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Course asks vet teams to consider human factors
The free course suggests that analysing human factors and systems can improve veterinary outcomes.
The RCVS Knowledge course supports analysis of human interactions.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has released new resources to support veterinary professionals with analysing human interactions and processes.

The online course, published for free on RCVS Knowledge, suggests that, by analysing human factors carefully, veterinary professionals can improve their veterinary outcomes.

Quality Improvement Boxset – Introduction to Human Factors and Systems Thinking will provide learners with the non-technical skills to improve quality of care, patient safety and team wellbeing. It includes learning materials, tools and templates to aid with learning and implementing the skills.

The ‘human factors’ lessons will address interactions between people and their environment, which veterinary teams can interpret to optimise patient care and outcomes. Meanwhile ‘system factors’ topics consider the role of well-designed systems to achieve better results.

The practical course has been produced through collaboration from Human Factors and Systems Thinking experts in both veterinary and human medicine fields.

Veterinary professionals are encouraged to reflect upon and share the learnings across the team, so that the full practice can implement new techniques to the benefit of patients, clients and team members.

The course, which forms part of the seventh series of the Quality Improvement Boxset, is designed to be accessible for the whole veterinary team.

Pam Mosedale, Quality Improvement Clinical Lead at RCVS Knowledge: “Every veterinary professional wants to achieve good outcomes, but the role that Human Factors and systems can play is sometimes overlooked.

“Making sure that your processes are well-designed, and understanding how the people in your team interact with them can optimise the quality of care you provide, while improving team wellbeing,”

The Introduction to Human Factors and Systems Thinking series from the QI boxset can be found on RCVS Knowledge.

Image © Shutterstock

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BSAVA partners with BVA Live 2026

News Story 1
 BSAVA is to partner with BVA Live (11-12 June 2026) to champion clinical research.

The organisation will be supporting BVA Live's Clinical Abstracts programme, showcasing selected abstracts of veterinary research throughout the event.

The clinical abstracts can be on any small animal veterinary subject, and must be based on research undertaken in industry, practice or academia. Abstracts can be presented in poster or oral formats.

Submissions will open on 15th December 2025, and close on 6th March 2026. You can register interest here

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Nominations open for RCVS and VN Council elections

The nomination period for the 2026 RCVS Council and VN Council elections is now open, with three veterinary surgeon seats and two veterinary nurse seats available.

Prospective candidates can download an information pack and nomination form from the RCVS website. Individuals can nominate themselves for the elections, with the results to be announced in the spring.

Clare Paget, the recently appointed RCVS Registrar and elections returning officer, said: "If you want to play your part in influencing and moulding how the professions are regulated, and making key decisions on matters of great importance to your peers, the public and animal health and welfare, please consider standing for RCVS Council or VN Council next year."

Nominations close at 5pm on Saturday, 31 January 2026.