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RCVS and VN council election results announced
Three veterinary surgeons and two veterinary nurses have been elected to their respective councils.
Turnout for RCVS election fallen for third year.

The results have been announced for the 2023 RCVS and VN council elections which took place entirely online.

The three candidates elected for a four-year term on the RCVS council were Dr Alice McLeish MRCVS, Linda Belton MRCVS and Tim Hutchinson MRCVS.

The two candidates elected for a three-year term on the VN council were Matthew Rendle RVN and Simon Williams RVN.

The turnout for the RCVS council election has continued to decline, with a total of 6,087 veterinary surgeons casting their vote. This represents 16.7 per cent of those eligible to vote and compares to 18.6 per cent in 2022, 24.5 per cent in 2021 and 26.2 per cent in 2020.

The VN council election saw a slight increase in turnout with 1,927 veterinary nurses casting their vote. This represents 8.8 per cent of those eligible to vote and compares to 8.4 per cent in 2022, 12.4 per cent in 2021 and 17.1 per cent in 2020.

Eleanor Ferguson, RCVS registrar and returning officer for both elections said: “Congratulations to all our successful candidates in this year’s elections and thank you to all those who stood for election this year. We look forward to welcoming our successful candidates to their elected places at this year’s AGM.

“While the turnout for the VN council election improved slightly on last year, it was a shame to see the turnout for vets fall again. As part of our wider council culture project, we are looking at how to increase engagement with our election processes across the board, from candidate nominations, to how we present information about the candidates, to how we encourage greater election turnout. We will be consulting with the group set up to look specifically at this issue in due course to see how we can improve turnout going forward.”

All five elected candidates will commence their terms at the RCVS Annual General Meeting on Friday, 7 July 2023.

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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.