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Search is on to find pandemic ‘Practice Stars’
The Practice Star awards are open to all members of the veterinary team.
“This is a great opportunity for you to discuss positive initiatives together as a team” - Liz Barton.

The joint RCVS Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) and the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) have launched a search for members of the practice team who have kept up morale during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Practice Star Awards are open to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, student vets and VNs, animal care assistants, receptionists, technicians, practice managers and other support staff. Individuals can nominate their colleagues for an award via the online form, with a short outline describing how the person kept-up team morale during such a challenging year.

“This is a great opportunity for you to discuss positive initiatives together as a team, reflect on the great things that you are doing to help your practice wellbeing, and nominate one person who you would particularly like to thank,” commented Liz Barton, the SPVS board’s wellbeing representative.

“From previous Practice Star awards, we’ve found that small acts of kindness – a gesture, a comment, a positive word or two – can have an enormous impact on the overall wellbeing and morale of a team. If you know someone who has had this kind of effect on the workplace, then please make sure to get in touch and nominate them as a Practice Star.”

Mind Matters manager, Lisa Quigley, added: “We will be publishing details of all of the nominations on the Mind Matters website and sending each of them a certificate. They will also all be entered into a prize draw with two being chosen at random to receive free tickets to the joint Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Management Group Congress in 2022.” 

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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.