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RCVS and VN Council candidates announced
Ballot paper
Eligible voters will receive their ballot papers by post during the week commencing 14 March.

Voting commences 14 March
 
The names of the candidates standing in this year’s RCVS and VN Council elections have been announced.


All veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses who are eligible to vote will receive their ballot papers and candidates’ details by post during the week commencing 14 March.

All votes must be cast, either online or by post, by 5pm on Friday, 29 April 2016.

There are eight candidates contesting six places in RCVS Council. These include four existing Council members eligible for re-election and four new candidates. They are:

  • Mr Christopher Barker MRCVS
  • Ms Amanda Boag MRCVS
  • Dr Melissa Donald MRCVS
  • Miss Lucie Goodwin MRCVS
  • Mr Thomas Lonsdale MRCVS
  • Professor Stephen May FRCVS
  • Dr Cheryl Scudamore FRCVS
  • Dr Christopher (Kit) Sturgess MRCVS

Six veterinary nurses are contesting two places in this year’s VN Council elections and all are new candidates. They are:

  • Mrs Stacey Bullock RVN
  • Miss Racheal Marshall RVN
  • Mrs Wendy Nevins RVN
  • Mr Matthew Rendle RVN
  • Mrs Samantha Thompson RVN
  • Miss Helen Tottey RVN


The RCVS invites veterinary surgeons and nurses to put their question’s to the nominees in this year’s ‘quiz the candidates’. Each candidate will then choose two questions from all those received and produce a video recording of their answers. The RCVS will then publish the videos on their website on Thursday 17 March.

“Last year, all election candidates produced videos for the first time and, with over 3,500 views in total, it seemed a popular way for voters to find out more about the individuals who were standing,” says RCVS chief executive Nick Stace.
 


“Providing a way for all vets and vet nurses to put their own questions to the candidates is now an integral part of the elections, and one which we hope will continue to encourage people to get involved and have their say.

Veterinary and nurses can email their questions to vetvote16@rcvs.org.uk or VNvote16@rcvs.org.uk. Voters can also post their questions on the College’s Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtags #vetvote16 or #VNvote16. The closing date for questions is Monday, 29 February.


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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.