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RCVS and VN Council election results announced
Dr Zara Kennedy has been elected to the RCVS Council.
Three vets and two vet nurses were elected to the councils.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has named the newly elected members to both RCVS Council and the RCVS Veterinary Nurses (VN) Council.

The election saw 15 veterinary surgeon candidates stand for three positions on the RCVS Council, and three veterinary nurses standing for two positions on the VN Council.

Dr Zara Kennedy MRCVS (2,264 votes), Dr Sinead Bennett MRCVS (1,796)  and Professor David Barrett FRCVS (1,747) have been elected to the RCVS Council, where they will sit for a four-year term. Their terms will start officially at the RCVS Annual General Meeting on Friday, 5 July 2024.

The Annual General Meeting will also see Professor Christopher Loughrey FRCVS replace Professor James Wood FRCVS as a Veterinary Schools Council appointee. Prof Loughrey is a professor of experimental cardiology at the University of Glasgow.

The RCVS council election received a turnout of 19.7 per cent (7,383 veterinary surgeons), an increase on the 16.7 per cent turnout in 2023.

This year’s VN election was for two council members to sit three-year terms. Registered veterinary nurses Kirsty Young (995 votes) and Susan Howarth (923) will also begin their terms in council at RCVS Annual General Meeting.

There was a decline in turnout for the VN council election this year, with just 7.4 per cent (1,710) of those eligible casting their votes compared to 8.8 per cent last year.

RCVS and VN Council elections are conducted online each year, with secure links and reminders sent to eligible voters throughout the voting period.

The RCVS Council is made up of 24 members, with 13 of these members appointed through a direct election. RCVS Council members can serve three consecutive four-year terms, before they must take a two-year break.

The VN Council consists of 14 members, of which six are elected. VN Council members also have a three-term limit.

Image © RCVS

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.