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RCVS updates COVID-19 guidance for veterinary professionals
The updated flowchart reflects the developing situation and latest guidance from the UK government.
Changes reflect developing situation and latest government guidance.

The RCVS has updated its COVID-19 guidance for veterinary professionals to show how veterinary work may continue during the extended lockdown period.

The updated guidance, as agreed by College's COVID-19 Taskforce, has been designed to reflect the developing situation and latest guidance from the UK government and devolved nations. It comes in the form of a new flowchart, with two minor amends to the first and second boxes:

The box that previously said: ‘Can you effectively support the case while maintaining social distancing for your team and the public?’
Now says:‘Can you effectively support the case while abiding by the appropriate social/physical distancing guidance for workplaces to protect your team and the public?’

The RCVS says that this updated text better reflects the varying guidance in place across the devolved nations. It also recognises that the new government guidance is not just about maintaining a 2m distance, accepting that other biosecurity measures might be appropriate if the 2m rule cannot be followed in the workplace.

Second, the box that previously said: 'Could the planned intervention have animal health and welfare or public health implications if not carried out within two months?’
Now says: ‘Could the planned intervention have animal health and welfare or public health implications if not carried out?’

This change recognises that this phase of lockdown-exit may carry on for longer than two months, the RCVS notes. It, therefore, leaves it to the clinician’s professional judgement in terms of the implications versus the risk, rather than seeing it within a specific time period.

Commenting on the update, RCVS president Niall Connell, said: “I’m grateful to the members of our Covid-19 Taskforce for continuing to keep under review our key guidance to the profession during the ongoing pandemic.

"Whilst these latest changes do not represent any significant changes for vets and vet nurses as they continue to care for the nation’s animals, it is important that we continually keep our guidance in line with that of the UK’s governments.”  

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.