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RVC opens new transfusion centre
Christianne Glossop opened the new facilities.
The facility will help meet demand for blood products.

The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has opened a Transfusion Medicine Centre at its Hawkshead Campus in North Mymms, Hertfordshire.

The centre was officially opened in a special ceremony by Christianne Glossop, chair of the RVC’s charity the Animal Care Trust. The charity gave £90,000 to the project.

The new facilities will help the RVC meet the increasing demand for blood products. The centre has separate areas for canine and feline donors and an on-site laboratory to process and store blood products.

Since the RVC launched its Blood Donor Programme in 2004, the number of regular donors has increased from 19 dogs to 150 dogs and 62 cats. In 2023, the programme facilitated a total of 711 transfusions.

Dan Chan, professor of emergency and critical care medicine at RVC, said: “Working in the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, I’ve seen first-hand how blood donations help pets every single day and the ground-breaking clinical treatment and expert care that is provided at the hospital.

“Thanks to our special donors, blood transfusions have saved thousands of lives at the RVC over the last two decades.”

“The new Transfusion Medicine Centre is essential in allowing us to expand and enhance our current facilities to ensure even more cats and dogs can be treated. We are grateful to everyone for their contributions that have helped us to achieve this important goal.”

Image © Royal Veterinary College

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Voting opens for BEVA Council

News Story 1
 Eligible members of BEVA will be able to vote for their Council team until Monday, 17 August 2026. Members will have received an election email on 17 July.

There are five candidates standing for four available places on Council. They are:

  • Alexandre Triguino
  • Angela Jones
  • Beth Bryant
  • Holly Rees
  • Hugh Somerville
Full profiles for each candidate can be found on the BEVA website

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Government releases latest bluetongue statistics

APHA has confirmed the number of bluetongue cases that have been logged in the UK since 1 July 2026.

The total number of BTV-3 cases, as of 6 August, is 187. This includes 183 cases in England and four cases in Wales.

There have been no recorded cases in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The location of premises in Great Britain where at least one animal has tested positive by PCR for BTV-3, BTV-8 or BTV-12 is available on the bluetongue case map. All livestock keepers in Great Britain are urged to familiarise themselves with nation-specific bluetongue control policies.

Bluetongue virus is a notifiable disease. It is a legal requirement that any suspicions, even if livestock has been vaccinated, are reported immediately.