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Nick Henderson, founder and president of VMA, has died aged 92
Nick Henderson is remembered for developing an "external voice" for the profession.
VMA pays tribute to a "tireless campaigner" 

Nick Henderson, founder and president of the Veterinary Marketing Association (VMA), has died aged 92. Mr Henderson passed away on Sunday, 23 December 2018.

VMA chair, Jane Manning, commented: “As the founder member and president of our wonderful association, Nick was such an inspiration to all of those lucky enough to meet and work with him.

“Nick continued to support the VMA and attend our annual awards event throughout his presidency. We all have some wonderful memories, not least his attendance and fabulous speech to the 300+ guests at our annual awards ceremony in March 2018 at the age of 92.

“He will be greatly missed and our sincere condolences go to Nick’s family.”

Nick Henderson BSc, MRCVS Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, was involved in setting up what was to become the BSAVA, as well as in the development of veterinary societies and associations over the past 60 years.

Fulfilling his childhood dream to become a veterinary surgeon, Mr Henderson graduated from Glasgow veterinary school in 1951 and went on to help organise the very first BSAVA congress in 1958.

Mr Henderson became the founding chairman of the Pharmaceutical Marketing Club in 1975 and founded the VMA in 1988, followed by the Associations of Veterinarians in Industry (AVI). Mr Henderson also became president of the International Aspirin Foundation and chairman of Henderson Group One.

In July 2015, Mr Henderson was awarded an RCVS Honorary Fellowship for services to the veterinary profession.

Mr Henderson is remembered and recognised by the VMA as a “tireless campaigner” for veterinary surgeons and for developing an “external voice” for the profession.

Mr Henderson’s funeral will take place on Friday, 25 January 2019 at 1 p.m. The service will be held at St Peters & St Paul’s, the parish church of West Clandon, just north of Guildford. All are welcome.

Please send any enquiries or condolences to Alice Laurens: secretary@vma.org.uk

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
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RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."