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Dr Kate Richards set to become RCVS president
Dr Kate Richards.

College may soon have an all-female presidential team for the first time in its history.

Dr Kate Richards has been elected by RCVS Coucil as junior vice president with immediate effect and is set to become president in July.

It means that, come July and subject to ramification by RCVS Council, the offices of RCVS president, senior vice president and junior vice-president will all be held by women for the first time in the College’s 177-year history.

Current RCVS president Dr Mandisa Greene will become senior vice-president, while Melissa Donald will take up the role of junior vice-president. The current senior vice-president Dr Niall Connell was recently elected RCVS Treasurer.

Dr Richards said: “I am delighted to be elected JVP. It’s been an exceptionally challenging year for those in all walks of veterinary life, including students aspiring to join our profession. 

“It will be an honour to lead the RCVS as its tenth female president, working with veterinary colleagues as well as reaching out to allied professionals acknowledging that there will be challenges to navigate as well as triumphs to celebrate.” 

Dr Richards has been a member of RCVS Council for some time, having first been elected in 2015 for a four-year term, and again in 2020. She has previously served as chair of the RCVS Standards Committee and RCVS representative on the UK coordination group for the Federation of Vets of Europe (FVE). 

She is currently vice-chair of the Education Committee and an appointed veterinary member of the Veterinary Nurses’ Council. 

A graduate of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Dr Richards worked for 15 years as a farm animal vet before moving into the pharmaceutical industry as a veterinary advisor and later joining Defra.

She has held non-veterinary Senior Civil Service (SCS) roles in several Whitehall departments including the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Justice.

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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
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.