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: 11th February 2020
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

RCVS and VN Council election candidates announced
"We look forward to launching both elections next month and hope to see record turnouts in both elections" - Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS registrar.

Elections commence Monday, 16 March 2020

The candidates for the 2020 RCVS and VN Council elections have been announced.

This year sees the first VN Council election since 2017 and a record number of candidates, with 13 veterinary nurses competing for the two available places.

The candidates for the VN Council election are:

 • Samantha Anderson RVN
 • Jessica Beckett RVN
 • Kirsten Cavill RVN
 • Rebecca Clark RVN
 • Dorothy Creighton RVN
 • Lindsey Anne Dodd RVN
 • Emma Foreman RVN
 • Racheal Marshall RVN (incumbent)
 • Megan Oakey RVN
 • Susannah Phillips RVN
 • Matthew Rendle RVN (incumbent)
 • Claire Roberts RVN
 • Cathy Woodlands RVN.


Eight veterinary surgeons have put themselves forward to compete for the three available places. They are:

 • John Davies MRCVS
 • Dr Melissa Donald MRCVS (incumbent)
 • Dr Tom Lonsdale MRCVS
 • Professor Stephen May FRCVS (incumbent)
 • Dr Kate Richards MRCVS
 • Peter Robinson MRCVS
 • Dr Richard Stephenson MRCVS
 • Dr Christopher (Kit) Sturgess FRCVS (incumbent).

RCVS registrar Eleanor Ferguson said: “After two years without an election for VN Council it is fantastic to see that a record number of veterinary nurses have put themselves forward as candidates. It demonstrates that there is a desire amongst the profession to engage with VN Council and the important issues it decides on around veterinary nursing education, continuing professional development and registration. It is also the first year that the number of veterinary nurse candidates has outnumbered the number of vets standing for RCVS Council.
 
“We look forward to launching both elections next month and hope to see record turnouts in both elections. In the meantime please make sure to engage with the process and scrutinise the candidates and their views by submitting a question about an issue of interest to you.”

Both elections will commence in the week beginning Monday, 16 March when candidates’ details, manifestos and ballot papers will be sent via post or email to members of both professions who are eligible to vote.

Biographies for each of the candidates, along with their election statements, can be found on the RCVS website. The statements for RCVS Council candidates can be found here and those for VN Council candidates here.

The elections close at 5 pm on Friday, 24 April 2020.

The RCVS is also inviting members of the profession to ‘quiz the candidates’ by submitting a question. The questions will be put directly to the candidates, who will then pick two to discuss from all those received.

Recordings of the candidates’ answers will be published on the RCVS website and YouTube channel. Vets should email their question (one per person) to vetvote20@rcvs.org.uk or send it to the college via the College’s Twitter account @theRCVS using the hashtag #vetvote20 by midday on Friday 28 February 2020.

Veterinary nurses should email their question to vnvote20@rcvs.org.uk or tweet to the College’s Twitter account using the hashtag #vnvote20.

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

Rabbit Awareness Week set to return this summer

News Story 1
 Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) is returning this summer, running from 24-28 June 2024. The theme for this year will be 'Healthy Diet, Happy Bunnies'.

The focus on rabbits' diet comes after the most recent PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report report revealed that 42 per cent of veterinary professionals identified inappropriate diet as one of the five most important rabbit welfare issues that need to be address.

The campaign will include veterinary blogs, videos, and digital waiting room resources. Practices can sign up to receive updates about RAW. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
CVS Group hit by cyber attack

CVS Group, which owns more than 450 veterinary practices in the UK, has been hit by a cyber attack.

In a statement, the group said the incident involved unauthorised external access to a limited number of its IT systems. As soon as the attack was discovered, the group took its IT systems temporarily offline, causing 'considerable operational disruption'.

It has warned that the security steps taken and ongoing plans to move its operational systems and IT infrastructure to the Cloud are likely to have an ongoing impact over a number of weeks.

Due to the risk that personal information was accessed, CVS has informed the Information Commissioner's Office. The company is working with third party consultants to investigate the incident.