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Consultation launched on RCVS Fellowship
Image RCVS logo
The college aims to expand the Fellowship to 5 per cent of the practising profession.
Changes hope to enable a wider range of vets to become fellows

The RCVS is seeking the views of the veterinary profession on possible changes to the RCVS Fellowship. The college says it is aiming to give a wider range of vets a "realistic chance" of becoming a Fellow.

Professor Gary England developed the proposals alongside current Fellows. He said: "By widening the routes to Fellowship we want to enable a greater range of veterinary surgeons representing all facets of the profession, including those involved in clinical practice, to have a realistic chance of becoming a Fellow if their contribution to practice and the profession warrants it."

Currently, just 1 per cent of the practising profession are Fellows. Professor England says the aim is to increase this to 5 per cent, making the Fellowship more "dynamic".

He said this will "enable the college to make far more of the collective knowledge and experience than it currently does, to help advance veterinary science, possibly through the structure of the college’s charitable arm, RCVS Knowledge."

The two current routes of entry to the Fellowship are Fellowship by Thesis and Meritorious Contributions to Learning.

The Fellowship Working Party, formed in 2013, proposes to change this to: Meritorious Contribution to the Veterinary Profession, Meritorious Contribution to Knowledge and Meritorious Contribution to Clinical Practice.

Proposed changes will not affect the status of current Fellows. While the proposals suggest the award of Honorary Fellowship should be discontinued, the college says all existing Honorary Fellows will keep their titles.

Under the proposals, the RCVS says the Fellowship could develop into a learned society.

The consultation document can be downloaded from the RCVS website, or hard copies are available upon request.

Those who wish to respond can complete an online survey or fill in the questionnaire included in the consultation document. Responses must be received by Friday, July 4, 2014.

For further information or to request hard copies of the consultation document, call the RCVS Education Department on 0207 202 0791 or email education@rcvs.org.uk 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.