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Applications open for RCVS Knowledge Awards 2025
Winners have the chance to work with RCVS Knowledge for QI progression.
This year features new categories for Quality Improvement.

Applications for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Knowledge Awards have officially opened for its 2025 competition.

Organisations and practices can apply across four different categories, including new categories designed to represent the wide range of Quality Improvement (QI) work in the veterinary sector.

The first category, 'QI in Practice', is set to recognise how veterinary practices have implemented QI techniques into their everyday work. Applicants should demonstrate how it has contributed to better outcomes, better care and better learning.

The 'Antimicrobial Stewardship' (AMS) award highlights practical examples of veterinary teams tackling antimicrobial resistance. It will celebrate where teams have used QI methods to improve responsible prescribing.

'Education in QI' rewards educators and organisations who are able to show how they are teaching recognised QI methods.

Finally, 'QI to Lead Organisational Change' showcases initiatives where organisations have successfully implemented QI methods to improve practices. Applicants will have used these methods to develop and embed new frameworks, which have then resulted in measurable improvement for patients and teams.

Each category will have three winners, awarded a first, second or third place prize. As well as a cash prize and certificates, they will have the opportunity to work with RCVS Knowledge to promote their project.

Other entries may be ‘runners-up’ – which are highly commended for their QI work, but have not yet gained the results or progressed enough to win.

Applications are open for organisations and practice teams across the UK, across all species. The closing date for applications is 10 January 2025.

Katie Mantell, CEO of RCVS Knowledge, said: “We’re really excited to launch the RCVS Knowledge Awards 2025, and to expand the categories we cover to reflect a broader range of QI projects.

“The awards are an opportunity to celebrate and showcase the fantastic work that vet teams across the UK are doing to use recognised QI techniques to drive better clinical and non-clinical outcomes, better care for their patients, and better learning. I can’t wait to see the applications we receive this year.”

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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.