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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 19th July 2022
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New 'Think Tank' series for vet nurses announced
The new series of veterinary nurse Think Tank events kicks off on 21 July.
Sessions include 'everyday leadership' and 'innovation and problem solving'.

A new series of veterinary nurse 'Think Tank' events has been announced, focusing on areas such as leadership, innovation and the importance of a just culture.

A collaboration between the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative and skills provider, VetLed, the ongoing series aims to tackle incivility in the workplace and facilitate working environments that prioritise wellbeing. 

To date, the collaboration has included six fully-funded civility training sessions, a free psychophysical safety workshop and the first of four veterinary nurse Think Tanks. The new sessions, sponsored by the RCVS MMI, will focus on the following:
  • Everyday leadership – Thursday 21 July 2022
  • Innovation and problem solving - Thursday 20 October 2022 
  • When things go wrong: The importance of a just culture – Thursday 19 January 2023.
Mind Matters Manager, Lisa Quigley, said: “It’s fantastic to be working with VetLed and the BVNA to run these think tanks. Maintaining a positive working culture is essential both for the wellbeing of the practice team, but also for the wellbeing of the animals in their care.

“Veterinary nurses carry out vital work and are an essential part of the practice team. It’s therefore of utmost importance that they feel empowered and safe to have their voices heard, and supported to drive sustainable, positive change.”

Helen Silver-MacMahon, research and development director at VetLed, said: “The next Think Tank will focus on everyday leadership, where we will be exploring some of the potential challenges facing aspiring and current veterinary nurse leaders, and the ways in which these challenges can be approached. The session is interactive, so we actively encourage people to share their experiences, to allow us all to learn from and support each other.”

The Think Tanks were launched in 2021 to offer veterinary nurses a safe space in which to explore veterinary 'human factors' – an established discipline drawing on scientific knowledge about the human body, mind and behaviour to understand human capabilities and limitations. 

A 2021 survey of student veterinary nurses, graduates and clinical coaches, conducted by MMI, found that 96 per cent agreed or strongly agreed that bullying and incivility was a serious problem in the profession. 

These findings we backed by a recent VetLed poll of veterinary reams, which reveals 97 per cent had been on the receiving end of incivility in practice.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.