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Complaints cause ‘considerable stress and anxiety’
Martin Peaty
Martin is a senior vet at Salisbury Racecourse and a member of the Association of Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons.
RCVS Council candidate highlights disciplinary failings

‘As our regulator, the RCVS has the potential to cause members considerable stress and anxiety when complaints are received from members of the public,’ writes RCVS Council hopeful Martin Peaty in his election manifesto.

‘It goes without saying that dishonesty and behaviour seriously detrimental to patients or clients cannot be tolerated but increasingly complaints appear to be made maliciously, to avoid payment of fees or in order to pursue agendas unrelated to a member’s fitness to practice.’

If elected to RCVS Council, Martin says that he will do ‘all he can’ to ensure that the disciplinary process is as efficient in identifying and quickly dismissing these cases as it is in pursuing the genuine ones.

Martin is a senior vet at Salisbury Racecourse and a member of the Association of Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons (ARVS). With a keen interest in farming, he runs a small sheep flock with his wife, who is also a vet.

Graduating from the University of Bristol in 1990, Martin obtained his certificate in Equine practice in 1999 and his Certificate in Equine Surgery (orthopaedics) in 2007. He became an Advanced Practitioner in Equine Practice and Equine Surgery in 2015.

If elected to Council, Martin also hopes to play a role in the development of future policy to ensure that CPD works for members. In the past, he has been involved in mentoring new graduates and helping with the Professional Development Phase. He has also been a member of the RCVS Equine Board and BVA representative on the Advanced Practioner Working Party.

‘I count myself extremely fortunate to enjoy my work as a veterinary surgeon and am proud to be a member of our profession,” he adds. ‘My purpose in standing for Council is to ensure that as many colleagues feel the same way about working as veterinary surgeons.’

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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.