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Nominations now open for RCVS and VN Councils 2016
ballot paper
The election period will start around mid-March and run until 5pm on Friday, 29 April 2016. 
Nominations now open for RCVS and VN Councils 2016

Nominations are now open for the RCVS Council and VN Council elections 2016, the RCVS have announced.

Six seats will be contested for RCVS council, while two seats are available on VN Council. Successful candidates are expected to serve a term of four years, and will take up their places at RCVS day in July 2016.

The nomination period for both RCVS and VN Councils runs until 5pm on Sunday, 31 January 2016. In order to stand, candidates for each council will need to complete a nomination form, submit a short biography, and a personal statement. They will also need to supply a high resolution digital photo.

Each person will also need to have two nominators who are on the RCVS Register, but are not current Council members. Nominators of VN Council candidates must be registered veterinary nurses who are not currently on VN Council.

Gordon Hockey, RCVS Registrar, says: “We are looking for committed and motivated veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are dedicated to their respective professions and who, through the Councils and their various committees and subcommittees, wish to have direct input in decisions relating to how the College sets and advances standards of education and professional conduct. If this sounds like you then please find out more about standing as a candidate.”
 
Liz Cox, Chair of VN Council, adds: “I would strongly encourage all those want to have a say and play a leadership role in veterinary nursing to stand up and be counted and put themselves forward as a candidate. It is a very exciting time to join VN Council as the new Royal Charter has formalised the Council’s powers to regulate education and our professional standards, meaning that the decisions you make can have a very real impact on the profession.”

The election period will start around mid-March and run until 5pm on Friday, 29 April 2016.  All registered veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are eligible to vote will be sent ballot papers during this period. The College will also be sourcing questions from the professions to put to the candidates.

Nomination forms and guidance notes for prospective RCVS Council candidates can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvscouncil16.

The equivalent documents for VN Council candidates can be found at www.rcvs.org.uk/vncouncil16
.

 

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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.