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BVA urges reform of Veterinary Surgeons Act
Dr Judson called for the mandatory regulation of practices.
President raises issue in annual London dinner speech.

The president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) urged politicians to update the legislation which regulates veterinary practices during a speech in Westminster.

Speaking at the BVA’s annual London dinner on Wednesday, 28 February, attended by veterinary professionals, MPs, and peers, BVA president Anna Judson called for the updating of legislation originally introduced in 1966.

Dr Judson said: “Working closely with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, we’re calling for modernisation and reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, including the mandatory regulation of veterinary practices.

“It is inappropriate that only individual vets and veterinary nurses can be held accountable for business decisions which can directly impact on animal health and welfare.”

She also called for the title of ‘veterinary nurse’ to be protected in law as part of the reforms.

Elsewhere in her speech, Dr Judson spoke about the three-fold rise in dog bite incidents since the introduction of the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. She urged politicians to replace the breed specific legislation with a focus on responsible dog ownership and training.

She also urged the government to find a long-term solution to the supply of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland and welcomed the animal welfare bills currently before Parliament dealing with issues that had been part of the dropped Kept Animals Bill.

Politicians from across the political spectrum attended the dinner, including Steve Barclay, secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs.

Image © BVA

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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
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.