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RCVS publishes three-year strategic plan
strategic plan publication
The strategic plan is available to download on the RCVS website.
College’s focus to be ‘leadership, innovation and culture change’
 
The RCVS has published its strategic plan for the next three years (2017-2019). It outlines five key ambitions, including developing leadership within the professions, encouraging innovation and countering ‘blame culture’.

The college’s five ambitions are:
  • To establish the extent to which a ‘blame culture’ exists in the veterinary professions, the role the college may play in it and the impact it may have on the welfare of vets, veterinary nurses, clients and their pets. The college says it will look at ways to develop a ‘learning culture’ that focuses on personal development
  • To put leadership and innovation at the heart of the college
  • To build on foundations laid in its first-rate regulator initiative, ensuring legislation and regulations are fit for purpose and enable veterinary and allied professionals to be the best they can be
  • To improve animal health and welfare on a global basis by raising veterinary standards overseas and contributing to the One Health agenda. Also developing a strategy to maximise the opportunities and minimise the risks of Brexit
  • Building on service agenda to ensure people find interactions with the college efficient and fair, and seek out opportunities to engage further.

RCVS CEO Nick State commented: “The hallmark of our 2014 to 2016 Strategic Plan was getting the basics right by clarifying our identity, improving our core functions, setting out our service agenda and strengthening our foundations. The plan gave us a firm foundation to build upon and improved levels of confidence in the College from stakeholders which has allowed us to be more ambitious and outward-looking with this new plan.
 
“Within the new plan there are challenging ambitions and stretching objectives that address some of the big issues affecting the veterinary team, whether that’s playing a more global role post-Brexit, the importance of embracing new technology, or the pressing need to consider culture change within the profession to ensure it continues to grow and learn.”

To download the strategic plan visit: http://www.rcvs.org.uk/publications/

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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.