Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 25th October 2010
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel
Blue Cross VN of the Year
BVNA President Donna Lewis with Wendy Adams, Blue Cross veterinary clinical advisor and Nicola Ackerman. Photo courtesy of the BVNA.
The Blue Cross animal charity has presented its Veterinary Nurse of the Year award to Nicola Ackerman for her commitment to improving animal welfare, both within her veterinary practice and among the local community in Plymouth, Devon.

The award was presented during BVNA Congress in Kettering, Northamptonshire by Jill Robinson, founder of the Animals Asia Foundation, and Wendy Adams, Blue Cross veterinary clinical advisor.

Wendy Adams said: "The Veterinary Nurse of the Year award is a chance for The Blue Cross to applaud the hard work and dedication of vet nurses in the UK. Particularly those who extend their reach to voluntary and community work to promote responsible pet ownership and animal care. We congratulate Nicola for winning this year’s award!”

Nicola was nominated for the award by veterinary nurses at The Veterinary Hospital Group surgery in Plymouth, and her husband Chris.

Hanno Payne, practice manager at The Veterinary Hospital said: "We are delighted that Nicola's commitment to animal welfare has been recognised by winning this award. Nicola spends a tremendous amount of time and effort organising events locally to promote preventative health care for pets and educate the public at large. She was instrumental in getting the educational ‘Pets in the Park’ initiative up and running and Nicola is always the first to volunteer for career talks and showing groups of youngsters around the hospital. Nicola is also keen to foster closer working relationships with other veterinary practices and their veterinary nurses in the wider Plymouth area and has created 'clinical clubs' for that to be possible.”

Commenting on her award, Nicola said: “I was absolutely gobsmacked when I found out I had won this award and has taken quite a while to sink in. I’d like to say a huge thank-you to my colleagues, and of course my husband, who nominated me. I wouldn’t be able to do the work I do without the strong support of my colleagues and family. I love my job and I’m lucky enough to work in such a forward thinking practice that allows vet nurses to undertake the work they are trained for.”

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

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. 

Click here for more...
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.