Setback for VN title protection
Despite this setback, the bill will receive a first reading on 10 June.
A bill to protect the 'veterinary nurse' title has come 36th in a ballot in the House of Lords, throwing into doubt its chances of receiving parliamentary time.
The Veterinary Nurses (Protection of Title) Bill hopes to prohibit the use of the title by anyone not listed on the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses.
Any non-registered person using the title or any name, title or description that implied they were listed on the register would face fines or conviction under the Veterinary Surgeons Act.
Professor the Lord Trees submitted the bill to the ballot on 19 May. Bills must draw highly enough to receive parliamentary time.
Despite this setback, Lord Trees said during last week's RCVS Council meeting that it will receive a first reading on 10 June. Given the bill's non-controversial nature, it is likely to get cross-party support and may still get through to the House of Commons.
Meanwhile, the council approved a change to the code of conduct last week to help protect the VN title.
The code now reads: "Veterinary nurses must not hold out themselves or others as having expertise that they cannot substantiate, or hold out others as specialists or advanced practitioners unless appropriately listed with the RCVS, or veterinary nurses unless appropriately registered with the RCVS."
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
