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VMD and RCVS Knowledge launch medication safety course
"30 per cent of errors reported to the VDS's VetSafe system are due to medication errors" - Chris Gush, RCVS Knowledge.

The course is freely available to anyone in the veterinary profession.

A free online course has been launched to help veterinary teams improve their medication safety in practice.

The course, Managing Veterinary Medicines: Staying legal and promoting safety, has been jointly launched by RCVS Knowledge and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate to provide knowledge on the safe and responsible use of veterinary medicines and medicine regulations. 

Delivering more than six hours of CPD, course users can expect to learn how to put systems in place that will reduce errors, improve patient outcomes and improve practice systems. 

RCVS Knowledge executive director, Chris Gush, said: “In England alone, more than 1,700 people die yearly because of medication errors. While we don't know the true figures in veterinary medicine, we do know that 30 per cent of errors reported to the VDS's VetSafe system are due to medication errors.

“That's why we think it's vital to have good robust systems in place in the practice dispensary and to use QI tools like guidelines, protocols, and checklists. We are pleased to have worked alongside the VMD to produce this fantastic course that will help veterinary teams improve their medication safety and ultimately save lives.”

The course will be delivered through podcasts, webinars and articles, and will help practices prepare for a VMD inspection or an RCVS Practice Standards Scheme assessment. 

CEO of the VMD, Abi Seager added: “Managing Veterinary Medicines will help teams comply with legislation as well as keep patients, team members and clients safe when prescribing and dispensing medicine. Both RCVS Knowledge and the VMD are committed to supporting veterinary teams to use and store medicines correctly to benefit patients, veterinary teams and practices.”

The course is open to everyone in the veterinary profession. For more information and to access the course, visit rcvsknowledge.org

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Webinar to explore AMR in vet dentistry

News Story 1
 The WSAVA has invited veterinary professionals to a webinar on responsible antibiotic usage in dentistry.

On 19 November 2025, at 1am, Dr J Scott Weese and Dr Brooke Niemiec will share the latest advice for antimicrobial use. They will present research on oral bacterology, and explain how attendees can choose appropriate antibiotics.

The session will cover pre-, intra- and post-operative guidelines, with recommendations for various pathologies.

The webinar is designed to support veterinary professionals to make informed decisions and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Attendees can register here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Dechra launches checklist for veterinary sustainability

Global animal health specialist Dechra has announced the world's first Veterinary Green Theatre Checklist (VGTC) to help make surgery more sustainable.

Endorsed by leading veterinary organisations, including the BEVA, BVNA and RCVS Knowledge, the checklist is designed to reduce the environmental footprint of veterinary care, while supporting better animal health outcomes.

The checklist was launched at the World Congress of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia in Paris and will be followed by an internal training and awareness campaign. For more information, visit dechra.com