Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

RCVS to host session on carbon neutral surgery
Experts will consider how the NHS has achieved more carbon neutral methods to its healthcare.
The interactive panel will be presented at London Vet Show.

The RCVS Fellowship is to host a session at London Vet Show, exploring whether carbon neutral veterinary surgery is achievable.

The session is titled ‘Is carbon neutral surgery possible? What can we learn from the NHS?’, and sees the group partner with leading sustainable healthcare advocates for an interactive panel. It will take place on 16 November from 11.20am- 12.20pm.

The panel of experts will discuss the ways that the carbon footprint of veterinary surgery can be reduced.

They will also consider how the NHS has achieved more carbon neutral methods to its healthcare, without compromising patient care and safety.

The panel includes Mahmood Bhutta, a consultant ENT surgeon and professor of sustainable healthcare at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School, as well as RCVS president Dr Sue Paterson FRCVS and Vet Sustain director Dr Zoe Halfacree FRCVS.

Dr Paterson represents the RCVS at the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change (UKHACC), where she has previously worked with Prof Bhutta in his capacity as chair of UKHACC’s Green Surgery Project Team.

Dr Paterson said: “On UKHACC I have been made aware of some of the pioneering ideas and actions to ensure that our healthcare systems, while playing such a vital societal role, are also not having a deleterious effect on our environment.

“I’ve no doubt that many of the sustainable innovations and interventions in human healthcare can be applied in the veterinary sector, and I look forward to discussing this with Mahmood, Zoe and Ellie next month.”

RCVS’ stand at London Vet Show will also include a ‘learning zone’ across both days, hosting guest speakers who will give educational presentations on regulatory issues.

One of these guest speakers will be RCVS junior vice-president Dr Linda Belton, who will talk about the regulatory body’s much discussed new under care guidance in a presentation titled ‘Under care and remote prescribing: your questions answered’.

Other topics that will be explored in the learning zone will be the RCVS Academy, its 1CPD platform and the group’s VN futures project.

London Vet Show is taking place from 16- 17 November at ExCeL London. Tickets can be purchased here.

Image © Shutterstock

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.