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Search is on to find pandemic ‘Practice Stars’
The Practice Star awards are open to all members of the veterinary team.
“This is a great opportunity for you to discuss positive initiatives together as a team” - Liz Barton.

The joint RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) and the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) have launched a search for members of the practice team who have kept up morale during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Practice Star Awards are open to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, student vets and VNs, animal care assistants, receptionists, technicians, practice managers and other support staff. Individuals can nominate their colleagues for an award via the online form, with a short outline describing how the person kept-up team morale during such a challenging year.

“This is a great opportunity for you to discuss positive initiatives together as a team, reflect on the great things that you are doing to help your practice wellbeing, and nominate one person who you would particularly like to thank,” commented Liz Barton, the SPVS board’s wellbeing representative.

“From previous Practice Star awards, we’ve found that small acts of kindness – a gesture, a comment, a positive word or two – can have an enormous impact on the overall wellbeing and morale of a team. If you know someone who has had this kind of effect on the workplace, then please make sure to get in touch and nominate them as a Practice Star.”

Mind Matters manager, Lisa Quigley, added: “We will be publishing details of all of the nominations on the Mind Matters website and sending each of them a certificate. They will also all be entered into a prize draw with two being chosen at random to receive free tickets to the joint Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Management Group Congress in 2022.” 

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.