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RCVS to develop proposals for regulating practices
The working group will present its proposals at the end of 2024.
Working group set up to consider how the scheme could work.

A new working group has been created by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to develop proposals for the mandatory regulation of veterinary practices.

The RCVS wants to see regulations for veterinary practices, including statutory powers of entry and inspection, introduced by the UK government as part of legislation to replace the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.

The working group will be chaired by RCVS president Sue Paterson and will include Standards Committee chair Linda Belton, Practice Standards Group chair Belinda Andrews-Jones, as well as other veterinary, veterinary nursing, lay and external representatives.

The group will present its proposals to the RCVS Council by the end of 2024.

Dr Paterson said: “At present, the RCVS only regulates individual veterinary surgeons and nurses, and the veterinary sector does not have an equivalent to the Care Quality Commission, which considers human healthcare premises.

“This means that the onus for maintaining standards within the workplace falls on regulated individuals rather than the business structure. We will consider what a scheme that puts more statutory responsibility on business owners to maintain standards should look like.
 
“I look forward to working with colleagues in RCVS Council, VN Council and other veterinary organisations via this group to really flesh out what this regulatory system might look like in the future, to make sure it is appropriate, robust, proportionate and enforceable.

“Establishing these details will also prove invaluable in our lobbying work with government, ministers and MPs.”

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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.