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Setback for VN title protection
vn with rabbit
Despite this setback, the bill will receive a first reading on 10 June.
Bill comes 36th in House of Lords ballot

A bill to protect the 'veterinary nurse' title has come 36th in a ballot in the House of Lords, throwing into doubt its chances of receiving parliamentary time.

The Veterinary Nurses (Protection of Title) Bill hopes to prohibit the use of the title by anyone not listed on the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses.

Any non-registered person using the title or any name, title or description that implied they were listed on the register would face fines or conviction under the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

Professor the Lord Trees submitted the bill to the ballot on 19 May. Bills must draw highly enough to receive parliamentary time.

Despite this setback, Lord Trees said during last week's RCVS Council meeting that it will receive a first reading on 10 June. Given the bill's non-controversial nature, it is likely to get cross-party support and may still get through to the House of Commons.

Meanwhile, the council approved a change to the code of conduct last week to help protect the VN title.

The code now reads: "Veterinary nurses must not hold out themselves or others as having expertise that they cannot substantiate, or hold out others as specialists or advanced practitioners unless appropriately listed with the RCVS, or veterinary nurses unless appropriately registered with the RCVS."

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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.