BVNA CONGRESS
10–12 October 2014 Telford International Centre
Delegates have a vast choice of lecture streams including:
| 〉 | Behaviour | ||||
| 〉 | Feline | ||||
| 〉 | Student | ||||
| 〉 | Management | ||||
| 〉 | Research | ||||
| 〉 | Advanced Surgery | ||||
| 〉 | Exotics, Zoo & Wildlife | ||||
| 〉 | Anaesthesia | ||||
| 〉 | Current Issues | ||||
| 〉 | Oncology | ||||
| 〉 | Dentistry | ||||
| 〉 | Diagnostics | ||||
| 〉 | Laboratory | ||||
| 〉 | Emergency & Critical Care | ||||
| 〉 | Charity/Ethics & Welfare | ||||
| 〉 | Equine | ||||
| 〉 | A Day in the Life | ||||
Plus interactive workshops & seminars:
| 〉 | Practical Nutrition | ||||
| 〉 | Working with Deaf Dogs in Practice | ||||
| 〉 | Burgess Small Animal Workshop | ||||
| 〉 | Physiotherapy Techniques | ||||
| 〉 | Dental Radiography | ||||
| 〉 | Ultrasound | ||||
| 〉 | Local Anaesthetic Techniques | ||||
| 〉 | Perfecting Skin Suturing | ||||
| 〉 | Clicker Training | ||||
| 〉 | VN Well-being | ||||
| 〉 | Reiki in veterinary practice | ||||
Friday | Keynote speaker Pen Farthing, Nowzad Charity Founder
Pen will be speaking on his work with Nowzad and also present the awards to our deserving winners
Friday & Saturday afternoon | Happy Hour in the commercial exhibition
Complimentary drinks and nibbles will be available to all delegates & exhibitors
Friday evening | Charity Quiz Challenge
Each year BVNA organises an event to help raise funds in aid of the Charity.
Tickets cost £18 and includes a meal & drink voucher
The evening is kindly sponsored by Protexin Veterinary
Saturday evening | Heroes & Heroines
The dinner dance is always a popular event and this year you will have the chance to go back to your childhood and become your favourite Hero or Heroine for the night.
Tickets cost just £45 and include a three course meal with wine
The evening is kindly sponsored by VN Times & Protexin Veterinary
Sunday | BVNA Council AGM
Come along & see the current BVNA President pass the reins to the incoming President as well as ratification of the newly elected members.
During the three day event delegates will have access to a large exhibition.
The exhibition is an opportunity for delegates to speak to an array of exhibitors about the products and services that are available, as well as see new product launches.
Don't forget to take advantage of the early bird special rate before 31st July!
For the full programme and registration details visit www.bvnacongress.co.uk
RCO Profiles — Wales
South East Wales
I have been a veterinary nurse for 18 years, working in a range of first opinion, emergency and referral practice around the Welsh boarders, the Midlands and the South West. I am a co-director of Abbeydale Vetlink Veterinary Training Ltd which is a private course provider, teaching Animal Nursing Assistants and student Veterinary Nurses to achieve the ANA and Diploma in Veterinary Nursing respectively.
Abbeydale Vetlink is based on the Welsh boarders in Monmouth. This is a demanding, but very rewarding position, ensuring that students have sufficient knowledge to pass the Diploma examinations and work as proficient qualified nurses. I still work in small animal practice on a weekly basis.
I became a member of the BVNA as a wet-behind-the-ears 17-year-old associate member, reading the journal with gusto trying to get a head start on others in order to secure that elusive training position!
The BVNA is vital to the development and support of veterinary nurses and it is for this reason that I became an RCO in 2010. My aim was to organise affordable CPD for nurses and nurse assistants, in an area where there is relatively little owing to its geographical location.
We have run varying topics — from anaesthesia, legal and ethical nursing issues to medical disease. These sessions take a significant amount of time to organise — from arranging the speaker, securing sponsorship and arrangement of the finances, but it is a role that is enjoyable as well as being voluntary!
A real positive of being an RCO is becoming part of a group of like-minded individuals — this being the other RCOs and becoming involved with a fundamental function of the BVNA and helping them promote the role of the association and veterinary nurses alike. It has also helped me to gain a valuable insight into how much the BVNA Council does on behalf of all nurses — again a voluntary role. Attending the BVNA Congress is always a huge social gathering for all of us RCOs too and is one to which I look forward.
Every year I try and do some fund-raising with my students for the BVNA Charity of the Year; and this usually involves us throwing ourselves out of planes! Sky dives have led to our raising over £3,000.
I very much welcome any suggestions for topics from delegates. Therefore, if you have any suggestions for talk or a topic, then please contact me at [email protected] or [email protected]
Kirsty Gwynne CertEd RVN MBVNA
RCO SE Wales
South West Wales
Since qualifying in 2010, I have been looking for challenges within my career. The volunteer role as RCO is definitely an interesting, varied and sometimes frustrating one that I love and have done since March 2011.
I knew nurses who had previously been RCOs and I was curious about their role — it looked like a great way to be part of the BVNA and provide CPD to members in your area. I also wanted to take on this activity in order to gain more confidence in public speaking; which I feel I have achieved during the past few years.
Deciding on a topic, finding a speaker/sponsor and securing a meeting date have always been my favourite parts of the role. However, the time doing ‘paperwork’ is usually multi-tasked to include reading or playing hide & seek with the dogs! It is a role I feel privileged to do, and if there is anyone interested or curious to volunteer, I would highly recommend it!
In my ‘spare’ time, I have organised a few challenges for 2014. They mostly all involve long distances, obstacles and mud! I have five in total this year; but the biggest (and scariest) challenge I am doing to raise money for Nowzad dogs is the ‘Tough Mudder’. It is 10 to 12 miles of cross-country running with obstacles; including monkey bars across water and an extremely high wall to get over! If you would like to sponsor us, please visit www.justgiving.com/Pippa-Steans3
By the time this has been published, the charity night for Nowzad dogs will have been and gone — here's hoping it was a success! Just to say thank you to everyone who has helped with the event.
Our next meeting will be on 24 June and the subject is basic dog behaviour. The speaker will be Claire Hargrave who is a clinical certified animal behaviourist in Wales. Please check out the Facebook page, BVNA South West Wales, or contact me [email protected]
As always, I am very willing to receive new ideas, and I hope to see you at our meetings in the future.
Pippa Steans RVN MBVNA
RCO SW Wales
The BVNA team were delighted to hear that Des Thompson OBE had been chosen as the first ever recipient of the RCVS Queen's Medal to recognise his outstanding contribution to the veterinary profession.
As an esteemed Honorary Member of our association, we have gratefully admired the dedication and commitment that Des continue to demonstrate towards the Veterinary Nursing profession.
We simply could not think of a more deserving recipient, and on behalf of the whole BVNA team, we would like to offer our most sincere congratulations.
Saturday 7 June | Taunton
Saturday 14 June | Harrogate
Saturday 21 June | Telford
Saturday 12 July | Cambridge
Saturday 15 November | Belfast
Subjects will cover:
| • | Nursing Clinics | ||||
| • | Emergency & Critical Care | ||||
| • | Pain & Behaviour | ||||
| • | Clinical Governance | ||||
| • | Laboratory Skills | ||||
| • | Lifestage Nutrition | ||||
Speakers: Belinda Andrews-Jones, Libby Sheridan, Dr Claire Corridan, Dr Rachel Casey, Nicola Ackerman, Kathleen Tennant, Pam Mosedale, Pedro Serra, Catherine Walker, Eleanor Haskey, Caroline Warnes and Sally Everitt
BVNA CPD Days are full day events running from 9.30am to 5.30pm gaining you 6 hours worth of CPO. Cost includes refreshments, lunch, course notes and a CPO Certificate.
For more information and a booking form, please e-mail [email protected]
RCVS NEWS
The votes are in…
The results of the RCVS Veterinary Nurses Council elections were announced in early May and the two places have been taken by existing Council member, Hilary Orpet (who gained 611 votes), and new member, Amber Richards (371 votes).
Unfortunately, the turnout in the election was down, with only 1,157 (10%) veterinary nurses voting, compared with last year's 1,329 veterinary nurses (12.5%). Given the important role that VN Council has in the governance of the profession, this was disappointing.
Commenting on the results, chair of VN Council, Kathy Kissick, said: “Many congratulations to Hilary, who has been returned to the VN Council for the third time running, and to Amber, who I'm looking forward to welcoming to VN Council at RCVS Day in July. Hilary's experience and Amber's fresh input will, I'm sure, combine to provide an excellent contribution to our ongoing work.”
VNs could cast their votes by post or online, with the former remaining the more popular method. Online voting increased in 2014, however, with 25% of VN voters visiting the new election microsite, compared with only 17% in 2013.
The table below shows the full results
Hilary Orpet
Amber Richards
Anything to declare?
More than 75 veterinary nurses were given the opportunity to make their declaration of professional registration at the TP Congress for Clinical Coaches in March.
Although all new VNs are now required to make the declaration upon registration, this practice was only instituted in April 2012 — meaning that the majority of VNs have not had the opportunity to do so. However, during a talk about VN regulation and the new Royal Charter at the Congress, Kathy Kissick made an impromptu decision to ask the audience to make their declarations there and then.
She said: “I've wanted to roll the declarations out to more seasoned nurses for a while and this seemed like a good opportunity to see what the response was and there was a moment during my talk where it just felt right. It was excellent to hear so many take the oath and reflect on what it means to be a VN.”
Following this success we are keen to take as many opportunities as we can over the coming months to allow RVNs who have not made their declarations to do so — including at the BVNA Congress in October. Keep an eye on the VNJ and RCVS News for more information.
Fraudulent issue
This is not a new message — but the problem keeps on happening, so we think it bears repeating: student veterinary nurses who are caught submitting fraudulently completed student records — including the forging of signatures of Training Practice Principals or Heads of Centres — could ultimately be barred from entering the Register of Veterinary Nurses.
Not a great way to start your professional career, is it?
Since the beginning of 2012, we have verified nine separate cases of forgery in documents that have been submitted in support of applications for entry to the Register. Of course, this is only a small proportion of the students who go on to successfully register, but it's significant.
In each case, the student VN has been called in for an interview at the RCVS, with a panel comprising a member of VN Council and a senior member of staff and asked to explain their actions. Although, so far, no students have been prevented from registration, this is the ultimate sanction that can be taken, at the discretion of the Registrar.
The relevant members of staff at the Training Practice and the Further or Higher Education institutions will be also be informed of the forgery once it has been confirmed.
Priya Mehta, RCVS VN admissions officer, says: “Rather than resort to fraud, if any student veterinary nurses are having difficulties getting sign-off on the relevant documents they need to apply to enter the Register, then they should contact us in the first instance and we can advise on how best to complete the documentation, depending on the individual's circumstances.”
Priya can be contacted on [email protected] or 020 7202 0711.
EMPLOYMENT
Social media in the workplace
Nicky Ackerley BA(Hons)
Nicky Ackerley HR Support is owned by Nicky Ackerley who has a BA (Hons) Business Studies Degree, is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and who has been a practising HR manager for over 20 years. HR Support Consultancy has provided the BVNA Members Advisory Service (formerly known as the Industrial Relations Service) since it began in 2002.
Social media have an important part to play in driving any business forward, and companies are also aware that employees will access social media for both business and personal use.
Social media are interactive and allow people to communicate instantly with each other, or to share data in a public forum. This does, however, blur the distinction between professional and personal life; and comments made on social media sites, such as Twitter, Facebook and e-mail, can damage both a business and a person's career.
The term ‘social media’ also covers blogs and video and image-sharing websites, such as YouTube and Flickr. There are many more examples of social media than can be listed here and this is a constantly changing area.
Over 26 million people have access to the internet and 70 per cent of them use it every day. There has seen a substantial growth since 2000 across the world — within Europe over 60 per cent of people have access to the internet.
Social media in a business context
Social media sites can benefit a business in major ways and can assist in obtaining professional contacts, business opportunities and development, searching for new staff and advertising the products they sell
Employees also use media sites whilst at work every day via smart phones and computers, which can be a great asset to an organization. It is, however, illegal to send a message to another person that is indecent, grossly offensive, threatening or false under the Malicious Communications Act 1998.
The Act covers all forms of electronic communication, telecommunication and even a letter. There is no requirement for the message to reach the recipient — it is still illegal if it is sent, delivered or transmitted.
An employee should be aware that he or she loses the right to privacy once their comments are placed in a public forum and they should be mindful of their actions.
Social media in the workplace
Employers should be clear about the positives and negatives on the use of social media and should have policies that include statements about harassment and bullying.
Whilst working within any organisation, an employee should not:
| • | use Facebook, mobile telephones or the internet in working hours unless your employer gives you permission to do so | ||||
| • | make any public comment which could damage the reputation of the business, its clients or your colleagues | ||||
| • | disclose confidential company information. | ||||
If an employee is found to be using social media sites inappropriately, they should be aware that their employer can take disciplinary action against them; if this is the case employees should be treated fairly and consistently. The employer should then assist the employee in being able to remove any derogatory comments that have been placed concerning any of their accounts.
The use of social media in the workplace may be deemed as gross misconduct and could lead to dismissal from the practice. More and more employees have access to computers at work and participate in social media activities and if used incorrectly they may face disciplinary action being taken against them in any of the following categories:
| • | vandalism of, or otherwise intentionally interfering with, the practice's computers or computer/telephone network | ||||
| • | posting derogatory, offensive, discriminatory or defamatory comments online about the practice, its employees, clients or customers; or otherwise conducting themselves in a way that is detrimental to the practice or brings it into serious disrepute | ||||
| • | breaches of copyright or any other proprietary interest belonging to the practice | ||||
| • | using the practice's property to carry out work for third parties on a personal basis i.e. ‘moonlighting’. | ||||
Social media in your personal life
A company should recognise that many of its employees may make use of social media in a personal capacity whilst at work and although they are not acting on behalf of the organisation, employees must be aware that they can damage the firm if they are recognised as being part of it.
Employees should be allowed to say that they work for a particular company as it is natural for its staff to want to discuss their work on social media. An employee's online profile should not, however, contain the company's name.
If an employee does discuss their work on social media, they should include on their profile a statement along the following lines; “The views I express here are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of my employer/company”;
Any communications that an employee makes in a professional capacity through social media must not:
| • | bring the organisation into disrepute | ||||
| • | breach confidentiality | ||||
| • | breach copyright | ||||
| • | fail to give acknowledgement where permission has been given to reproduce something | ||||
| • | do anything that could be considered discriminatory against — or bullying or harassment of — any individual. | ||||
For further support with this or any other HR issue, BVNA members can call the BVNA Members Advisory Service Helpline on 01822 870270
NEWS REVIEW by jean Turner
VPMA focuses on benefits for hardworking practice managers
The Veterinary Practice Management Association (VPMA) has formed a Member Services Group to help optimise member benefits. The group, consisting of practice managers and council representatives, Julie Beacham, Angela Andrews and Steve Broomfield, is reviewing the current member benefits package and negotiating with suppliers to expand the range of support on offer.
Group leader, Julie Beacham, called for feedback on which benefits members find most useful, as well as those they'd like to see. Under consideration is a legal helpline to assist with employment disputes, coaching and personal development support and discounts and assistance from suppliers in management-related services and products.
The association currently offers benefits such as Health & Safety and HR support, discounts on medical health plans, books and travel, and telecommunications and utilities brokerage. It has an active regional structure and hosts regular CPD and networking meetings.
Julie Beacham at work in her practice at Wendover Heights in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
The joint VPMA-SPVS Events group holds regular CPD days throughout the year, as well as a management-focused congress every January, both of which are substantially discounted for members. The association also co-hosts with SPVS a member publication, Practice Life, which focuses on business and management.
Time to renew resolutions on rabbits
Resolutions made at the beginning of the year have long become a distant memory for most of us, but as we hit the mid-year mark, now is the perfect time to dig them out, dust them off and do them justice.
With veterinary professionals across the country having been encouraged to ‘Think Rabbit+’ throughout May, enhancing their rabbit-related repertoire of knowledge and skills may be top of their priority list and now Supreme PetFoods is claiming to make it easy for them to do just that through the launch of its exclusive seminar series online.
The lecture line-up, held live at London Vet Show last year, saw world-renowned rabbit experts gather from across the globe to discuss a host of hot topics in rabbit medicine and surgery, including dental disease, digestive disorders, calcium metabolism, urinary disease and the all-important ‘sticky bottom’ syndrome.
The round table of case-based discussions also provided a rare opportunity for the audience to have their questions answered by rabbit specialists and discuss the complexities of some example cases.
The full series is now available for vets and nurses to view online, along with a whole host of other helpful resources, supplying world-class information right to their fingertips — and all for free! In addition to the exclusive online lectures, practices also have access to an array of free Supreme support materials including a series of professional waiting room videos, ideal for client education, as well as a variety of vital downloadable practice documents, available at www.supremepetfoods.com/vet-zone
The ‘Think Rabbit Virtual Manual’ is full of handy hints and tips on how to make practices more rabbit friendly and is available for free download at www.supremepetfoods.com/think-rabbit
Molly Varga, BVetMed DZooMed MRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, whose lecture was entitled, ‘Rabbits and Calcium: how much is too much?’ believes that there should be more information available when it comes to rabbits, “With current concepts in rabbit medicine and surgery rapidly evolving, access to convenient, concise and cutting edge information is crucial for the whole veterinary team. The only way this is possible is through initiatives such as this seminar series, which drives our knowledge and expertise forwards.
Charly Pignon
Other speakers in the seminar series included, Charly Pignon DVM, Head of the Exotics Medicine Service at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire d'Alfort in France, Professor Anna Meredith MA VetMB CertLAS DZooMed MRCVS, Livia Benato MRCVS, Lecturer in Rabbit and Exotic Animal Husbandry and Nutrition and Wendy Bament RVN BSc (Hons) MSc, Exotic Animal Veterinary Nurse. The interactive discussion session was chaired by Anna Meredith and involved a whole host of interesting cases, from urinary disease to best practice treatment of dental abscesses.
So, whether wanting to re-start those long-forgotten resolutions, consolidate knowledge or just continue to ‘Think Rabbit+’, vets and nurses aiming for clinical excellence should hop online and sign up for the free seminars and resources at www.supremepetfoods.com
For more details about the ‘Think Rabbit+’ campaign and to download the Think Rabbit Virtual Manual, visit www.supremepetfoods.com/think-rabbit
New Professional Level 5 Qualification for Clinical Coaches
The College of Animal Welfare (CAW) is delighted to announce that a new professional coaching qualification, which it claims will help clinical coaches to gain the best from their student veterinary nurses, is now available and open for applications.
Clinical coaches spend a large amount of time training their students in practice; coaching and supporting them as they learn the new skills needed to do their job and mentoring their student by looking at their personal development and addressing issues which may affect their learning and performance.
The skills needed to perform the clinical coach role have been focused largely around either the old A1 award or skills gained on the job, with a mandatory initial training that focuses on the technical competencies and use of the NPL. There is no doubt that the role is rewarding, but it can also be extremely challenging; particularly dealing with setting timely targets, planning and structuring efficient training systems, building relationships and maintaining personal boundaries.
The Level 5 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring, accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management, is a blended learning programme (an effective combination of online, distance learning complemented by three study days at college) that will allow coaches to develop their ability to guide, influence and develop their students to be the best veterinary nurses they can be.
Registered veterinary nurse demonstrating bandaging to students
Starting in June 2014, the qualification covers a variety of topics such as communication skills and relationship building; overcoming barriers to coaching and mentoring; effective coaching/mentoring tools and techniques; feedback and monitoring progress.
The normal price for the qualification is £1,250 plus awarding body fees; but The College of Animal Welfare is offering 2014 TP Congress delegates, CAW Clinical Coaches and those supporting CAW students on placement, the opportunity to enrol onto the 2014 course for £950 (or £105 per month). Awarding body fees of £124 are also payable.
Further information can be found at www.caw.ac.uk
Innovative, low-cost CPD launched
Onswitch has turned the world of veterinary CPD upside down with the launch of Footsteps — a new board game designed to help practices place the customer experience firmly at the heart of their business.
The concept of Footsteps is simple — moving around the board on your ‘customer journey’, you collect clients (or lose them) depending on the kind of customer experience you provide — just like in real life.
The number of clients collected determines the funds available for a second ‘revenue journey’ — this time players spend money at every throw of the dice, paying salaries, tax bills, mending equipment and funding bad debts.
According to the firm, playing ‘Footsteps’ unlocks insight into key concepts such as Key Opinion Leaders, Net Promoter Scores, social media and the five steps of great telephone customer care. Which means that a two-hour game delivers great value-for-money CPD for the whole team.
Players have access to an online instructional video and the game can be played as many times as required — ideal for new starters or simply for refreshing the team's knowledge and motivation.
Footsteps is available at www.onswitch.co.uk priced at £195 +VAT. To place an order, or for more details on the game, as well as the wide range of training, research and consultancy services that Onswitch offers, contact [email protected] or call 01476 565343.
Defra outlines new TB measures for camelids
Defra has published proposals to tighten up TB controls on alpacas and llamas, following growing concern about the spread of the disease in camelids.
The Department intends to introduce a statutory compensation payment of £750 per animal and statutory powers of testing and removal of TB reactors.
The Government will pay for a combined skin and antibody blood test.
There will be a new requirement for positive animals to be marked prior to removal, and vaccination and therapeutic or prophylactic TB treatments will be prohibited because of concerns they interfere with the TB test.
Defra has accepted industry proposals for a voluntary health scheme but will ‘look again’ at statutory surveillance if this does not deliver desired results.
PetSavers announces funding to veterinary colleges
PetSavers celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and used the occasion of the BSAVA Congress to announce £40,000 of funding to be split between the seven veterinary colleges, with the remaining £5,000 available to veterinary nurses who apply for funding.
It also launched a new appeal to veterinary practices to raise money to help secure the next 40 years of vital research funding.
Founded in 1974, the charity has invested more than £2 million in a number of crucial veterinary medicine research projects — spanning oncology, orthopaedics, dermatology and, recently, the impact of passive smoking on animal health.
It is now launching its ‘£200 Project’ — an appeal to veterinary practices to raise £200 each year. This figure would secure the future of the organisation and reduce its reliance on unpredictable income sources, such as legacy funding.
Pedro Martin Bartolome, PetSavers ‘chairperson, said, “PetSavers’ work has greatly improved the health of pets over the last 40 years, but our biggest challenge now is to secure regular income that will allow us to plan for the future.
“It's important that we raise our profile among the General Public, and vets are our best hope of doing this through the fund-raising activities we are encouraging them to take part in. We really hope that vets embrace our project for the benefit of the health of animals and the veterinary profession.”
Derek Attride, chairman of the grant awarding committee, said the new £40,000 funding was a “great opportunity for young, committed and enthusiastic vet students and vet nurses.”
Previous grant recipients were on hand to discuss how the funding they received allowed them to carry out important work:
Dr Sarah Mason was granted a PetSavers residency in small animal oncology in 2010 and completed her study in 2013. Sarah said: “It was an honour to be awarded PetSavers residency and I consider the growth and development of the field of veterinary oncology to be significantly down to the work and funding of the charity.”
Sue Paterson was awarded a dermatology residency with PetSavers between 1997 and 1999. Sue said: “It was always my dream to become a dermatologist, and PetSavers funding allowed me to carry out a study into the use of antiseptics as an alternative to antibiotics.”
Sue said thai having benefited from PetSavers earlier in her career, she wanted to give something back, and has just run the London Marathon to raise funds.
Sport horse health benefits from surfaces study
Experts have carried out the most extensive study so far into the effect of arena surfaces on sport horse health.
Published by FEI, the four-year study brought together eight equine scientists from six universities in the UK, US and Sweden. They collaborated with three equine and racing research centres and two horse charities.
The Equine Surfaces White Paper gathered the latest data and published scientific papers to explore the effects of arena and turf surfaces on training and competition horses.
Authors describe the optimal composition, construction and maintenance of arenas to maximise equine performance, while minimising the risk of injury.
In order to guide and improve future competition and training surfaces for sport horses, the paper explains current methods of surface preparation and maintenance techniques, in a way that can be easily understood by riders, trainers, course designers and arena builders.
For more information, visit www.fei.org/fei/about-fei/publications/fei-books
Have your say in the nation's ‘Cat Manifesto’
Pet owners and veterinary professionals are being asked to take part in a major consultation by charity Cats Protection as it prepares its ‘Cat Manifesto’ ahead of next year's general election.
The charity has released a list of 10 proposed manifesto priorities that, if delivered, would make a huge impact on the lives of the nation's eight million pet cats and an estimated two million strays and ferals.
The list of proposed manifesto points includes updating the law to control the breeding and sale of cats, changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act to allow prosecution of owners whose dogs attack, injure or kill cats and the inclusion of animal welfare in the National Curriculum so all children learn about responsible pet care.
People have until the autumn to view and contribute to the Cats Protection's manifesto proposals. To take part, visit www.cats.org.uk/manifesto
Evidence-based veterinary medicine
RCVS Knowledge has confirmed some of the speakers for the 1st International EBVM Network Conference to be held at Beaumont House, Windsor, on 23 – 24 October 2014.
For further information, contact www.rcvsknowledge.org
Two speakers are practice-based and two are university-based — all four are world-renowned for their EBVM-related work (and for their engaging presentations!). They are:
| • | Steve Budsberg, University of Georgia, (Title to be confirmed) | ||||
| • | Daniel Fletcher, Cornell University, “The Reassessment Campaign on Veterinary Resuscitation: an international, cross-disciplinary attempt to produce evidence-based clinical guidelines'. | ||||
| • | Sandi Lefebvre, Banfield Pet Hospital, ‘Mining for evidence in veterinary medicine: treasure and fool's gold’. | ||||
| • | Brennen McKenzie, Adobe Animal Hospital, ‘EBVM in the trenches: pragmatic strategies for implementing EBVM in general practice’. | ||||
There will also be an International Science Panel, www.ebvm-2014.org/programme/4578431503 — with members from the UK, Europe and the US delivering cutting-edge talks and workshops.
More speakers (including veterinary nurses and information specialists) will be announced shortly. If you'd like to speak, or present a workshop or poster, the call for abstracts www.ebvm-2014.org/call-for-abstracts/4578433947 is still open.
For tickets, visit www.ebvm-2014.org/registration/4578433928 Registration includes access to all areas of the conference, accommodation, meals and more.