Royal Charter consultation receives limited response
The RCVS hopes to have the new charter sealed by March 2015.
An RCVS consultation on proposals for a new Royal Charter has closed after receiving responses from just 37 individuals and 11 organisations.
The new charter will give the college formal recognition as a regulator of the veterinary nursing profession.
It also means listed veterinary nurses will be moved over to the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses and will be subject to CPD requirements and disciplinary procedures.
Responses to the consultation were received from:
• Association of Meat Inspectors (AMI)
• Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland (AVSPNI)
• British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)
• British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA)
• British Veterinary Association (BVA)
• British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA)
• British Veterinary Union (BVU)
• Central Veterinary Society
• CVS (UK) Ltd
• Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS)
• People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)
• 37 individuals.
The college says there is much support for the concept of a new charter, however a number of points were raised. The responses were reported at the RCVS Council meeting on March 6.
With regards to veterinary nurses, minutes from the council meeting state five of the organisations and 17 individuals who responded said they supported the regulation and recognition of veterinary nurses.
Three of the organisations and four individuals said they agreed with the principle of a single register, but five individuals opposed this. Meanwhile, the BSAVA suggested listed veterinary nurses should be consulted on their reasons for not joining the register.
Some questions were also raised about the way the consultation was conducted with the BVA and Central Veterinary Society claiming the consultation period was too short and the BVNA suggesting a survey or questionnaire would have been better than an open consultation on the charter.
While the BVA "broadly supports" the principle of a new charter, the association made numerous comments in response the the draft. The college says it is addressing these points.
The RCVS hopes to have the new charter sealed by March 2015.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
