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RCVS MMI announces new Campfire Chats
"These events are for the whole veterinary team" - Angharad Belcher, MMI director.

Third series of discussions on veterinary wellbeing to take place. 

A new series of 'Campfire Chats' has been announced by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeon's (RCVS) Mind Matters Initiative (MMI).

Campfire Chats, a free platform for informal discussions on veterinary mental health and wellbeing, ran for two series in 2021 and was a popular initiative among the professions.

 
The next series of Campfire Chats will discuss celebrating diversity, the importance of creativity, overcoming self-doubt and stress, identity outside of work, coping with loss and overcoming loneliness.

Director of the MMI, Angharad Belcher, spoke about the upcoming events: “Our topics for this year are based on the ideas that we have received from previous attendees.

“We all lead busy professional and personal lives and sometimes it means that self-care, which includes talking to others about how we’re feeling and about issues that we find important to us, can fall by the wayside.

“Our Campfire Chats offer a perfect opportunity – and excuse – to take a bit of time out of your schedule to engage in a structured but informal discussion about all manner of subjects, expertly led by a chair and panel with experience, lived and otherwise, on the topic being talked about.”

The events will take place as follows:

Tuesday 1 March 2022 7pm to 8pm: Celebrating Diversity

Monday 21 March 2022 7pm to 8pm:The joy of creativity

Tuesday 5 April 2022 7pm yo 8pm: Overcoming self doubt and stressing out

Thursday 21 April 2022 7pm to 8pm: Identity - who am I away from work?

Tuesday 3 May 2022 7pm to 8pm: Saying goodbye... letting go and learning to grow

Thursday 12 May 2022 7pm to 8pm: Tackling loneliness in a hyperconnected world.


“These events are for the whole veterinary team, we keep the sessions very informal, and there is also the opportunity to share or ask questions of the panel,” added Angharad.

“If you’ve not attended before then please sign up, and if you have then we look forward to welcoming you back.”

Registration and further details for each session can be found here, and further information can be requested from Abi Hanson, Mind Matters Initiative Officer on a.hanson@rvcs.org.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.