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Virtual veterinary nursing ceremony to welcome new registrants
More than 70 veterinary nurses will make their professional declerations during the ceremony.

Event will celebrate newly-qualified VNs with presentations from VN Golden Jubilee Award winners.

More than 70 veterinary nurses (VNs) are set to be welcomed to the profession later this month in a special virtual ceremony hosted by the RCVS.

Taking place on Thursday, 12 November at 7.30 pm, the event will open with an address by VN Council chair Matthew Rendle and RCVS President Mandisa Greene, after which Matthew will take all the veterinary nurses present through their professional declarations. 

In addition to reading out the names of all the new registrants, Mr Rendle will read out the names of 10 RVNs who will be collecting their Diplomas in Advanced Veterinary Nursing. Special recognition will also be paid to Liverpool RVN Judith Montgomery for her long-standing contribution to the profession.

Matthew Rendle said: “This will be my first formal event as Chair of VN Council and it’s a great honour for me to be welcoming these newly trained veterinary nurses into our great profession and sharing with them my hopes and wishes for veterinary nurses and how they can play their part in its development and its future.”

The event will include two speeches from previous recipients of the Veterinary Nursing Golden Jubilee Award – the highest honour that can be bestowed on an RVN by the College. Jane Devaney, who won the award in 2019, will speak about the development of her career in veterinary nursing, while 2014 award-winner Hayley Walters will discuss her international career, which involved nursing bears rescued from China's bear bile trade.

Matthew added: “Our guest speakers Jane and Hayley also demonstrate just how diverse a career veterinary nursing can be and that it can encompass teaching, mentoring, international outreach and clinical practice and I hope those attending will be inspired to think about all the different paths their veterinary nursing qualification can take them down.”

The evening will conclude with an update on the VN Futures Initiative by RCVS Director of Veterinary Nursing Julie Dugmore. Julie will outline the project, which aims to identify and address the challenges veterinary nursing is likely to face over the coming years, and explain how the newly-qualified nurses can get involved.

To watch the event live visit the RCVS website. A recording of the ceremony will be made available for those who are unable to attend.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.