Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
EmailIphone Application    Posted: 25th March 2025
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.
Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

RCVS Knowledge survey to explore contextualised care
The survey will close on the 17th April.
The initiative aims to build a ‘roadmap’ to support veterinary teams.

RCVS Knowledge has launched a survey to investigate the use of contextualised care in small animal practice.

The charity is calling on veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to share their opinions of contextualised care in practice, including insights into how they can be better supported to deliver this care.

The project is part of an initiative to help veterinary professionals to adapt their care to the individual circumstances of each animal and their owner. RCVS Knowledge seeks to create a roadmap to set out what needs to be done to help veterinary professionals to deliver contextualised care and share their decision-making.

The results of the survey will be used alongside in-depth interviews with people in other roles in the veterinary sector, including veterinary receptionists and practice managers. Pet owners will also be surveyed and invited to focus groups, where they’ll be asked what matters most when making decisions about their pets’ health and what would help them feel better supported by a veterinary team.

Using their findings, RCVS Knowledge hopes to develop insights into the challenges faced when attempting to deliver contextualised care and discover how they can support practices in delivering the services.

Sally Everitt, clinical lead of evidence at RCVS Knowledge, said: “Although the term contextualised care is now being widely used, and a requirement to practise contextualised care is included in the RCVS Guidance for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, there is little information available on how contextualised care is most effectively delivered in practice.

“Our research aims to address a gap in the evidence about what the barriers and enablers are and what needs to change to support veterinary teams to deliver contextualised care.”

The survey is open for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses currently in clinical practice in the UK and working with dogs and cats. It will close on 17 April.

The survey can be found here.

Image © Shutterstock

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BBC Radio 4 documentary addresses corporate fees

BBC Radio 4's File on 4 Investigates has released a documentary exploring how corporate-owned veterinary practices may be inflating bills to increase profit.

Released on 15 April, 'What's Happening To Your Vet Bills?' revealed the policies which many corporate groups have in place to increase their profits. This included targets and upgrades which veterinary teams are tasked with meeting on a regular basis.

It also features Anrich Vets, an independently-owned practice based in Wigan. Following the case of Staffordshire terrier Benjy, who is diagnosed with a tumour, the documentary shares how the team were able to offer contextualised care and advice to make the procedure as affordable as possible for his owners.

The documentary can be heard on demand on BBC iPlayer.