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Royal Charter consultation receives limited response
Image Belgravia House
The RCVS hopes to have the new charter sealed by March 2015.
College to become a formal regulator of the nursing profession

An RCVS consultation on proposals for a new Royal Charter has closed after receiving responses from just 37 individuals and 11 organisations.

The new charter will give the college formal recognition as a regulator of the veterinary nursing profession.

It also means listed veterinary nurses will be moved over to the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses and will be subject to CPD requirements and disciplinary procedures.

Responses to the consultation were received from:

    •    Association of Meat Inspectors (AMI)
    •    Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland (AVSPNI)
    •    British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)
    •    British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA)
    •    British Veterinary Association (BVA)
    •    British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA)
    •    British Veterinary Union (BVU)
    •    Central Veterinary Society
    •    CVS (UK) Ltd
    •    Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS)
    •    People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)
    •    37 individuals.

The college says there is much support for the concept of a new charter, however a number of points were raised. The responses were reported at the RCVS Council meeting on March 6.

With regards to veterinary nurses, minutes from the council meeting state five of the organisations and 17 individuals who responded said they supported the regulation and recognition of veterinary nurses.

Three of the organisations and four individuals said they agreed with the principle of a single register, but five individuals opposed this. Meanwhile, the BSAVA suggested listed veterinary nurses should be consulted on their reasons for not joining the register.

Some questions were also raised about the way the consultation was conducted with the BVA and Central Veterinary Society claiming the consultation period was too short and the BVNA suggesting a survey or questionnaire would have been better than an open consultation on the charter.

While the BVA "broadly supports" the principle of a new charter, the association made numerous comments in response the the draft. The college says it is addressing these points.

The RCVS hopes to have the new charter sealed by March 2015.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.