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RSPCA veterinary director stands for Council
With a background in practice that cuts across private and charity, Caroline believes that she is well placed to play a constructive role on Council.

Dr Caroline Allen to ensure animal welfare is top of the agenda

As veterinary director for the London branch of the RSPCA, RCVS Council candidate Dr Caroline Allen is passionate about protecting and promoting animal welfare.

In her manifesto, Caroline asserts that to perform its role of upholding veterinary standards, the RCVS ‘needs to understand and respond appropriately to the challenges facing the profession, while also ensuring that animal welfare is at the top of the agenda in all aspects of veterinary decision making’.

She adds that ensuing tensions between providing veterinary care for animals, meeting client expectations and the demands of business ‘are more pressing than ever’.

‘The RCVS has to show that it really understands these tensions and how they can impact adversely on both animal welfare and vets’ quality of life,’ she writes.

Caroline graduated from the University of Cambridge in 1998 and has enjoyed a diverse career in clinical practice. She began work at a mixed practice in Norfolk, before moving on to gain a certificate in Small Animal Medicine at the Goddard Veterinary Hospital in Wanstead.

After four busy years, Caroline caught the travel bug and spent a year exploring and performing voluntary neutering work in Thailand. On her return, she locumed for a while before moving to North London as the head vet of a small animal practice.

With a background in practice that cuts across private and charity, Caroline believes that she is well placed to play a constructive role on Council. If elected, she would like to ensure that veterinary educators prepare graduates for life in the real world.

‘Having mentored new and recent graduates I have seen a lack of confidence in taking a more pragmatic approach to cases,’ she said. ‘Regarding veterinary education, I would like to see more research into the effects that high debt levels are having on the career choices and opportunities and expectations of vets’.

The RCVS will post ballot papers and candidates’ details to all veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses eligible to vote during the week commencing 13 March. All votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5 pm on Friday, 28 April 2017.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.