an extensive range of expertise in a wide variety of disciplines all under one roof.
“There will be seven operating theatres, 16 consultation rooms, recovery suites, lecture halls, a dedicated ICU department and there are plans for a future hydrotherapy suite.
“The facilities also include a cutting-edge imaging suite, comprehensive treatment facilities and a new linear accelerator to assist our illustrious oncology team.
"We also plan to launch our emergency and critical care service in the first half of 2023.”
Southfields says it also aims to lead the industry in terms of staff wellbeing and sustainability.
Daniel said: “The increased size of the hospital will enable us to provide a dedicated staff wellbeing area and offer a range of activities which will benefit our team in both body and mind.
“Along with exercise and relaxation classes such as yoga and boxercise, we will have an education centre which will be able to offer some really exciting qualifications and courses for the wider profession.
“We’ll also be striving to care for both our community by working with Investors in the Environment (iiE) to introduce a bold green initiative to substantially reduce our environmental impact and enhance our sustainability.
https://southfields.co.uk/veterinary-professionals/new-hospital