RCVS Council votes in favour of changes to governance
Linda Belton says that she recognises there will be concerns about the changes.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council has voted in favour of further proposed reforms to its governance.
RCVS members agreed to the recommendations as part of a meeting on 13 March, with changes including a new structure to ensure that the input of veterinary professionals is retained.
As a result of this reform, RCVS will be able to make recommendations to the government on future governance structure for the professions. The final decision remains with the government.
The latest approvals follow a previous vote in November 2024, where RCVS Council members approved a number of other proposals for reform. This included a fully-appointed governing body, greater parity between professional and lay council, and the removal of Veterinary Schools Council-appointees from the RCVS Council.
Decisions about the size and composition of the governing body, as well as a potential specific council for veterinary surgeons, were at this point, deferred.
These decisions were taken on by the newly formed Legislative Reform Working Party, which developed proposals to be presented to the RCVS Council. This included a new governance structure, in which veterinary professionals would have an input on standards and development within the profession.
Among the recommendations is a reduction in the size of the council, bringing it closer to 10 to 12 members. RCVS says that this could redefine the group as a ‘board’ rather than a ‘council’.
The RCVS Council also agreed to full parity between lay and registrant members of its governing board.
Veterinary surgeons will remain predominant on the registrant half of the governing board, with veterinary nurses also having at least one member on the board. RCVS says that this will leave potential for future regulated allied professions to be included.
Members also accepted proposals to introduce a council specifically for veterinary surgeons, with the same option made available for future regulated allied professions. All such councils, including the existing VN Council, would report to the governing board.
The RCVS Council has assured veterinary surgeons that they would remain members of RCVS and can continue to use the postnominal MRCVS. Similarly, veterinary nurses remain associates of RCVS and maintain their RVN postnominal.
Linda Belton, RCVS president, said: “The approved proposals represent a very significant change to the current governance structure of the RCVS and we recognise that, as is often the case with change, there will be concerns. We are regulated as a profession by an independent regulator under statute as opposed to being regulated directly by government.
“It is crucial that any new legislation preserves the principle of independent regulation, separate from government, but with this privilege comes the responsibility of a modern system of governance in line with the regulation of professionals in other sectors.”
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