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: 30th June 2023
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

RCVS publishes recording of ‘under care’ webinar
The RCVS is making available a range of resources explaining the new 'under care' guidance.
A second webinar is also planned on the topic.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has published a recording of its recent webinar on the new ‘under care’ guidance to help explain what the changes will mean for veterinary professionals.

The webinar, which took place on Thursday, 15 June, gave an overview of the key changes. It also looked at how the guidance will be enforced and explored issues around prescribing prescription-only veterinary medicines (POM-Vs) to animals ‘under care’ remotely.

To further explain the changes, the RCVS has also published a collection of practice-based scenarios to help veterinary professionals understand how to apply the new guidance in a variety of different circumstances.

Under the new rules, it will no longer be a requirement for a veterinary surgeon to conduct a physical examination before prescribing POM-Vs to an animal under their care. The changes will come into force from 1 September 2023.

RCVS president Melissa Donald chaired the webinar, and was joined by a panel comprising standards committee chair Linda Belton, RCVS registrar Eleanor Ferguson, and RCVS head of standards Gemma Kingswell. 

The webinar proved so popular that it was over-subscribed. A second webinar on the topic is planned for Monday, 17 July, with priority for attendance being given to those who wished to attend the June webinar but were unable to get a place in the audience.

Ms Ferguson said: “Thank you to all those members of the professions who took part in this very well-attended event in order to find out more about the new under care guidance and its implications in terms of the remote prescribing of POM-Vs ahead of its implementation from 1 September this year.
 
“We have also now published a range of practice-based scenarios to help explain how the new guidance should be followed in various circumstances, and in relation to different species. These scenarios cover a variety of different situations, including how the guidance applies to two or more practices with mutual clients, consultancy services and the prescription of long-term controlled drugs.”

Both the recording of the webinar and the scenarios are available to view on the RCVS website.

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

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.