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BVA announces Welsh Branch president
"I look forward to spending the next two years supporting the veterinary profession in Wales." - Phoebe McCarter.
Phoebe McCarter was welcomed at BVA’s AGM.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has officially welcomed new Welsh Branch president Phoebe McCarter to her role.

Dr McCarter’s appointment was announced at BVA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), which took place at its Welsh Dinner on Tuesday, 24 June 2024.

A graduate from the University of Liverpool, Dr McCarter has become well known in the Welsh farming and veterinary communities for her work in rural practice.

In 2018, she left clinical practice as a veterinary advisor for the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS). She went on to join the Animal Plant Health Agency in 2021.

Dr McCarter is currently involved in exotic and endemic disease outbreak investigations as well as contingency planning. She is also responsible for training and stakeholder engagement.

She has been a member of the BVA since 2005, and joined the BVA Welsh Branch Council in 2020. Having sat as junior vice president for two years, Dr McCarter now takes over from previous president Gwen Rees.

Dr McCarter said: “I’m delighted to take on this vital role of Welsh Branch President and I look forward to spending the next two years supporting the veterinary profession in Wales.
 
In particular, I want to support the ongoing work to ensure that Wales remains a front runner in animal welfare and sustainable food production, not just in the UK, but on the global stage. I also think that it’s vital that we are as prepared as possible to face the threat of exotic disease incursion, and intend to make this one of the priorities of my Presidency.

“I would also like to both thank and congratulate Gwen for her outstanding term as president.” 

Elizabeth Mullineaux, BVA president, said: “Phoebe has already proved herself an invaluable member of the team during her time on Welsh Branch Council and more recently as junior vice president. I look forward to working with her even more closely.

“There remain many challenges on the horizon for Wales, from endemic diseases to veterinary capacity, and I’m delighted that we will benefit from Phoebe’s extensive understanding of the farming community here in Wales as we navigate these issues.”

Image © BVA

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."