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Vet nurses must join RCVS register or cease practice
veterinary nurse
Around 1,000 veterinary nurses have not moved over to the register, but remain on the list.
Royal Charter approved by privy council

A thousand veterinary nurses must now make the choice to join the RCVS register or stop practising, after a new Royal Charter was approved by privy council on November 5.

The charter officially recognises the college as a regulator of veterinary nurses, effectively combining the list and register.

Veterinary nurses on the RCVS register must adhere to the prescribed code of professional conduct and be subject to RCVS disciplinary procedures and other requirements.

According to the college's registrar, Gordon Hockey, about 1,000 veterinary nurses remain on the list.

Every year since the register was formed these 1,000 trained and qualified veterinary nurses have "voted" on their annual registration form NOT to be regulated by the RCVS but to remain listed.  

In response to a question from Jacqui Molyneux at the latest RCVS Council meeting on November 6, Mr Hockey said he had written to listed veterinary nurses to inform them they will be automatically moved onto the register. If they decide they do not want to be on the register, they will no longer be able to call themselves veterinary nurses and will be breaking the law if they carry out procedures under schedule three of the Veterinary Surgeon's Act.

A consultation was launched in December last year to gauge opinions of the charter among veterinary surgeons, nurses and members of the public. However, just 11 organisations and 37 individuals responded, raising questions about the timing and methods of consultation and the absence of a simple yes/no vote.

Speaking at the council meeting, Ms Molyneux asked Mr Hockey if there had been any negative feedback on the Royal Charter. He said there had not and the response had largely been "overwhelming enthusiasm".

At the meeting, council members approved rules and protocols proposed in order to meet the requirements of the new charter and bye-laws.

The new charter will come into force as soon as it has been printed and sealed.

Lynne Hill, who chairs the VN preliminary investigation committee (PIC), requested that the council explore the possibility of suspensions as an option for some veterinary nurses who go through the disciplinary process. Mrs Hill believes that in some of the cases seen by the VN PIC, suspension may actually be beneficial to the veterinary nurse, although Mark Elliott raised concerns that this could make those nurses "pariahs" and cause them financial hardship.

Regardless of ones views on the pros and cons of regulation and whether this should be by the RCVS or "another body", it is hard to see how 1000 qualified veterinary nurses who have repeatedly rejected regulation by the RCVS can view this development with "overwhelming enthusiasm".

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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.