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RCVS Council elects new junior vice-president
Tim Parkin will take up the role in July.
New office holder says “change cannot come soon enough”.

Tim Parkin, head of the University of Bristol Veterinary School and a professor of veterinary epidemiology, has been elected as the new junior vice-president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

He was elected during the March meeting of RCVS Council, held at the Royal College of Nursing in London.

During the same meeting, the previous junior vice-president, Linda Belton, was appointed RCVS president for 2024-25. Sue Paterson will serve as senior vice-president. All three will take up their new positions at the College’s Annual General Meeting on 5 July 2024.

Prof Parkin holds degrees from the University of Bristol in Zoology and Veterinary Science, and has completed a PHD at the University of Liverpool on the epidemiology of fractures in racehorses.

Before working at the University of Bristol, he worked at the Animal Health Trust and the University of Glasgow. Since 2021, he has been a Veterinary Schools Council-appointed member of RCVS Council.

Prof Parkin said: “I would like to humbly thank my colleagues on RCVS Council for electing me to this role, it is a great honour.

“As a passionate advocate for veterinary education, one of my driving goals is ensuring that in 20 years’ time we will have veterinary professions that are more fit for purpose, working with a more recent Veterinary Surgeons Act and a make-up that is significantly more diverse and reflective of the society we serve.

“The discussions we’ve had at Council have reinforced in me the importance of change, and that change cannot come soon enough. Legislative reform which is clearly more required and hopefully closer than ever before; developing new, fulfilling career pathways to help with colleague retention and workforce shortages; and expanding and enhancing the ‘Team Vet’ ethos are areas I am looking forward to contributing to over the next three years.

“As the saying goes - the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the second best time is today.”

Image © 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.