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Defra consults on RCVS governance reform
RCVS Council at meeting in Edinburgh in June 2015
Defra is seeking views on changing the structure and size of the RCVS Council.

Views sought on council restructure
 
Defra has launched a consultation on changing the governance of the RCVS. Members of the veterinary profession and the general public are being asked to share their views on plans to restructure the RCVS Council.

The council currently consists of 42 members who meet three times a year, in March, June and November.

It is proposed that the number of meetings per year should be increased and the council's size reduced significantly - by a minimum of 25 per cent.

The consultation also seeks opinions on whether veterinary nurses should be represented on council; whether the number of vet school members should be reduced and whether there should be statutory positions for lay members.

As well as seeking views on the structure of council, the consultation asks how council members should be appointed or elected, whether the terms of office should change and if there should be a system in place for removing council members for poor conduct or behaviour.

In recent years, a number of issues have been raised about the college's governance arrangements. In 2008, a report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) Committee recommended a restructure.

The RCVS itself held a consultation with the profession the following year, but it was agreed that any reform of the council should wait until new disciplinary arrangements had 'bedded in'. In July of this year, the preliminary investigation committee and the disciplinary committee split from council.

A report by the college in 2012 found its governance to be out of step with that of other royal colleges and regulators, prompting discussions on how the RCVS could modernise its governance structure and improve efficiency.

The consultation closes on 24 December, 2015. It is expected that any changes to the RCVS Council will be implemented in late 2016/early 2017.

For full details or to respond to the consultation, visit: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/veterinary-services/rcvs_council_reform

Image (c) RCVS

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Building Great Workplaces webinars return

News Story 1
 BVA has announced a new series of its Building Great Workplaces lunchtime webinars.

Launching from 16 July, the sessions will explore patient safety, motivation, client communication and more.

Its first webinar, exploring neurodiversity in the workplace, will take place at 1pm on Thursday, 16 July. It will feature guest speakers from The Vet Project, a group which supports neurodiversity in veterinary environments.

The following three webinars take place in September, October and November.

Booking is open on the BVA website 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New form for online veterinary medicines retailers

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has produced a new online form for retailers wishing to sell veterinary medicines on the internet.

The form replace the previous Word version and is part of the VMD's ongoing commitment to digitise its processes. Anyone retailing prescription medicines online, including POM-V, POM-VPS and NFA-VPS categories, is lawfully required to register with the VMD before trading.

The change only applies to new applicants. Retailers already listed on the VMD's Register of Online Retailers or registered under the Accredited Internet Retailer Scheme (AIRS) do not need to do anything.