Locum David John Porter has been struck off by the RCVS Disciplinary Committee for rude and aggressive behaviour, deficient clinical standards and obstructing the Committee's investigation into the complaints against him.
Three charges were found against Mr Porter.
The first charge (charge A) concerned failure to communicate courteously and respectfully with colleagues. This charge related to four incidents as follows:
In finding him guilty of this charge the Committee referred to his “wholly unacceptable exchanges with other veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses and ancillary practice staff members with whom he was working on the dates in question.”
The second charge for which he was found guilty (charge C) concerned what the Committee called “his seriously deficient clinical standards when treating animals under his care”, in particular that:
Within charge C he was cleared of two further parts of the charge – first, that he failed to discuss euthanasia with a client in relation to a kitten and failed to provide the client with sufficient advice and instructions regarding after-care; and, second, that he prescribed steroids to treat a kitten for muscle strain at a time when it was recovering from surgery.
The third charge for which he was found guilty (charge D) relates to Mr Porter’s failure, between 7 February 2013 and 31 October 2014, to respond adequately to communications from the RCVS. In particular that:
As to the conduct found proved in relation to charge D, the Committee set out its findings of fact and declared: “What Mr Porter chose to do was to attempt to obstruct the College in its attempts to investigate the complaints laid against him and, thereafter, its attempts to bring him before the Committee to answer the charges preferred against him. In short, he has directly questioned, and then disregarded and thwarted, the legitimate role of his professional regulatory body.”
The Committee’s reasons for taking a serious view of such conduct were expressed in the following words: “Both the public and other members of the profession must be entitled to rely on the expectation that all veterinary surgeons, as responsible professional persons, will co-operate fully and promptly to all proper enquiries made of them by the College. This is the wider public interest factor which means that deliberate attempts to thwart the College’s enquiries into complaints must, in our judgment, come at the top end of the spectrum of gravity of disgraceful conduct in a professional respect.”
During the course of the hearing, which began in June 2015 and was adjourned three times, Mr Porter was cleared of charge B against him which concerned alleged refusal to undertake out-of-hours work for the Clent Hills Veterinary Group having previously indicated he would undertake such work.
In making the decision on the sanction in this case, Judith Webb, chairing the Disciplinary Committee and speaking on its behalf, said: “In reaching our conclusion as to the sanction which is merited in this case we have taken into account the totality of Mr Porter’s conduct and failings. We consider that the conduct pertaining to Charges D(i) and (ii), even when viewed separately, demand the imposition of a direction for the removal of Mr Porter’s name from the Register.
“When that conduct is considered in conjunction with the other misconduct found proved in relation to Charges C1 to C4, which identify his clinical failings, and Charges A1 to A4, which demonstrate unprofessional behaviour in the workplace, we unhesitatingly conclude that there is no other sanction that could be considered sufficient, other than that of erasure.”
Dr. Lauren Finka, a researcher at the University of Lincoln, has developed L-CAT, a new tool for assessing behaviour in cats at rehoming centres and help match them to the ideal new home.
During the course of her PhD studies, which were part funded by COAPE (Centre of Applied Pet Ethology), Lauren discovered inconsistencies in the current models and perceptions of behaviour traits used in re-homing cats.
For example, one of the most common behaviours associated with affection towards humans is the activity of rubbing. Initial results suggested that this is often very inconsistent, as are several other behaviours that were previously thought to to be important in assessing a cat's underlying temperament. Dr Finka’s studies showed that it all depends much more on the specifics of the physical and social context of interactions and that these may change on a daily basis. It was found that on one day a cat might rub against a person ten times, but the next day rub against the same person only once.
The Lincoln Cat Assessment Tool (L-CAT) was developed during this research. COAPE says it is the first of its kind to offer a suitably robust, reliable and easy-to-use way of assessing behaviour in cats at re-homing centres, as well in predicting new owner satisfaction based on those assessments.
The organisation goes on to say that the potential welfare implications of this research are substantial, enabling cats to be properly but rapidly assessed, optimally managed, and suitably matched with would-be owners and thus shortening the length of time cats might spend in the re-homing centre.
L-CAT was tested to establish the possibility of predicting the future behaviour of cats after they had been adopted, as well as gauging how satisfied owners were likely to be with their cats. COAPE says the results generally confirmed that these outcomes were indeed possible, meaning re-homing staff could also use L-CAT to help manage the expectations of owners and potentially improve their satisfaction.
For more information, visit: www.coape.org
The RCVS and the BVA have published the Vet Futures report: their vision for how the veterinary profession should look in 2030, coupled with 34 recommendations for change.
The report, which represents the culmination of a year of engagement, consultation and research with the veterinary profession, veterinary nurses, members of the wider veterinary team, key stakeholders, animal owners and the general public, says that in 2030 vets should be a leading force for animal health and welfare and valued for their wider roles in society. They should be confident, resilient, healthy and well supported, and benefit from exceptional leadership. And there should be a broad range of diverse and rewarding veterinary careers, as well as thriving, innovative and user-focused businesses.
While the focus of Vet Futures has been on veterinary surgeons, Vet Futures engaged with the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council and British Veterinary Nursing Association, as well as individual veterinary nurses, and the College says that many of the ambitions should resonate with members of both professions. It goes on to recommend that the veterinary nursing profession should build on the work of Vet Futures to develop its own clear vision and ambitions.
The recommendations within the report include:
Other recommendations include developing an animal welfare strategy for the profession, increasing collaboration with medical professionals and environmental organisations, adopting a more strategic long-term outlook for research funding, and exploring how to encourage a more diverse profession.
RCVS President Bradley Viner said: "The Vet Futures report is the culmination of a year of research and engagement with thousands of members of the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions, which has given us a very firm foundation on which to build our ambitions and recommendations. We are extremely grateful to every individual who has contributed in some way to the project, and helped us to seize the initiative.
"Over the years the veterinary profession has proved itself to be adaptable and able to face challenges head on, and we have no doubt that by working together we will realise our joint vision of a profession in charge of its future. Ultimately, we all want a profession that is confident in itself and one in which members are proud to call themselves veterinary surgeons."
Sean Wensley, BVA President, added: "Vet Futures has proved to be an exciting, engaging and truly ambitious project for the veterinary profession and it has created a fantastic level of debate and engagement.
"The report we are launching today is not the end of the story; it is the beginning of the next chapter. It is crucial that we maintain the momentum of the project so we will be inviting members of the veterinary professions to step forward and join a new Vet Futures Action Group to help us turn the recommendations into actions and drive forward activity."
The full report can be downloaded here.
All bar one of the suspended drugs contain the NSAID flunixin. The other affected drug is the antibiotic, Tribrissen:
Allevinix 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle, Pigs and Horses (Ceva Animal Health)
Cronyxin Injection, 5% w/v Solution for Injection, for cattle and horses (Cross Vetpharm Group Ltd)
Finadyne 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for cattle, pigs and horses (Intervet UK Ltd)
Flunixin 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle, Horses and Pigs (Norbrook Laboratories Limited)
Meflosyl 5% Solution for Injection for horses and cattle (Zoetis UK Limited)
Norixin 5% Solution for Injection for cattle and horses (Norbrook Laboratories Limited)
Pyroflam 50 mg/ml Solution for Injection for Cattle, Horses and Pigs (Norbrook Laboratories Limited)
Tribrissen 48% Suspension for Injection for horses, pigs and cattle (Intervet UK Ltd)
The British Equine Veterinary Association says that the decision to suspend the drugs was taken without consultation with the veterinary profession, and is urging the VMD to overturn the suspension in horses not destined for the human food chain, to reduce the potential impact on equine welfare.
The College was ranked seventh in the medium-sized company or organisation category (50 to 449 employees) of the Best Workplaces for Women initiative.
This year is the first that the Great Place to Work Institute has run this initiative and, in making its rankings, it looked at a number of factors including the number and proportion of women in leadership positions, pay parity between men and women, workplace policies and how they support female employees, as well as training and development and mentoring.
Amanda Boag, RCVS President, said: "I am delighted that the RCVS has been recognised for being an excellent and supportive place for women to work and pleased that the hard work of the team at Belgravia House in this area has been publicly rewarded in this way.
"One of the key themes of my Presidential year is diversity and I think it is very important that, as a regulator, we reflect the veterinary profession (which is currently 63% female for veterinary surgeons and 98% female for veterinary nurses) as far as possible. With two-thirds of the staff at the RCVS being women it demonstrates that the College is largely reflective of the profession it serves.
"However, it’s not just about the numbers and with 60% of the Senior Team at the RCVS being women, including the CEO and Registrar, it demonstrates that the College has developed a culture in which women can shatter the glass ceiling and pursue leadership roles.
"Also, with policies such as flexible working hours, encouragement of home working, shared parental leave and enhanced maternity and paternity pay, the College goes the extra mile to support working parents."
The company says Veterinary HPM Hypoallergy contains hydrolysed salmon protein for high digestive tolerance and optimal nutritional value, and no hidden proteins in its carbohydrate sources. Extensive hydrolysis is used to ensure hypoallergenic safety whilst maintaining palatability.
The company also claims the new diet has a higher level of animal protein and lower level of carbohydrate than other comparable products on the market for both cats and dogs, providing a clinical diet that is closest to their nutritional needs as carnivores.
Veterinary HPM Hypoallergy is designed to complement Veterinary HPM Dermatology Support, which is already available.
Tracey West, Nutrition Manager at Virbac said: "I am delighted to be able to introduce the much anticipated Veterinary HPM Hypoallergy to the Veterinary HPM Clinical Diets range.
"As pioneers in dermatology with more than 35 years of experience in this field, Virbac is proud to bring you, not 1 but 2, advanced nutritional solutions to help manage one of the most challenging clinical conditions faced in veterinary practice."
For more information, speak to your Virbac Territory Manager.
Given the improbability of anyone being alerted by a goldfish: "blub-blub-behind-blub-you-blub-blub-the-blub-frying-blub-blub-pan-is-blub-on-fire-blub", one has to presume the respondents were talking about dogs.
But no, according to npower, 10% of the participants in its survey reported that their cat or dog had directly saved their life, or the life of someone they know.
Really? Saved by a cat? I should have thought a cat would be more likely to turn on it's heels and strut out of the room nonchalantly.
Still, the point of the npower's research was to highlight the dangers of carbon monoxide. In its press release, the company pointed out that pets can suffer CO poisoning symptoms of vomiting, tiredness and erratic behaviour before people.
So perhaps that's what the cat owners meant when they'd been saved by the cat: like a miner would say they were saved by a canary.
Remote consultations and prescribing have been the subject of much debate in the profession of late. A motion to conduct a trial of prescribing without a physical examination was considered by the RCVS Council in November, when a large number of serious concerns were raised.
However, none of those concerns related to the provision of remote consulting services for existing clients with animals who are already under the care of the veterinary surgeon. That's where systems like this could add real value to the service offered by veterinary practices.
George Kyriacou, Director at VVG said: "Telemedicine is happening, and it’s happening in a big way. Virtual consultations are becoming more and more popular with pet owners who are not really sure if they need to see a vet and would simply like some reassurance.
"An option to have a qualified vet in your pocket at anytime of the day is attractive. However, the option to have a convenient consultation with your own trusted vet is the holy grail."
The system allows those practices who wish to charge for online consults to take payment online. Some, however, offer free consultations, in particular post-op, because it saves everyone time.
VVG points out that the system can also be used to deliver nursing consultations, too.
Simon Power, Commercial Manager at Vets One referrals in Crimplesham, Norfolk said: "Since adopting the system we have had a number of post-op and medication reviews virtually; it not only saves us a consulting room but also allows our clients to have the expert advice our team provide from the comfort of their own home."
VVG costs £249 to set up, plus from £59 per month thereafter, per practice.
For more information, contact George Kyriacou at George@thevvg.com or call 01842558022.
All jobs posted on VetNurse.co.uk are valid for 60 days (double that normally offered elsewhere). They are also emailed automatically to any subscribers with matching search criteria, fed out onto Facebook and the like, and optimised for Google For Jobs.
To see all the latest jobs for veterinary nurses, or to post an advert, login and visit: https://www.vetnurse.co.uk/veterinary-jobs/
Elanco says OA is a condition which is estimated to affect one in four dogs, but it is often labelled by owners as "just old age". This, says the company, may lead to missed diagnosis and dogs not receiving the care they need.
To try and help address the issue, Elanco has partnered with the founder of Canine Arthritis Management, Hannah Capon and veterinary communications consultant, Zoe Belshaw to produce a number of online and in-practice tools.
The first of these is a worksheet to help veterinary surgeons explain the impact of OE on the client's dog, both in and outside the home. It provides a template for creating a tailored management plan and a guide to the home adaptations owners can make to help improve their dog's quality of life.
The company has also produced a infographic fact sheet which explains the subtle signs of OA, designed for vets and nurses to use as part of their regular interactions with owners.
Elanco has also designed a range of digital materials for veterinary practices to use on their websites and social media feeds to increase awareness of the condition among their online communities.
Hannah Capon said: "Arthritis affects every dog differently – a dog may be full of life but lame, quiet, unenthused and slow to move, or somewhere in-between.
"Home management needs to be tailored to each dog’s needs and adapted in the same way it would be for a person, to prolong life and minimise pain and further injury."
Lastly, Elanco has also produced a film in which Zoe Belshaw gives advice about the language and strategies veterinary surgeons can use to help improve communication with dog owners about OA.
Zoe Belshaw said: "My research identified that many owners do recognise their arthritic dog has a problem before it’s diagnosed. Many will have seen that their dog is stiff, or ‘slowing down’ but they may not associate this with lameness, or pain.
"That’s why vets, nurses and practices play a critical role in raising awareness of how the condition impacts dogs every day."
To access the suite of assets visit: www.myelanco.co.uk
Lisa first helped-out at the Coventry practice as part of her Duke of Edinburgh’s Award whilst still at school and soon realised that working in a vets was what she wanted to do.
She continued volunteering at Broad Lane until she was old enough to gain a place as a student veterinary nurse.
Then, after qualifying as an RVN, she worked her way up to become Head Veterinary Nurse and later Practice Manager, whilst at the same time growing her family with 3 children.
Practice Principal Elly Pittaway said “Lisa began her career here in 1984 when it was a traditional mixed practice, often assisting the vets on farm visits before rushing back to help with the small animal evening surgery, and attending overnight emergencies as needed.
"The practice has changed hugely over the years, but Lisa remains an absolute lynchpin here.
"One of my first memories, when I’d been qualified as a vet for barely 6 months, is of her helping me and a Student Nurse with a GDV on a Guide Dog out-of-hours on a Monday evening, staying really late, keeping us both calm and getting stuck in as needed.
"That work ethic and devotion to the practice has remained unchanged over the years, and is especially remarkable, given she’s had to put up with me and the other Partners’ various demands for all that time!
"There are so many receptionists, nurses and support staff who owe their careers to Lisa, as she recruited, supported and trained them.
"And there are literally thousands of Coventry pet owners who may not realise it, but who have Lisa to thank for keeping the practice running efficiently and effectively over the years, whatever the weather, through staff shortages and pandemics, always working hard in the background so that the Broad Lane team could make their pets better.”
Congratulations Lisa, and here's to the next 40 years!
https://www.broadlanevets.co.uk
The webinar will discuss the importance of self-compassion and provide an overview of Katherine and Sarah’s research into the effectiveness of an online compassion focused therapy (CFT) intervention in improving the mental wellbeing of veterinary professionals.
Katherine and Sarah will also go into more detail about how to get the most out of a CFT course they have created, which will be made freely available for veterinary professionals on the Mind Matters website and on the RCVS YouTube channel .
Katherine said: “Our recent randomised control trial has shown the course to significantly improve resilience and self-compassion and reduce rumination and self-criticism amongst veterinarians.
"Therefore, Sarah and I are delighted to now be disseminating the CFT course freely to the veterinary professions, so that as many people are able to benefit from the evidence-based resource as possible.
“Even though our research was conducted on veterinary surgeons, we hope that the course will be useful to all those working in the veterinary team as the content can be applied in a number of contexts.
“Our webinar will explain more about our research, as well as some of the science behind the effectiveness of the course in a veterinary context.
"So, if you are interested in learning more about how CFT may be able to help you and your team, both in a personal and professional capacity, please do come along.”
Katherine and Sarah’s compassion focused therapy course will be made available on the Mind Matters website in due course. In order to access the online compassion course, individuals are invited to complete a short questionnaire before and after watching one 10-15 minute video each day for 14 days, with the aim of the video intervention being to develop self-compassion skills and reduce self-criticism.
https://vetmindmatters.org/events/
VetPartners says Valley Vets has around 200 employees, less than half of which are members of the union, although the BVU says 50% are required for recognition.
Suzanna Hudson-Cooke MRCVS, Branch Chair at BVU said: “Fees at Valley Vets have increased by 25% in two years, which is hurting pet owners whilst some staff at Valley Vets are being paid so little that they’re having to use foodbanks.
“Three years ago, VetPartners CEO Jo Malone committed to paying all staff a living wage, which still hasn’t happened”
“VetPartners did increase the salaries of lower paid members by 7.27% in the last review, but this was mostly to meet its legal obligation to pay the minimum wage.”
VetPartners responded to these points saying:
"It has been and still is our aim to pay at least the real living wage to all of our employees. We have moved closer to the aim over the past three years.
"There are 20 members of the regular team that work at Valley Vets who are below the real living wage and they are paid approximately 1.6% below that level.
"Since April 2020, we have uplifted overall salary costs at Valley Vets by 31.45% before the increase in April 2024, at a time when VetPartners, like many businesses across the UK, has been hit by a sharp rise in the cost of goods and services, interest rates and rampant inflation.
"Valley Vets’ profitability has declined over the last three years.
"We have made advances over several years in improving many benefits for our teams such as life cover, health shield, sickness and enhanced maternity cover and want to continue to do so.
"We have seen mass redundancies from other large groups and we are trying to avoid this at Valley Vets.
"The BVU in Unite requested pay and condition increases initially that would have raised employment costs by over 25% and they are currently requesting increases which would raise this by 15% which would make Valley Vets unsustainable without a significant reduction in the workforce, something we are trying to avoid.”
During annual salary reviews in 2024, we benchmarked pay for all roles within Valley Vets and they sit in the upper quartile.
"We prioritised lowest-paid team members with a 7.27% pay increase while higher paid colleagues also received an increase at a lower rate.
"We are also well aware of the affordability of care fees, and that is why we felt fees paid by our clients could not be raised any further to support significant salary increases demanded by the BVU in Unite.
The strike is due to continue till the end of July, during which time the BVU says staff are being released from the picket line as needed to provide local animals with emergency care.
Staff are not paid whilst out on strike so the BVU has started a fund, here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PTVKVK3
The practice, which has nine clinicians (including three RCVS Recognised Specialists), eleven RVNs, two human-trained cardiac physiologists and a dedicated referral administrator is the first referral practice in the UK to become an EOT.
Dave Dickson, a director alongside Jo Harris, said: "The decision to transition the clinical side of the business into employee ownership was led by the core values of the team and the desire to preserve our independence as a referral service.
"In an industry dominated by corporate acquisitions, with business models increasingly focused on keeping referral offerings within the corporate groups and limiting choice for clients, we felt it was crucial to chart a different course.
"We have a very bonded and supportive team, working together to continuously improve and evolve, where the ideas of every team member are important and all roles are equally appreciated.
"We feel that employee ownership aligns perfectly with this ethos.
Jo Harris added: “By involving all our employees in the ownership of the business, we aim to foster a culture of engagement and collaboration.
"This new structure ensures that every team member has a stake in the success of the business and a voice in how it operates.
"We believe this will not only enhance our service quality but also promote sustainable growth and innovation.
"The transition to employee ownership is not just a change in structure; it is a reaffirmation of our values and a pledge to our patients, clients, and partners that we will continue to strive for excellence in every aspect of our work.”
A team of researchers led by Tim Mair, CVS Equine Veterinary Director and Specialist in both Equine Internal Medicine and Equine Soft Tissue Surgery at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, will review 100 cases of colitis in adult horses and 100 controls referred to seven equine veterinary hospitals in the UK: five CVS equine veterinary hospitals as well as Rossdales Equine Hospital and University of Liverpool’s equine hospital.
A set of diagnostic tests on blood and faeces will be performed in these cases.
The laboratory tests will include: small redworm serology, culture and PCR of faeces for Salmonella spp, PCR of faeces for Clostridioides difficile and Clostridium perfringens, ELISA of faeces for toxins of C.difficile and C.perfringens, PCR of faeces for coronavirus.
The clinical features, laboratory results, treatments and outcomes will also be recorded.
Tim said: “Acute colitis accounts for around 5% of admissions to referral hospitals.
"And of those who are referred with it, half will not survive but there is very limited evidence available.
"So it’s vital that we build our evidence-base of this life-threatening condition.
"We hope that the outcomes of our new study will lead to a greater understanding of the causes and better inform veterinary treatment of colitis in UK adult horses.”
The Colitis in Adult Horses study is supported by a research grant from CVS, and funding for the small redworm ELISA will be given from Austin Davis Biologics.
The study started at the beginning of 2024 and the first horses have been recruited.
The results of the study are expected to be published in 2025.
Available in packs of 56 (4 x 14 tablet blister packs), Lodisure tablets are divisible for accurate dosing.
The recommended starting dose is 0.125-0.25 mg amlodipine per kg bodyweight per day, which equates to half a tablet for cats weighing less than 4kg (and more than 2kg) and one tablet per day for cats weighing between 4kg and 8kg.
It can be administered directly to the cat or given with a small quantity of food.
Dechra companion animal brand manager, Sarah Musgrave, said: “Feline hypertension is very often part of a more complex diagnosis, therefore it is important that antihypertensive therapies are easy to dose and administer.
"Lodisure is a new, first-line, easy to dose and administer treatment to control systolic blood pressure in cats while the underlying primary cause is diagnosed and treated, which vets can rely on in their day-to-day practice.”
https://www.dechra.co.uk/products/cat/prescription/lodisure.
A team of three Ofsted inspectors carried out a four-day inspection, reporting that:
Head of centre Jackie Shopland-Reed said: “We are delighted to have regained our outstanding status, in our first full inspection since being graded as Good in 2015.
“It is very rewarding that the inspectors praised the high quality of teaching and the support we provide for apprentices.
"We also received feedback that apprentices enjoy their learning and feel safe and well supported.
"Our strong and effective partnerships with employers were also praised, all of which which makes us very proud.”
https://www.liteltd.co.uk
The association says that its research has found that 94% of companion animal vets say they have clients who feed a raw diet, 42% who feed meat-free diets and 29% who feed insect-protein in place of meat.
However, 6 in 10 vets are unsure how many of the cats and dogs they see are fed meat-free diets.
In a new policy position, the BVA is now urging vets to talk to all cat and dog owners about what they feed their pet, and record nutritional histories and any resulting issues on their practice systems.
BVA President Anna Judson said: “We know that owners of cats and dogs are increasingly drawn to pet diets that reflect their own personal values and lifestyle choices, and this is leading to a surge in alternative approaches to pet food.
"We support owners making informed choices about what to feed their pets, but they must be aware that these choices play a pivotal role in the health of the animal and can also have a wider impact on human health and environmental sustainability.
“One of the key issues in these conversations is the lack of long-term, evidence-based research.
"If vet teams are to maintain our position as the ‘trusted voice’ in these conversations, it’s vital that we ask the right questions and also record as much data as possible so that we can understand the long-term impact of some of these newer diets.”
The BVA says its new policy position is not trying to dictate the ‘best’ diet for individual pets but to support pet owners in meeting their pets’ nutritional needs as well as meeting their own lifestyle choices.
The BVA is also recommending changes to veterinary education to include a new emphasis on the importance of nutrition in day one competencies for vets and nurses, and improved awareness of the need for supportive conversations with animal owners.
To support the profession, the BVA says it will create a new public facing resource and lobby for better labelling of pet food and better labelling and traceability of the animal by-products that represent one of the major sources of protein in many cat and dog foods.
Anna added: “The issues around pet food are complex and with so much information available to pet owners from breeders, friends, online forums and other sources, we want to support all members of the vet team to feel fully confident in guiding their clients through dietary decisions.
"We hope that these recommendations and our upcoming resources will improve the information available to both clients and vets, supporting owners to make healthy, informed choices for their pets.”
https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/diet-choices-for-cats-and-dogs
Invetx specialises in developing protein-based therapeutics for chronic conditions in companion animals, with a focus on monoclonal antibodies (mAbs).
Dechra says these therapies have targeted modes of action and therefore are often more effective, provide an extended duration of activity and have fewer side effects, all of which help to extend and improve the quality of life for companion animals while decreasing the care burden for pet owners.
Jesper Nordengaard, Chief Executive Officer of Dechra, said: "I regard this acquisition as hugely important for Dechra, marking the start of a new chapter in our growth.
"It demonstrates our ambition to create further points of differentiation and relevance with veterinarians and pet owners alike, confidence in our ability to deliver highly innovative new products, and capacity to execute large scale transactions at speed."
Jesper added: “The half-life extension technology developed by Invetx allows for the generation of therapeutics that make treatment of chronic conditions far more convenient for pet owners and veterinarians through improved compliance.
"The pipeline of products currently being developed are all high value potential and will deepen our expertise in core therapeutic areas such as atopic dermatitis and osteoarthritis, allowing for synergistic product development, sales & marketing, and education efforts in the future.”
https://www.invetx.com
Clare won the award for: 'Confidence with CPR within Veterinary Professionals. Would standardised CPR training help confidence within Veterinary Professionals?'
Clare said: “My goal was to present a clinical abstract at BSAVA Congress to try and share our findings with peers in a creative way.
"To receive the Best Poster Award was a shock and huge honour to be recognised for not only the research but RVN's undertaking research.”
In addition, George Smith MRCVS won the Best Medicine Award for: 'Predictors of clinically significant bleeding in dogs with severe thrombocytopenia'.
Kathryn Patel MRCVS won the Best Practitioner Award for: 'Reflecting on first opinion clinical improvement project across 39 UK vet practices to support diagnosis and management of OA.'
Sebastian Wylie MRCVS won the Best Surgery Award for: 'Complications and outcomes following surgical management of Achilles Tendon injury'
The Best Student Award was won by Michelle Demkova for: 'Lifting the flap on otitis externa in dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK – the VetCompass view'.
Submissions for the 2025 Clinical Abstracts will open on 9th September 2024, and will close on 18th October, and those chosen will present their work at BSAVA Congress 2025, in Manchester on 20th – 22nd March.
https://www.bsavacongress.com/register-interest
The awards are to recognise outstanding veterinary practices that have demonstrated exceptional performance and innovation in areas crucial to the future success of the profession.
There are three categories: Leadership and Management Skills, Team and Self-Development, and Veterinary Start-Ups.
The three category winners will each win day and evening tickets to SPVS Congress 2025 on Thursday 30th January for three team members, plus overnight accommodation at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
Shortlisted practices will each win a book of their choice.
The deadline for submissions is Friday 18th October 2024.
https://spvs.org.uk/business-excellence-awards/
The toolkit also offers the opportunity for clinical supervisors to take part in bi-annual meetings led by BVNA, the first taking place in-person during BVNA Congress 2024.
Steph Worsley, BVNA Council Member and Clinical Coach Toolkit project lead, said: “BVNA is delighted to have led the work on this toolkit, which we feel is an important resource for any RVN or vet who is carrying out the clinical coach role for an SVN.
"This is a role which is pivotal to any student’s experience of training; responsible for developing the practical skills needed for SVNs to successfully enter the veterinary nursing profession, and requiring a range of coaching, mentoring and leadership skills – on top of continuing clinical support.
"We hope this toolkit helps to make the most of the working relationship between supervisor and student, whilst equipping individuals fulfilling this role with resources to manage the additional demands it can bring.”
https://bvna.org.uk/project/clinical-coach-network-toolkit
As well as raising awareness of suicide and mental health, Maria Mylne, Mary Hall, Callum McRoberts and Kirsty's partner Chris Burn are raising money for two charities: Vetlife and The Canmore Trust.
The Canmore Trust was set up by the parents of another vet who took his own life, and works with individuals, communities, practices, workplaces, schools, colleges and universities that have been affected by suicide, as well as trying to prevent suicide.
The four vets will set off from Land’s End on September 23rd and will arrive in John O’Groats on October 18th.
On the way, they will be stopping off at Bristol, Harper Adams and Keele, Liverpool, University of Central Lancashire, Edinburgh and Glasgow vet schools to speak to students about suicide prevention.
Kirsty was a trusted and respected colleague and vet, and her death had a devastating impact on her partner and colleagues who are fundraising in her memory.
Maria said: “We want to share a message of hope that suicide is not inevitable, and just because somebody has experienced suicidal thoughts, does not mean they will feel this way forever.
"Together we can break the cycle of suicide and keep building suicide safer communities in practice.”
Chris said: “Kirsty was my rock. If you wanted something organised or something fixed, Kirsty was your woman.
"We don't want anybody else to go through the pain we have.
"We want everybody to know that no matter what your mind may tell you, the world is better with you here, in this world.”
www.justgiving.com/team/lejogawareness
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559943272380
https://www.instagram.com/lejog_awareness2024
https://thecanmoretrust.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/the_canmore_trust
lejogawareness@gmail.com
https://www.vetlife.org.uk
They include a webinar from In Communication, a company which specialises in veterinary client communications, which covers things like how to broach costs with clients, communicating treatment options succinctly and time-blind shared decision-making.
The Society has also published eight questions which the public may ask about the investigation, with model responses.
The resources also include a summary of the five concerns raised by the CMA, and advice about how to discuss them with practice staff.
Finally, you can download SPVS' presentation to the CMA which talks about the drivers for fee increases.
https://spvs.org.uk/cma-spvs-response
As part of the campaign, vet nurses are invited to share their top tips for maintaining a calm workplace for staff and patients at: https://www.nvsweb.co.uk/products/big-chill.
Veterinary professionals are being asked to share their top tips in two areas.
Firstly, how they prioritise self-care for themselves and teammates, and secondly, how they best deal with nervous, stressed or anxious patients.
All respondents will be entered into a prize draw for a VetYogi practice subscription.
Gemma Vardy, Senior Category Specialist at NVS Group, said: “Mental health and wellbeing have never been more important within the veterinary industry which is why our dedicated Big Chill campaign supports the wellbeing and mental health of veterinary professionals while also shining a light on animal calming products, such as our select healthcare calming chews, which help support calm and enhance patient experiences.”
https://www.nvsweb.co.uk/products/big-chill