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BEVA celebrates vet talent with 2024 awards
Phillippa Pritchard received the 2024 Nurse Empowerment Award.
Roger Smith and Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell presented the awards ceremony.

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has honoured achievements in the equine veterinary sector at an awards ceremony during its 2024 congress.

The ceremony saw BEVA president Roger Smith present the accolades alongside Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell, who also gave the congress’ opening address.

This year’s BEVA Equine Welfare Award, sponsored by the Blue Cross, was awarded to Jan Rogers. The prestigious award recognised her work at the Horse Trust, where she champions funded research work that is directly applicable to the wellbeing of horses.

In 2022, this saw the launch of the Horse Trust’s Weigh to Win project. The project aims to raise awareness of body condition in show horses by educating horse owners and rewarding healthy equine body condition with a special rosette.

The Horse Trust runs events throughout showing season, providing guidance to owners, riders and producers at the events and through online webinars.

BEVA’s Nurse Empowerment Award was first awarded last year and is designed to highlight team members who champion the role of equine nurses.

The winner of the 2024 Nurse Empowerment Award is Phillippa Pritchard. With over 20 years experience promoting clinical excellence among equine veterinary nurses, Ms Pritchard continues to support nursing teams, supervise trainees and teach within the equine hospital.

Her recent research, published in Vet Record, explored horse owners’ perceptions of registered veterinary nurses (RVNs). It is credited with driving significant change for RVNs, including the introduction of unaccompanied RVN visits.

The BEVA Richard Hartley Clinical Award recognised the work of Francesco Comino, for research exploring tension relieving techniques when closing traumatic equine wounds.

The Peter Rossdale Equine Veterinary Journal Open Award highlighted research produced by Brooke Boger. Meanwhile the new Peter Rossdale EVE Literary Award went to Camilla Lydiksen, who led research analysing the effect antibiotics had on dental sinusitis after a dental extraction.

BEVA will continue assessing clinical research entries for the Sam Hignett Award through a series of Clinical Research Sessions. The winner of the award will be announced after BEVA Congress.

Image © BEVA

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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.