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2021 RCVS Knowledge Awards winners announced
Dr Jessica Pennock (left) from CVS South Hub and Samantha Fontaine (right) both received RCVS Knowledge Champion Award.

Educators and practice teams recognised for dedication to improving quality of care.

RCVS Knowledge has published a list of the winners of this year's RCVS Knowledge Awards. All of the winners were praised by the charity for championing the use of quality improvement (QI) methodology in their areas of work.

Dr Jessica Pennock from CVS South Hub received an RCVS Knowledge Champion Award for her outcome audit which assessed the effectiveness of a warm air circulating blanket that the practice had recently purchased for anaesthetic procedures. According to RCVS Knowledge, the results demonstrate what can be achieved with an accessible audit that will have a positive impact on patient welfare.

Samantha Fontaine from the University of Glasgow was also awarded as a Knowledge Champion for implementation of a new course that teaches QI to veterinary nurses. RCVS Knowledge praised this new curriculum for providing national and international students with the confidence and skill to apply QI initiatives to their work.

Plymouth Veterinary Group (IVC Evidensia) and CVS Small Animal Team were jointly awarded Practice Champions for their separate ear cytology audits.

Plymouth Veterinary Group developed guidelines for performing cytology on patients presenting with ear pathology, while CVS Small Animal Team carried out a long-term audit on small animal ear cytology on a national scale.

The School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Nottingham was also named a Champion Team for integrating QI and evidence-based veterinary medicine within its undergraduate and postgraduate curriculums.

RCVS Knowledge named nine applications as Highly Commended runners up. These are:

  • Arbury Road Vets
  • Charlotte Thomas
  • Chester Gates Veterinary Specialists
  • Equicall
  • Hannah Almond
  • Kathryn Wale
  • Regan Vet Group
  • Roundhouse Referrals
  • Samantha Morgan-Hourd.

In addition, Linnaeus post-registration education team, VetPartners Ltd and Kathrine Blackie from Linnaeus were also named as ‘Highly Commended – One to Watch.'

Executive director of RCVS Knowledge Chris Gush said: “We were very impressed with the number of high-quality applications received for the 2021 Knowledge Awards.”

“Every award winner demonstrated a dedication to advancing the quality of veterinary care and we look forward to watching them continue to develop quality improvement initiatives in practice. Congratulations to all of the winners.”

Case examples of all this year’s winning projects will be published on the RCVS Knowledge website in early May and the awards will be officially presented at RCVS Day later in the year.

Image (c) RCVS.

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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
RCVS annual renewal fee for vets due

RCVS' annual renewal fee for veterinary surgeons is now due. Vets must pay their renewal fee before Wednesday, 1 April 2026.

This year's standard annual fee has increased to 431 from last year's 418. This is an approximately three per cent increase, as approved by RCVS Council and the Privy Council.

Tshidi Gardner, RCVS treasurer, said: "The small fee increase will be used to help deliver both our everyday activities and our new ambitious Strategic Plan, which includes aims such as achieving new legislation, reviewing the Codes of Professional Conduct and supporting guidance, and continuing to support the professions through activities such as the Mind Matters Initiative, RCVS Academy and career development."

A full breakdown of the new fees is on the RCVS website. Information about tax relief is available on the UK government website.