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RCVS rolls out Question Time programme
"Rest assured – if you want to be heard, we will find a way to listen” - Dr Melissa Donald, RCVS president.
A series of virtual and in-person events will give vets and nurses the opportunity to raise issues with the College. 

Veterinary professionals will be given the opportunity to question the RCVS about its current and upcoming projects in a new series of virtual and in-person Question Time events. 

Through the initiative, members of the professions will be able to learn about the various College initiatives and put questions to the RCVS officer team, council members and senior staff in a friendly, informal atmosphere. 

The first event takes place in Glasgow on Wednesday, 7 September, and will be attended by RCVS president Melissa Donald, RCVS treasurer Niall Connell, RCVS senior vice-president Kate Richards, junior vice-president Sue Paterson, VN Council chair Matthew Rendle, RCVS registrar Eleanor Ferguson and RCVS CEO Lizzie Lockett.

Starting with drinks and supper at 6.30, the programme will begin at 7.30 with an update on RCVS activities and move on to questions and answers with RCVS representatives.  While the audience will ultimately decide upon the topics, the questions are anticipated to include workforce issues, the review of RCVS guidance on under care, proposals for legislative reform, VetGDP and the future of extra-mural studies. 

Dr Donald said: “In my opening speech as RCVS President, I said that one of the key missions of my presidential year was to talk – and especially listen – to as many members of the professions as I possibly can. 

“Relaunching our Question Time programme after a hiatus will give me the opportunity to do exactly this, as well as giving members of the professions that all-important opportunity to put their questions and concerns directly to us. We might not be able to address every problem, but these events give an excellent opportunity for vets and nurses to raise issues, forge connections with their peers and work together to find solutions. 

“I hope that many of you will be able to come to our first in-person event in Glasgow but we will also be holding these question times virtually in the future for those people who may struggle to make it to these evening events. Rest assured – if you want to be heard, we will find a way to listen.” 

The first virtual question time will take place in November 2022, while the next live event is scheduled to take place in Nottingham in January 2023. Further information about the events will be posted on rcvs.org.uk/events in due course.

To register for the Glasgow event visit: tinyurl.com/22pem3d6

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Free event for the global unowned cat community

News Story 1
 International Cat Care (ICatCare) has announced a free, virtual event dedicated to caring for unowned cats to explore new ideas and ways of working.

iCatConnect 2025 takes place on Wednesday, 12 November, and is open to everyone working and volunteering with unowned cats. It will include a line-up of 12 international cat welfare experts, who will consider the bigger picture of unowned cats and explore practical, effective, and inclusive solutions.

Following the session, attendees can put their questions to the experts and share their views. They will also hear frontline challenges and real-world case studies shared by contributors working in shelters, TNR, community cat programmes, and veterinary teams from around the world. 

Click here for more...
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Bluetongue reaches Wales for first time in 2025

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has revealed that bluetongue has been confirmed in Wales for the first time in 2025.

In their latest statistics, APHA records a total of 109 cases of BTV-3 or BTV-8 in Great Britain in the 2025-2026 vector season.

The total number of BTV-3 cases in Great Britain this season is 107. This includes 103 cases within the England restricted zone and four cases in Wales.

There has also been two cases of BTV-8, which were both in Cornwall.

As a result of the cases in Wales, a Temporary Control Zone (TCZ) is enforced in Monmouthshire. Animals can move freely under general license within the England Restricted Zone, however animals with suspected bluetongue must stay on their holding.

All premises testing positive for blue tongue can be viewed on this map.