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Belfast sweeps the board at NI Vet Nurse Awards
NI Vet Nursing Award Winners
The winners receive their prizes. Left to right: Diane Young (BVNA regional co-ordinator NI), Louise Richards, Fiona Andrew, Melanie Sphan, Joanna Mcnally, Lesley O'Neill and Michelle Darby.
Lesley O'Neill crowned Vet Nurse of the Year

Lesley O'Neill of Braemar Veterinary Clinic in Belfast has been crowned winner of this years' Northern Ireland Veterinary Nurse of the Year award.

A veterinary nurse for 19 years, Lesley's colleagues described her as 'warm and empathetic, taking time to reassure clients their pet is in safe hands' and 'extending the same love and devotion to her own pets to the patients under her care.'  Many of the pets Lesley owns were once homeless or lame animals whose lives she has since transformed. Lesley has also given up time to support and inspire trainee veterinary nurses on their journey towards qualification.

The Northern Ireland Veterinary Nurse Awards rely on nominations and are judged by BVNA president Fiona Andrew, Melanie Spahn - president of the Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland, and Fiona Marjoram, representing the awards' sponsors.

The Northern Ireland Student Vet Nurse of the Year award went to Michelle Darby of Balmoral Veterinary Centre in Belfast for her dedication to animal care both inside the practice and out. Colleagues said that she has a 'natural gift' for handling animals and her 'happy and calm attitude brings a positive and relaxed atmosphere to the practice'. A fellow veterinary nurse praised Michelle saying: "I feel not only does Michelle learn from the veterinary surgeons and nurses, but we also learn from Michelle."

The Northern Ireland Veterinary Customer Care Representative of the Year award went to Alison Fletcher of Cedar Grove Veterinary Clinic, also in Belfast.  Alison gained the position as head of customer care after 20 years in veterinary nursing and practice. Colleagues said that her 'wealth of knowledge' and 'incredible memory for client and pet names' has proved invaluable and there is a genuine feeling that 'nothing is too much trouble for her.'

A special recognition award was given to Louise Richards from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise's Greenmount Campus - the only centre in Northern Ireland to offer the veterinary nursing course approved by the RCVS. The judging panel decided that Louise deserved recognition for continually going above and beyond the call of duty in her capacity as a veterinary nursing instructor.

Commenting on the awards, Fiona Marjoram said: "We've always known that veterinary nurses are incredibly dedicated people, but these awards really bring it home and the extent of that dedication is often staggering. We are incredibly proud to be associated with these awards that celebrate the best of veterinary nursing in Northern Ireland and congratulate all the winners."

The winners received gift vouchers and trophies and were celebrated at the AVSPNI/BVNA Congress in May. 

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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.