Getting to know Kit Sturgess
Dr Christopher 'Kit' Sturgess qualified from Cambridge almost thirty years ago. Since then, his career has been a mixture of small animal practice, mixed and equine practice, referrals and further education.
Kit spent ten years at the University of Bristol and the RVC gaining his PhD, certificate in cardiology and diploma in small animal medicine. Having established a highly successful small animal referral centre, Kit now concentrates on veterinary education and support for general practitioners.
An RCVS recognised specialist in small animal medicine and an international lecturer, Kit is now standing for election for RCVS Council 2012. When asked about the current issues at the College and what he hopes to achieve should he be elected, he gave a detailed response, outlined below:
1. The McKelvey report identified serious deficiencies at the RCVS that are not satisfactory for a professional body. What would you change?
- I do believe that the College needs to be as open as possible and, if it has to make a decision that it knows or should know will be unpopular, then more effort should be made to clarify the situation.
- Improved financial governance is necessary and is being instituted.
- There should be clear early warning mechanisms in place.
- There needs to be a clear line of accountability - those involved in the decision making process should be able to be identified so as voting members of the profession we can make a decision as to whether we want such an individual to continue to represent us.
2. The RCVS has been accused of being disconnected from its members. What do you think can be done to improve this?
- I do agree that the College seems somewhat remote and secretive at times although I do see this is slowly changing.
- I would like to see the college develop clearer 5 and 10 year strategies that they communicate well to the profession to allow interested parties early input.
3. How would you restore trust in the RCVS, if elected?
- Trust is a matter of mutual respect.
- For the RCVS this means respecting, listening and responding to the importance, efforts and concerns of its members and be as clear and open as possible with the profession about what the role of the College is and within those roles what is being done without burying busy professionals in paper.
4. How can the RCVS become more transparent in the future and what part would you play in this?
- I would want to push hard for the College to make and publish its long term aims and objectives in a clear and short format and then benchmark its performance against those aims and objectives.
- I do feel that there is a significant mismatch between the College’s view of their role and the memberships view of the role the College should play.
5. After closing its VN awarding body the RCVS introduced a significant "regulatory fee" for student nurses, which has been viewed by some as grossly unfair. What is your opinion?
- This is not an area that I have great experience with so can only really give an opinion based on the documentation on the RCVS website.
- I would suggest that in the short term the college should consider waiving the fee for candidates with genuine hardship.
6. In the current climate of de-regulation and reducing costs, what cuts would you advise in RCVS expenditure and activities?
- I suspect the area where most significant long term saving could be made would be to move the RCVS out of London.
For Kit's full response, click here.
His manifesto can be accessed here.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
