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VN receives award for awareness-raising work
Stuart Reid and Dot Creighton
Dot receiving her award from the outgoing president of the RCVS, Stuart Reid.

Golden Jubilee award presented to Dot Creighton

Dot Creighton has been presented with this year's VN Golden Jubilee Award, in recognition of her exceptional contribution to raising awareness of the veterinary nursing profession.

During her year as president of the British Veterinary Nursing Association, Dot created the concept of VN Awareness Day, which has since become VN Awareness Month.

Every May, thousands of veterinary nurses take part in the event to help raise awareness among the general public of what the profession does and how vital nurses are to clinical practice and animal welfare.

Dot has been a nurse for more than 20 years, working with a variety of species - including kangaroos, lion cubs and giraffes. She is also a former member of the VN Council. Dot currently works at Millennium Veterinary Practice in Essex, where she has been since 2003.

The VN Golden Jubilee Award was launched in 2011 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the RCVS's first veterinary nursing training course. It recognises people who have made outstanding contributions to the profession.

Dot was revealed as the 2015 winner in May and presented with her award on RCVS Day (10 July).

Chair of the VN Council Kathy Kissick commented in May: "Dot is an inspiration to many, many nurses and always commits 100 per cent to the welfare of the animals in her care and to her clients. I congratulate her on achieving this award."

Image courtesy of the RCVS

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.