Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 8th December 2017
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

New guidance for employers with pregnant staff
Eight months pregnant Vicki Nicholls with Dandy Farm's Marley: four weeks after delivering him.

Checklist highlights legal requirements and main hazards 

New guidance resources for employers with pregnant staff has been launched by MumsVet, the British Equine Veterinary Association’s (BEVA) platform for working parents.

The BEVA Checklist for Employers with Pregnant Staff and the Risk Assessment Form for New and Expectant Mothers are available as downloads for all working in the veterinary profession.

“The nature of equine work presents different challenges for pregnant women and working parents,” explained Vicki Nicholls, co-founder of MumsVet.

“Lone working, often out of hours in potentially dangerous environments with unpredictable patients, and the paucity of trained support staff in an ambulatory setting are specific challenges to equine vets both male and female. Add pregnancy into the mix and the challenges suddenly increase even further.”

The BEVA Checklist for Employers with Pregnant Staff provides key information to help support employers and highlight best practice. It covers the appropriate steps to take as well as the legal requirements when an employee announces she is pregnant, what to do during the pregnancy, through maternity leave and on return to work.

The Risk Assessment Form for New and Expectant Mothers gives examples of the main hazards likely to be encountered by equine vets, their associated risks and the appropriate measures.

“Used in conjunction with each other our two new resources will help to guide and reassure employers that they are taking the correct steps and will ensure that the entire team has been taken into consideration – and not just the pregnant person,” said Lucy Grieve, co-founder of MumsVet and member of BEVA Council.

“New and expectant mothers working in the right conditions within a safe environment will have added incentive to return to work after maternity leave, and importantly this will help retain the experience we need in the profession.”

Image (C) MumsVet

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise 100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.