Sarah McGurk's Activities

Allison Bailey wins her case against Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd

Jo Godsall — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 19:55:20 GMT

Allison Bailey wins her case against Linnaeus Veterinary Ltd trading as Palmerston Veterinary Group.

allisonbailey.co.uk/.../

Do you have any recommendations for treating a dog with dementia

Sarah McGurk — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 11:57:57 GMT

I am looking for help with a friend’s dog, which has developed what seems to be dementia. The dog is a MN cocker spaniel, who is 13 years old.

I’m not the treating veterinary surgeon, but I wondered if anyone had any advice regarding drug regimes or behavioural/environmental adjustments that might help please?

Thanks.

CMA investigation: Is £45 too much for a booster?

David Mills — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 07:08:50 GMT

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66733077

Seems an odd aspect to quote...

Who else finds this a bit sinister?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 11 Nov 2023 19:45:39 GMT

Or is it just me?

"Also at Council yesterday, we approved some amendments to the RCVS Council Election Scheme around prospective candidates for Council having to declare they have not engaged in any activity or behaviour that would be likely to bring the profession into disrepute or undermine public confidence in the profession."

What's behind this?

What do you think about the RCVS proposals to stop council elections and move to appointed members with equal or almost equal number of lay members ?

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 19:35:48 GMT

I have just seen this proposal for a move away from elections to council and them being replaced by appointment of members. Election votes have always been very low proportion relative to the numbers of registered vets. Do we have ourselves to blame for our apathy and how will the vets be appointed ?

What do you think about the new question format?

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 10:01:33 GMT

I'm still waiting for the techies to have a slot to tweak some of the programming so that we can integrate our Expert Help forums with the main discussion forums - which will happen in a couple of weeks.

When it does, all forums will be consolidated into one big community, where all posts will have to be titled with a question to which anyone can reply, but referral practitioners will have their answer highlighted, and if it is marked as THE answer the questioner was looking for, then their logo / contact details will be embedded in their answer.

Meantime, I've beed editing all new post subject titles so that they are questions, and so far, I have found:

a) that almost any post can be titled as a question

b) that it focuses both the poster's mind, and the reader's, on what they want from the discussion

c) I think the list of latest posts is more engaging now than it was (some of the old posts were titled in a pretty vague sort of way, which I don't think were particularly inviting!

What do you think?

Has anyone changed RCVS category back to UK Practising after >12 months non-practising?

Sam — Thu, 25 May 2023 11:35:46 GMT

Has anyone been through the RCVS process for a change of category back to UK Practising after more than 12 months as non-practising?

I have had just over a year as non-practising and wish to change category. I thought it would just be a matter of updating my status on the register and paying a fee.

But apparently I need to go and get a solicitor to witness a signed declaration. This will be fine, but obviously will incur solicitors fees in addition to RCVS fees.

I just wondered if there will be any further matters to go through after this. If there are no misconduct or criminal convictions should it be straightforward? Or might they still say no?

Who will you vote for in the RCVS elections?

David Mills — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 01:03:48 GMT

I know this has been a contentious issue on here before but just a nudge for candidates this year that I know personally, respect and would be a real first opinion voice on Council.

Steve Howard (head vet of PDSA)

Tim Hutchinson (independent practitioner)

I know there is apathy when it comes to voting but it’s three clicks on a screen and if we sit idly by then all we will continue to get is devil hands at work.

Does anyone have experience of Civil Service jobs (eg APHA)?

Sarah McGurk — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 13:10:56 GMT

Does anyone here work for the Civil Service in the UK?

I would love to know how it compares to my current job in Norway, which I enjoy, but have long felt is unnecessarily difficult because of the language.

Feel free to message if you don’t want to post publically.

And are all the RCVS reflections and CPD frustrating? I am permanently up to my eyes in courses anyway so have never felt the need to count the hours.

RCVS priorities - has it got them right?

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 17:03:05 GMT

During all the discussion about remote prescribing, someone pointed out something rather curious.

The RCVS Royal Charter states that the objects of the College are:

'to set, uphold and advance veterinary standards, and to promote, encourage and advance the study and practice of the art and science of veterinary medicine, in the interests of the health and welfare of animals and in the wider public interest' (https://www.rcvs.org.uk/how-we-work/royal-charter-and-legislation/royal-charter-and-bye-laws/)

But the more recent Code of Conduct for Council Members states that Councillors must:

"Work in the best interests of the public, and of animal health and welfare and public health" (https://www.rcvs.org.uk/who-we-are/rcvs-council/role-of-council-members)

Spot the difference?

How would you like to see VetSurgeon.org improved?

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 12:03:23 GMT

Hi everyone,

I'm now planning on a major VetSurgeon.org site revamp.

One of the things that I've been discussing with developers is how, over the years, we've built loads and loads of extra features and bits and bobs, some of which have been popular, and some less so!

So our focus for this revamp is to consolidate everything, strip out the less useful features, and make it all much, much simpler.

One of the first things I am planning on doing is simplifying the forums, so we remove all the interest groups and you just post to one of two forums - clinical or non-clinical.

That will largely remove the need to select which forum you want to post to (ie all the ologies etc).

Also going to focus on making it much easier to add photos, and there'll be an app too, to make use of notifications.

In short, I want to make it as easy and intuitive to post here as on facebook - the difference being that here you get authoritative opinions with provenance, and also, of course, rudeness not allowed!

Any thoughts from any of you about how you would like to see the site improved will be very helpful.

Relevance of One Health

Charlotte French — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 14:04:24 GMT

Bearing in mind the many links between human and animal health, should more importance be placed on One Health, for both vets and doctors alike? I would like to see more interprofessional training at university level- what do others think? Do doctors know enough about zoonoses? How much more could we as vets know about human health...I would be fascinated to see practice with a doctor...

Important VetSurgeon Announcement

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 15:57:34 GMT

I am absolutely delighted to tell you all that VetSurgeon.org and VetNurse.co.uk have gone into partnership with Improve International in order to provide you all with more quality content and resources.

A little background. Over the years, I've had my bottom sniffed by a lot of different companies, and I've never really seen much value in joining forces.

The one partnership which really did seem to make sense to me, because of the benefits for members, is one between the leading training provider and the longest established community.

With them focusing on developing quality content and us focussing on community and community content, I think it's a match made in heaven.

Plus it gives VetSurgeon and VetNurse access to a much bigger infrastructure, so it's no longer just me sitting at my desk.

In terms of the sites themselves, it is very much business as usual. I haven't sold the sites. They still belong to my company. They will still be moderated by yours truly. Nothing changes there.

But what we now have is far greater resources to start upping the production of good quality content which I hope you're going to find really useful.

There will be an official announcement in due course, but I thought I'd let forum users know first.

Any questions, thoughts or comments, speak freely!

Stonewall

An On MRCVS — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 20:19:14 GMT

Following on from the Nolan podcasts, is it not time that the RCVS withdrew from Stonewall? And if not, should we at least not be allowed a debate about it, rather than being silenced?

I have used anon account for obvious reasons but the gender indoctrination of our children terrifies me.

Coronavirus

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 18:11:06 GMT

As Mrs G and I stock up on antiseptic hand spray, masks, antivirals, tinned food and UHT milk, how is everyone else feeling about the coronavirus? Most of my life is spent behind the computer screen, and I think the risk of catching it from someone at the Mells Village Community shop is probably pretty slim for the moment. But it must be a bit of a concern for you, especially those working in metropolitan areas. Or not?

I'm supposed to be going to Rome for the first time in my life for a few days, and I have wondered whether that's sensible.