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Practice Manager of the Year is announced
Practice Manager of the Year Sharon Lane-Kieltyka and VPMA president Helen Sanderson

VPMA member wins prestigious award

A member of the Veterinary Practice Management Association has been awarded the prestigious title of Practice Manager of the Year at the recent Petplan Awards held in Birmingham.

Sharon Lane-Kieltyka from Shepton Veterinary Group, Somerset, received a year’s free membership to the association, with funded CPD and regional support, access to the active e-group and forums and other member benefits, as well as her all important trophy.

Keen to acknowledge the team effort that went into her achievement, Sharon said: “This award is not just recognition for what I have done but what the practice team as a whole has achieved over the last couple of years. I feel very proud to work for Shepton Vets and am extremely grateful for the support I get from staff and directors alike. Hopefully in the future there will be more awards to come for other members of the practice!”

Past President Pauline Graham, who was part of the judging panel, presented Sharon with her accolade. Pauline commented, “Sharon is a very deserving winner – and it’s so lovely that she’s been rewarded for her hard work behind the scenes in running her practice. VPMA is very much about supporting and learning from one another, and the association looks forward to hearing more from Sharon on best management practice.”

 

 

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Annual submission deadline small pet animal exemptions

News Story 1
 Companies marketing medicines for small pets exempt from authorisation must submit their annual return to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) by 30 November 2026.

Submitting this annual return ensures continued compliance with regulatory requirements for products marketed without a full Marketing Authorisation. The exemption specifically applies to products intended for animals, cage birds, terrarium animals, small rodents, ferrets and rabbits.

For further details and submission guidelines, visit the gov.uk website.  

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News Shorts
Bluetongue RZ extended across Scotland

The Scottish Government has announced an extension to a Bluetongue Restricted Zone that is in place in south-west Scotland.

From 3 October, the Restricted Zone will be extended to cover the whole of Scotland. The Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) says this is in response to further disease spread, as well as simplify trading conditions ahead of the autumn.

Since the whole country will share a disease status, it will no longer be necessary to have a movement license to move susceptible livestock around the country. Restrictions on germinal products remain.

As of 1 October 2026, there were 1,979 cases of BTV-3 in England, 389 cases in Wales and 40 cases in Scotland.