The European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS) has announced that it has approved the creation of a new European College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ECVECC).

The 10 Founding Diplomates will comprise the Organising Committee of Amanda Boag, Joris Robben and Nadja Sigrist along with Sophie Adamantos, Marcel Aumann, Andrew Brown, Dan Chan, Cristina Fragio, Isabelle Goy-Thollot and Francoise Roux.

Amanda Boag, Chair of the Organising Committee said: "This is the final milestone for achieving recognition for Emergency and Critical Care as a defined speciality within Europe.

"Over the last 10 years, ECC has grown within Europe and especially the UK. Academic institutions, notably the RVC, have supported and developed ECC through their student and post graduate education.  

"Commercial companies such as Vets Now have also grown and have strong internal training programmes such as the Cutting Edge.  

"There are multiple opportunities for those working in practice to obtain further skills in this area with the RCVS certificate and the BSAVA/Vets Now ECC certificate and it is fantastic that we will now be able to offer European Diploma training programmes in the UK.

"Alongside this, opportunities for our nursing colleagues are growing including a large number of nurses registered for the City and Guilds Nursing Certificate in ECC delivered by Vets Now.

"Creating a European College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care is the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle and the Organising Committee are delighted that all the hard work of those who have been involved with the development of ECC in Europe has paid off."

The College will be formally launched at the EVECCS Congress in Prague (www.eveccs2014.org) in June.

PS: Whilst you're here, take a moment to see our latest job opportunities for vet nurses.