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: 17th July 2014
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

Hayley Walters presented with award at RCVS Day
hayley walters and kathy kissick
Hayley Walters receives the VN Golden Jubilee Award from VN Council chair Kathy Kissick.

Eventful day sees new council member welcomed and new charter approved

During a busy RCVS Day in London last week, members of the college voted unanimously to approve a draft Royal Charter that recognises the college as a regulator of veterinary nurses.

Commenting on the effect this will have on the profession, incoming RCVS president Professor Stuart Reid said: “Words like 'historic' should be used only sparingly, but on this occasion it is justified.

“We now have some 12,000 veterinary nurses on the books, nine-tenths of them being registered veterinary nurses. Yet the present charter does not so much as mention their existence.

“The new charter gives the RCVS a formal duty to keep the register of veterinary nurses and makes the Veterinary Nurses Council responsible for setting standards for their training, education and conduct.”

The move will effectively combine the list and register of veterinary nurses. Nurses who currently remain on the list will join those on the register, meaning they will be required to complete an average of 15 hours CPD each year, follow the code of professional conduct and will be subject to RCVS disciplinary procedures.

The proposed charter is expected to become effective from March 2015.

Amber Richards will be a new face on the VN Council after she officially took up her seat at the event in London on July 11.

Kathy Kissick was confirmed as the council's chair for a further year, joined by Liz Cox and Niall Connell as vice-chairs. It was confirmed that outgoing RCVS president Neil Smith will also be joining the VN Council.

During an awards ceremony on the same day, Hayley Walters was officially presented with the VN Golden Jubilee Award, which celebrates her exceptional contribution to her profession.

Hayley is an anaesthesia and welfare veterinary nurse at the University of Edinburgh Hospital for Small Animals and the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education.

Col. Smith commented: “Hayley is a veterinary nurse who is dedicated to improving animal welfare and veterinary care both in the UK and abroad, and has demonstrated exceptional contributions to the profession.”

Some 16 veterinary nurses were also presented with Diplomas in Advanced Veterinary Nursing (DipAVN).

Image courtesy of RCVS

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.