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Record number of candidates for RCVS elections
Members are invited to submit questions to the candidates.
RCVS members are invited to ‘quiz the candidates’.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has announced the largest number of candidates for its Council election in more than 25 years.

This year there are 20 veterinary surgeons vying for four available elected places on the RCVS Council.

Each of the candidates has shared a full biography and election statement, which are available on the election website. Candidates with the most votes will sit a four-year term on the RCVS Council.

The RCVS Council is the governing body which makes decisions relating to the regulation of the veterinary profession. This includes strategy, professional standards, education, registration and any other projects that might advance the professions.

There are also three candidates standing for two elected spaces on RCVS’ Veterinary Nurse (VN) Council.

These candidates have also supplied biographies and election statements, which have been published on the VN Council election page. The two candidates with the most votes will sit a three-year term on the VN Council.

The VN Council is responsible for matters including veterinary nurse training, post-qualification awards and the registration of qualified veterinary nurses.

All of the successful candidates will begin their terms at RCVS’ Annual General Meeting on Friday, 4 July 2025.

Ahead of voting, RCVS will be inviting members to ‘Quiz the candidates’. Veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses can submit a questions to learn more about the candidates standing in their respective elections.

Due to the updated information in the candidates’ biographies, each candidate will answer one question of their choice. Members of the professions have until Friday, 28 February to submit their questions.

Simon Wiklund, assistant registrar and returning officer for both elections, said: “We are glad to see such a large number of veterinary professionals putting themselves forward as candidates for this year’s elections.

“It is worth noting that any future governance changes, including RCVS and VN Councils becoming all-appointed bodies, are contingent on new legislation and, until that happens, we will continue to hold our annual elections.”

Image © Shutterstock

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VMD responds to Solensia injection concerns

News Story 1
 The VMD has added anaphylaxis to the SPC of Solensia 7 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cats.

It says that this is a rare side effect, with such adverse events affecting fewer than three animals for every 1000 doses of Solensia sold.

Solensia is used to alleviate osteoarthritis pain in cats. It contains the active ingredient frunevetmab.

Anaphylaxis joins effects such as alopecia, dermatitis, pruritus on the list of adverse effects.

The VMD says that is constantly reviewing adverse event data for all medicines. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
More bird housing measures introduced in England

The Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) is to enforce mandatory housing measures in five more regions, as it tackles the spread of avian influenza in kept and wild birds across England.

From 16 February the measures will apply to Cheshire, Herefordshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Worcestershire. The regions join eight other locations which are already following the measures.

Bird keepers in these areas must house their birds, as well as following strict biosecurity measures. Any locations within a Protection Zone outside these areas must also keep birds housed.

An Avian Influenza Protection Zone, mandating enhanced biosecurity measures, remains in place across Great Britain. On 10 February, APHA also banned the gatherings of poultry, galliforme and anseriforme birds in England, Scotland and Wales

All disease control zones can be checked on APHA's interactive map. Further guidance on additional housing measures can be found here.