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RCVS and VN Council candidates announced
Ballot paper
Eligible voters will receive their ballot papers by post during the week commencing 14 March.

Voting commences 14 March
 
The names of the candidates standing in this year’s RCVS and VN Council elections have been announced.


All veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are eligible to vote will receive their ballot papers and candidates’ details by post during the week commencing 14 March.

All votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday, 29 April 2016.

There are eight candidates contesting six places in RCVS Council. These include four existing Council members eligible for re-election and four new candidates. They are:

  • Mr Christopher Barker MRCVS
  • Ms Amanda Boag MRCVS
  • Dr Melissa Donald MRCVS
  • Miss Lucie Goodwin MRCVS
  • Mr Thomas Lonsdale MRCVS
  • Professor Stephen May FRCVS
  • Dr Cheryl Scudamore FRCVS
  • Dr Christopher (Kit) Sturgess MRCVS

Six veterinary nurses are contesting two places in this year’s VN Council elections and all are new candidates. They are:

  • Mrs Stacey Bullock RVN
  • Miss Racheal Marshall RVN
  • Mrs Wendy Nevins RVN
  • Mr Matthew Rendle RVN
  • Mrs Samantha Thompson RVN
  • Miss Helen Tottey RVN


The RCVS invites veterinary surgeons and nurses to put their question’s to the nominees in this year’s ‘quiz the candidates’. Each candidate will then choose two questions from all those received and produce a video recording of their answers. The RCVS will then publish the videos on their website on Thursday 17 March.

“Last year, all election candidates produced videos for the first time and, with over 3,500 views in total, it seemed a popular way for voters to find out more about the individuals who were standing,” says RCVS chief executive Nick Stace.
 


“Providing a way for all vets and vet nurses to put their own questions to the candidates is now an integral part of the elections, and one which we hope will continue to encourage people to get involved and have their say.

Veterinary and nurses can email their questions to vetvote16@rcvs.org.uk or VNvote16@rcvs.org.uk. Voters can also post their questions on the College’s Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtags #vetvote16 or #VNvote16. The closing date for questions is Monday, 29 February.


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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.