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VET Festival announces nursing stream
“Without a question of a doubt, surgeons could not do their jobs without the passion and skill of their veterinary nurses."
Event aims to leave nurses ‘empowered and inspired’

A dedicated nursing stream has been unveiled for this year’s VET Festival, the CPD conference conceived by Professor Noel Fitzpatrick.

The nursing stream covers both days of the conference (8-9 June 2018) and allows delegates to choose and create their own CPD agenda across the full conference programme. New subject areas this year include minimally invasive surgery, cardiopulmonary, diagnostic imaging and nutrition.

Noel Fitzpatrick commented: “Without a question of a doubt, surgeons could not do their jobs without the passion and skill of their veterinary nurses. I don’t want lectures with nursing in mind to be an afterthought or to be mutually exclusive.

“From inception of VET Festival, we have specifically designed an integrated conference programme that allows all delegates to easily explore other streams and select their own lecture path across the festival.

“I want every single veterinary nurse to leave the field feeling empowered, valued and inspired to achieve his or her personal aspirations. We aim to revolutionise the current expected conference formula that not only provides exceptional CPD, but reignites a sense of joy and purpose in your vocation.”

Speakers for the 2018 nursing stream include:
  • Professor Carrie Palm, associate professor of Clinical Medicine & Epidemiology at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, California, USA
  • Dr Padraig Egan, surgical resident (ECVS) at Fitzpatrick Referrals, UK
  • Enzo Minghella, anaesthetist at Fitzpatrick Referrals, UK
  • Professor Mike Conzemius, professor of surgery and director of the Clinical Investigation Center at University of Minnesota, USA
  • Professor Lisa Freeman, professor of clinical nutrition at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Massachusetts, USA
  • Professor Virginia Luis Fuentes, professor of veterinary cardiology at RVC, UK
  • Professor Brendan Corcoran, personal chair in veterinary cardiopulmonary medicine at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, UK

The full conference programme can be found at: www.vetfestival.co.uk/conference

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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.