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VMD to phase out COVID-19 medicines facilitations
The relaxation will last until 31 August 2020 and then cease.
Temporary retail supply measures to cease on 31 August. 

Temporary measures to allow vets to delegate the supply of veterinary medicines to internet retailers or wholesale dealers for home delivery are to cease on the 31 August.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) first relaxed the enforcement of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (VMF) in April to meet social distancing guidelines. Now, in light of the easing of lockdown, the VMD has announced a final extension to these measures.

In a statement, the VMD writes: ‘In view of the updated Government guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, this notice amended has been amended to provide that the VMD has made a final extension to the temporary relaxation of the specific provisions of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013. This relaxation will now last until 31 August 2020 and then cease’.

The VMD states that it will not issue an improvement notice if there are breaches of the relevant provisions of Schedule 3 of the VMR during this period.
 
 'This is a temporary VMD enforcement policy in relation to specific obligations under the VMR only,' the VMD writes. 'The VMR continue to apply. The VMD may continue to take action to enforce those obligations in cases where the procedures described in the statement are not followed.'

‘These changes do not affect the existing provisions that allow a veterinary surgeon in exceptional circumstances, for example for animal welfare reasons, to instruct a Wholesale Dealer Authorisation holder to deliver medicines to the client’s premises.’

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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...
News Shorts
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."