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BVNA launches mental health toolkit
Veterinary nurses are invited to share their own mental health stories as part of the toolkit. 
Resources for vet nurses include webinars and personal stories.

The British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) has launched a free mental health toolkit for veterinary nurses.

The toolkit features a range of materials which promote mental wellbeing, including webinars, personal mental health stories, and signposting towards sources of help and support. Topics covered include the importance of sleep, practising self-compassion, and resilience.

The development of the toolkit has been led by the BVNA council’s mental health and wellbeing working group. It plans to add additional resources over time and would welcome content from any veterinary nurses, employers and groups who want to share their stories, case studies, or mental health and wellbeing policies.

Rebecca Winter, BVNA council member and mental health and wellbeing team co-ordinator, said: “I am delighted that BVNA has led the development of this toolkit, as an easy-to-access resource available to the entire veterinary nursing profession.

“Whilst we know that a career as a veterinary nurse is incredibly rewarding, we also know that the veterinary workplace can be demanding and can result in challenges to our mental health. Not only will the resources presented in this toolkit be of benefit to individuals, it will also provide guidance to employers and colleagues of those affected by their mental health.

“We hope that this toolkit will help those individuals to feel as though they are not alone, and to feel confident to ask for any support they may need to help them to thrive in our profession.”

The toolkit can be accessed here.

Image © Shutterstock

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New guidelines published for wildlife disease surveillance

News Story 1
 A set of international guidelines for disease surveillance in wildlife has been updated for the first time since 2015.

Released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the World Organisation for Animal Health, General Guidelines for Surveillance of Diseases, Pathogens and Toxic Agents in Free-ranging Wildlife is designed to help wildlife authorities and others working with wildlife carry out effective surveillance programmes.

The document, which cover areas including choosing appropriate strategies, safety and biosafety protocols, and ethical and legal considerations, can be read here.  

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Restricted zone extended after more bluetongue cases

After three new cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 were detected along the Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire border, the restricted zone has been extended.

The zone now includes Buckinghamshire and part of Berkshire, as well as Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, City of Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Sussex, Essex, Greater London, part of Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, part of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, part of Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk, Surrey, and West Sussex.

Susceptible animals in the restricted zone should only be moved if it is essential. A specific licence is needed to move a susceptible animal from within the restricted zone to outside of the zone.

Bluetongue is a notifiable disease. Suspected cases must be reported on 03000 200 301 in England or 03003 038 268 in Wales. In Scotland, suspected cases should be reported to the local field services office. In Northern Ireland, suspected cases should be reported to the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or by contacting the local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.

A map of the areas where restrictions apply can be found here.