Joining Northern Ireland Branch Council is a great way to help shape the future of the veterinary profession in Northern Ireland and to ensure the voices of your peers are heard. These voluntary positions provide a fantastic opportunity for networking, a chance to attend the annual political dinner with Assembly Members at Stormont, and the work carried out can count towards CPD.

The role description is attached and the application form is here https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BVAComAp

Applications close 9am on Monday 20 August.

We have been made aware of a Product defect alert issued by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate relating to

• Armitage Pet Care Flea and Tick Drops for Dogs 702 mg spot-on solution (Vm 20205/4003)
• Armitage Flea Drops for Cats and Kittens.
  For further details, please click on the link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/armitage-pet-care-flea-and-tick-drops-for-dogs-and-armitage-flea-drops-for-cats-and-kittens-product-defect-alert

Here a few questions from vets/vet students directed to the RCVS since the referendum.  The list will be updated as more questions and answers become available. Please click on the link below:-

a list of frequently asked questions

Please find below an update and key points for PVPs which have arisen recently.

Identifying blood samples:
The majority of blood samples received, related to the BVD Eradication programme, are inadequately labelled and without  supporting AHWNI paperwork which is negatively impacting on turnaround times. The full animal ID and the details of the submitting PVP MUST be provided  together with the appropriate submission form sent to the herdowner by AHWNI.
The PVP should clearly declare that the sample relates to the BVD Eradication Programme.

Retest Samples:
These should be collected 3-4 weeks after the initial ear tag sample as this will allow TI animals to become negative. These animals  should be strictly isolated from notification of an initial positive result pending the result of retest. PVPs are encouraged to also test dams of positive or inconclusive calves for BVDV. Movement of DAMPI animals is restricted . PVPS can choose a designated laboratory but should be aware that NOT all laboratories offer PCR testing which is essential on blood samples of calves<75 days old. Failure to test by PCR will lead to rejection of a result by the database and you will be charged by the laboratory.

Upload of other BVD test results to the AHWNI database:
Any BVD virus test results can be uploaded to the AHWNI database by a designated laboratory. They may require certain data permissions from the herd owner.  Assuming the animal is negative, the herd owner could create a negative declaration for the animal from within the AHWNI database. You will find further information regarding this process at the following links: https://www.afbini.gov.uk/articles/ni-bvd-eradication-programme
https://www.afbini.gov.uk/publications/afbi-data-release-form-bvd

AHWNI database Management:
If you are unsure of your practice login, contact info@animalhealthni.com. which is also useful for viewing herd results and accessing submission forms or negative declarations.
If a herd owner wishes to change their veterinary practice, they must contact AHWNI directly.

An invitation to DAERA’s inaugural Balmoral Show Breakfast Reception on Thursday 12 May 2016 was extended to Cahir King, President of AVSPNI and Seamus O’Kane, President of NIVA. 
It was also attended by a number of executive ministers joined by Greg Burton, the US Counsel General, and the new Chinese Consul General, Madam Wang Shuying. Members of the agri food industry and farmer representatives made up the audience.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) launched the new Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) on 20 November 2015 to the veterinary and veterinary nursing professions.  It is now open for applications for both practice accreditations and the brand new system of PSS awards.

The new Scheme is all about offering a pathway to improvement for practices of all shapes and sizes that want to aspire to excellence, and then highlighting these achievements to the animal-owning public in a way that is clear and easy to understand.  Over half of all veterinary practice premises in the UK are already RCVS-accredited. The main changes to the Scheme, which was established in 2005, have been based on feedback from the profession and input from the Practice Standards Group (PSG), with the dual aims of making it more accessible for those practices which aren’t yet PSS members, and even more rewarding for those who are already accredited.

Whilst retaining the existing accreditation levels across small animal, equine and farm animal practices (current RCVS-accredited practices will be automatically transferred to the new Scheme), a new modular structure helps to make the Scheme more flexible and ensure all types of veterinary practice – from ambulatory services to veterinary hospitals – can join. This structure also recognises the contributions of the whole practice team, helping to raise standards across the board.  Once accredited, practices can now apply for a range of optional awards that focus on outcomes and behaviours in specific areas, such as ‘In-patient Service’, ‘Team and Professional Responsibility’ and ‘Client Service’.

As an introductory offer, the RCVS is now inviting applications from practices that would be willing to help with a final round of testing of the new Scheme, to be in with a chance to win one of 20 free assessment days, worth £350. The offer is open from 20 November until Friday 4 December, and the first 20 practices drawn at random on 7 December will be allocated the free assessments.

Full details about the draw, the new Scheme and how to apply for accreditation and/or awards are available at www.rcvs.org.uk/newpss

Leading health organisations call for proper use of antibiotics.
Leading human and animal health organisations – the British Medical Association (BMA), British Dental Association (BDA), British Veterinary Association (BVA) and Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) – join forces for the first time to promote a ‘One Health’ approach to ensure responsible guardianship of antibiotics and their proper public use this European Antibiotics Awareness Day (EAAD, 18 November 2015).

Antibiotics are a vital medicine for both animal and human health, and modern health systems rely on the availability and effectiveness of a range of antimicrobials to treat and prevent infections. Yet inappropriate use – such as prescribing for self-limiting infections, not finishing a prescribed course of antibiotics or habitual prophylactic use in healthy animals to prevent disease – all contribute to the development of resistant bacteria in both humans and animals.

The effectiveness of antibiotics has led to greater pressure from patients to be prescribed antibiotics as a panacea for all cases. According to a recent BVA survey, three out of five vets see clients who expect antibiotics to treat their pets. Yet despite the expectation to prescribe, there is still a lack of understanding about responsible antibiotic use with 70% of vets reporting poor owner compliance and a recent study showing nearly 6% of households with leftover antibiotics prescribed for humans, meaning patients had stopped their treatment early.

For further information about EAAD 2015, please visit www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/EAAD
To mark EAAD 2015, BVA has produced a range of new posters to promote the responsible use of antibiotics for use in veterinary practices or as a source of information for pet owners which can be found on their website www.bva.co.uk/eaad.

Below is a link from  SPVS for the salary survey. This is a survey for all practice employees and partners if they wish anybody who replies will get a full set of results back. The finished results give a break down of salaries paid to vets , nurses , receptionists and practice managers broken down in a number of ways , region / years qualified / type of work they are doing etc. It also has a section on extras i.e. cpd allowances pension and etc.

The results are of great insight to both employers and employees looking to hire or be hired!! Of course the means , averages and median values take on more significance the more people that reply from each region. It only takes 4 to 5 minutes.

Your response would be appreciated. 
http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SPVSsal2015/