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Vet nurse makes history by joining SPVS board
"Julie Eastham stood out as someone who could bring a wider variety of skills to SPVS." - Pete Orpin
Julie Eastham is the first vet nurse to become an SPVS board member.

Julie Eastham has made history by becoming the first veterinary nurse to join the board of the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS). As a board member, Ms Eastham is looking forward to highlighting the good work that the organisation does for the veterinary profession.

Ms Eastham is a veterinary nurse and practice manager at the Cambridgeshire veterinary practice where she has worked for 18 years. She first became aware of SPVS after attending its congress. She said: “From talking to nurses and front of house teams, they have either never heard of SPVS or think SPVS is a society just for vets. 

“However, as a veterinary nurse I feel I can benefit SPVS as I straddle two parts of the veterinary business. 

“I am able to see the practice as a whole, working to ensure we have a high standard, quality business but I’m also able to see how business decisions affect my fellow nurses.”

SPVS is a not-for-profit organisation that provides advice, support and guidance for veterinary professionals.

Pete Orpin, SPVS board chair said: “In 2023, we had a strong group of new board members. Julie Eastham stood out as someone who could bring a wider variety of skills to SPVS. 

“The combination of nursing and managerial experience is highly valuable and we look forward to working with Julie during her time on the board.”

Image (C) SPVS

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Strangles survey seeks views of horse owners

News Story 1
 With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.

The survey, which has been designed by Dechra, aims to raise awareness of Strangles and promote best practices to prevent its transmission. It includes questions about horse owners' experiences of strangles, together with preventative measures and vaccination.

Respondents to the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win two VIP tickets to Your Horse Live 2025. To access the survey, click here 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.