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BEVA launches coaching for vets returning to work
The coaching sessions will begin in June.
The sessions will be led by coaches with equine practice experience.

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has launched a new coaching programme to support veterinary surgeons returning to work after taking a break.

The Back in the Saddle programme will offer group coaching to BEVA members who are more than five-years qualified. It will complement the organisation’s Leg Up programme, which offers one-on-one coaching to veterinary surgeons in the first five years after graduation.

Designed in response to feedback from members about having periods of feeling lost or adrift in the career, particularly following a career break, BEVA hopes that the course will help improve recruitment and retention in the industry.

Held online, the sessions will provide a workshop-style environment in which participants can discuss their experiences and learn and share knowledge. The first session of the six-month programme will be on 11 June 2024, with monthly sessions scheduled until November.

The sessions will be led by trained coaches with experience of working in equine practice. Kate Blakeman, a clinical equine veterinary surgeon, is one of the five coaches and a co-founder of the programme.

Dr Blakeman said: “Returning to work from maternity leave was really challenging for me. Everything seemed to have changed despite returning to the same job, the same team and the same clients, and it was a big shock to see how much I struggled to deal with it all. The second time round it was no easier, just different!”

“My daily pattern had altered, and I was working fewer hours which meant I needed to organise myself and manage my expectations differently.

“I undertook a career coaching programme to help me figure things out properly, with impartial assistance, rather than trying to ‘wing it’. The skills I developed during this training helped me greatly and I hope Back in the Saddle will deliver similar benefits for those who need it.”

BEVA members can sign up for the coaching online.

Image © BEVA

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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.