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RCVS and VN Council election candidates announced
"We look forward to launching both elections next month and hope to see record turnouts in both elections" - Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS registrar.

Elections commence Monday, 16 March 2020

The candidates for the 2020 RCVS and VN Council elections have been announced.

This year sees the first VN Council election since 2017 and a record number of candidates, with 13 veterinary nurses competing for the two available places.

The candidates for the VN Council election are:

 • Samantha Anderson RVN
 • Jessica Beckett RVN
 • Kirsten Cavill RVN
 • Rebecca Clark RVN
 • Dorothy Creighton RVN
 • Lindsey Anne Dodd RVN
 • Emma Foreman RVN
 • Racheal Marshall RVN (incumbent)
 • Megan Oakey RVN
 • Susannah Phillips RVN
 • Matthew Rendle RVN (incumbent)
 • Claire Roberts RVN
 • Cathy Woodlands RVN.


Eight veterinary surgeons have put themselves forward to compete for the three available places. They are:

 • John Davies MRCVS
 • Dr Melissa Donald MRCVS (incumbent)
 • Dr Tom Lonsdale MRCVS
 • Professor Stephen May FRCVS (incumbent)
 • Dr Kate Richards MRCVS
 • Peter Robinson MRCVS
 • Dr Richard Stephenson MRCVS
 • Dr Christopher (Kit) Sturgess FRCVS (incumbent).

RCVS registrar Eleanor Ferguson said: “After two years without an election for VN Council it is fantastic to see that a record number of veterinary nurses have put themselves forward as candidates. It demonstrates that there is a desire amongst the profession to engage with VN Council and the important issues it decides on around veterinary nursing education, continuing professional development and registration. It is also the first year that the number of veterinary nurse candidates has outnumbered the number of vets standing for RCVS Council.
 
“We look forward to launching both elections next month and hope to see record turnouts in both elections. In the meantime please make sure to engage with the process and scrutinise the candidates and their views by submitting a question about an issue of interest to you.”

Both elections will commence in the week beginning Monday, 16 March when candidates’ details, manifestos and ballot papers will be sent via post or email to members of both professions who are eligible to vote.

Biographies for each of the candidates, along with their election statements, can be found on the RCVS website. The statements for RCVS Council candidates can be found here and those for VN Council candidates here.

The elections close at 5 pm on Friday, 24 April 2020.

The RCVS is also inviting members of the profession to ‘quiz the candidates’ by submitting a question. The questions will be put directly to the candidates, who will then pick two to discuss from all those received.

Recordings of the candidates’ answers will be published on the RCVS website and YouTube channel. Vets should email their question (one per person) to vetvote20@rcvs.org.uk or send it to the college via the College’s Twitter account @theRCVS using the hashtag #vetvote20 by midday on Friday 28 February 2020.

Veterinary nurses should email their question to vnvote20@rcvs.org.uk or tweet to the College’s Twitter account using the hashtag #vnvote20.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.