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New RCVS coronavirus survey launched
"We know that it has been an extremely tough period of time for the professions." - Lizzie Lockett, RCVS CEO.
 
 
 
 
The latest coronavirus survey will assess the impact of the pandemic on the professions. 

The RCVS has recently launched a new coronavirus survey that aims to measure and understand the individual impact of the coronavirus pandemic on members of the professions.

Questions will be asked about the impact of the pandemic on areas including amount of hours worked and working patterns, and home-schooling duties, caring responsibilities, self-isolation, and other pandemic-specific factors have affected veterinary professionals' working lives and ability to work.

RCVS CEO Lizzie Lockett commented on the survey: “While our previous six coronavirus impact surveys have involved taking a snapshot of the more immediate situation for veterinary businesses at the various different stages of the crisis, this survey is about taking a deeper, retrospective look at the impact on the personal and professional lives of our members in the last year and a half.”

Those taking the survey will also be asked to sum up their personal experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as how supported they felt by employers, and the impact of the pandemic on their mental health and wellbeing.

Additional questions will be asked to professionals working in clinical practice, to find out information about access to personal protective equipment, remote consultations, and other practice-specific questions. 

Lockett added: “This survey, which is confidential, is an opportunity for members of the professions to give a frank and honest account of what has happened since March 2020 and how they have felt. 

“We would strongly encourage people to engage with the survey as it will help us at the RCVS to gain a deeper understanding of your experiences, help us to respond to any future waves of the pandemic, supply evidence to Government about any impact to support future guidance changes, and capture a snapshot of this historic period.”

The confidential online survey is conducted by the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) on behalf of the RCVS, and will be accessible for responses until Monday, 23 August 2021. 

Prospective participants will be emailed a link to the survey, using the email addresses held by the RCVS, and those who have not received an email by 26 July are being asked to contact Sara Butcher on Sara.Butcher@employment-studies.co.uk 

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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.