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RCVS and VN Council election candidates announced
"We look forward to launching both elections next month and hope to see record turnouts in both elections" - Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS registrar.

Elections commence Monday, 16 March 2020

The candidates for the 2020 RCVS and VN Council elections have been announced.

This year sees the first VN Council election since 2017 and a record number of candidates, with 13 veterinary nurses competing for the two available places.

The candidates for the VN Council election are:

 • Samantha Anderson RVN
 • Jessica Beckett RVN
 • Kirsten Cavill RVN
 • Rebecca Clark RVN
 • Dorothy Creighton RVN
 • Lindsey Anne Dodd RVN
 • Emma Foreman RVN
 • Racheal Marshall RVN (incumbent)
 • Megan Oakey RVN
 • Susannah Phillips RVN
 • Matthew Rendle RVN (incumbent)
 • Claire Roberts RVN
 • Cathy Woodlands RVN.


Eight veterinary surgeons have put themselves forward to compete for the three available places. They are:

 • John Davies MRCVS
 • Dr Melissa Donald MRCVS (incumbent)
 • Dr Tom Lonsdale MRCVS
 • Professor Stephen May FRCVS (incumbent)
 • Dr Kate Richards MRCVS
 • Peter Robinson MRCVS
 • Dr Richard Stephenson MRCVS
 • Dr Christopher (Kit) Sturgess FRCVS (incumbent).

RCVS registrar Eleanor Ferguson said: “After two years without an election for VN Council it is fantastic to see that a record number of veterinary nurses have put themselves forward as candidates. It demonstrates that there is a desire amongst the profession to engage with VN Council and the important issues it decides on around veterinary nursing education, continuing professional development and registration. It is also the first year that the number of veterinary nurse candidates has outnumbered the number of vets standing for RCVS Council.
 
“We look forward to launching both elections next month and hope to see record turnouts in both elections. In the meantime please make sure to engage with the process and scrutinise the candidates and their views by submitting a question about an issue of interest to you.”

Both elections will commence in the week beginning Monday, 16 March when candidates’ details, manifestos and ballot papers will be sent via post or email to members of both professions who are eligible to vote.

Biographies for each of the candidates, along with their election statements, can be found on the RCVS website. The statements for RCVS Council candidates can be found here and those for VN Council candidates here.

The elections close at 5 pm on Friday, 24 April 2020.

The RCVS is also inviting members of the profession to ‘quiz the candidates’ by submitting a question. The questions will be put directly to the candidates, who will then pick two to discuss from all those received.

Recordings of the candidates’ answers will be published on the RCVS website and YouTube channel. Vets should email their question (one per person) to vetvote20@rcvs.org.uk or send it to the college via the College’s Twitter account @theRCVS using the hashtag #vetvote20 by midday on Friday 28 February 2020.

Veterinary nurses should email their question to vnvote20@rcvs.org.uk or tweet to the College’s Twitter account using the hashtag #vnvote20.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.