Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Complaints cause ‘considerable stress and anxiety’
Martin Peaty
Martin is a senior vet at Salisbury Racecourse and a member of the Association of Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons.
RCVS Council candidate highlights disciplinary failings

‘As our regulator, the RCVS has the potential to cause members considerable stress and anxiety when complaints are received from members of the public,’ writes RCVS Council hopeful Martin Peaty in his election manifesto.

‘It goes without saying that dishonesty and behaviour seriously detrimental to patients or clients cannot be tolerated but increasingly complaints appear to be made maliciously, to avoid payment of fees or in order to pursue agendas unrelated to a member’s fitness to practice.’

If elected to RCVS Council, Martin says that he will do ‘all he can’ to ensure that the disciplinary process is as efficient in identifying and quickly dismissing these cases as it is in pursuing the genuine ones.

Martin is a senior vet at Salisbury Racecourse and a member of the Association of Racecourse Veterinary Surgeons (ARVS). With a keen interest in farming, he runs a small sheep flock with his wife, who is also a vet.

Graduating from the University of Bristol in 1990, Martin obtained his certificate in Equine practice in 1999 and his Certificate in Equine Surgery (orthopaedics) in 2007. He became an Advanced Practitioner in Equine Practice and Equine Surgery in 2015.

If elected to Council, Martin also hopes to play a role in the development of future policy to ensure that CPD works for members. In the past, he has been involved in mentoring new graduates and helping with the Professional Development Phase. He has also been a member of the RCVS Equine Board and BVA representative on the Advanced Practioner Working Party.

‘I count myself extremely fortunate to enjoy my work as a veterinary surgeon and am proud to be a member of our profession,” he adds. ‘My purpose in standing for Council is to ensure that as many colleagues feel the same way about working as veterinary surgeons.’

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.