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MPs hear about need to protect veterinary nurse title
BVNA president Lyndsay Hughes with BVNA junior vice-president Craig Tessyman and Patricia Gibson MP.
BVNA and RCVS co-host drop-in session at Westminster.

The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) have co-hosted a drop-in session for MPs to discuss the need to legally protect the ‘veterinary nurse’ title.

The event at Portcullis House, Westminster, on 13 December saw MPs from across the House of Commons hear about the need to update the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 so that only qualified and regulated individuals can call themselves veterinary nurses.

According to the BVNA’s ‘Protect the Title’ survey, 76 per cent of the public did not know that the title can be used by anyone, despite 92 per cent feeling that it was important that their pet was cared for by a qualified and regulated veterinary nurse.

Sponsored by Neil Hudson MP, the only veterinary surgeon in the House of Commons, the event was attended by BVNA president Lyndsay Hughes, BVNA junior vice-president Craig Tessyman, RCVS president Sue Paterson, and chair of RCVS VN Council Belinda Andrews-Jones.

Ms Hughes said: “BVNA were delighted to host this engagement session in Parliament alongside the RCVS – especially so because the veterinary nursing profession was its clear focus.

“Having the opportunity to hold a specific event for our profession to engage directly with parliamentarians represents a significant shift towards greater recognition of veterinary nurses, and their impact on both animal and human health. Our voices are being heard.”

Dr Hudson said: “Veterinary nurses play a vital role in promoting animal health and welfare. Therefore it is imperative we take concrete steps to protect their title and uphold the standards of the profession.

“Thank you to the BVNA and the RCVS for helping bring this issue to the attention to my parliamentary colleagues from all sides of the political spectrum.”

Image © BVNA

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BEVA gives RVNs right to vote

News Story 1
 The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is to allow its registered veterinary nurse (RVN) members the right to vote.

RVN members will now be able to take part in key decision-making processes and stand for BEVA council.

Marie Rippingale, chair of BEVA's Nurse Committee, said: "I am very proud to be a part of BEVA.

"This change will help to empower nurses to speak up and contribute, but more importantly, it will give them an opportunity to collaborate with other members of the equine veterinary profession to bring about change that is positive for all." 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Farmer survey to reveal on-farm impact of bluetongue

A nationwide survey has been launched to better understand how the bluetongue virus is affecting UK farms.

Results will inform the support that farmers receive for bluetongue, as well as preparing the livestock industry for the future.

The short online survey is open to all livestock farmers, regardless of whether they've had a confirmed case of bluetongue on their farm. It asks how many animals have been affected, the severity of their clinical signs and how it has impacted farm business.

The survey takes five minutes to complete and is fully anonymous.

It is led by Fiona Lovatt, of Flock Health Limited, and the Ruminant Health & Welfare bluetongue working group, in collaboration with AHDB and the University of Nottingham.

Dr Lovatt says: "We need to find out what level of clinical signs farmers are seeing in their animals, whether they are experiencing mortality with BTV-3 cases, and what their appetite is to vaccinate in future for bluetongue serotype 3."

The survey can be found here.