VetNI

Veterinary Northern Ireland

Annual training for NI TB testers

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REMINDER for Testing Vets! If you have registered with CAFRE for your compulsory annual online training, you should also have received your Username and Password from the TB Contract Team allowing you to access the course.
If you believe you are registered as a student with CAFRE but you have not received a Moodle Username and Password you should, through your Senior Approved Veterinary Surgeon (SAVS), email the TB Contract Manager ([email protected]) and the TB Contract Team will try to sort it out.

If you registered with CAFRE too late i.e. after 01 February you will not be getting a Moodle Username and Password at this time. 
Those who registered with CAFRE late and those who have not registered with CAFRE yet will have another opportunity to do the online training as the course will reopen on 01 April (but will close again on 10 April).  Those who have already registered but did so late will not have to reregister.
Further information about the reopening of the course will issue to SAVSs shortly.

All vets who want to retain their approval to TB test after 11 April must have completed the training.


Veterinary Medicines regulation in the event of a No Deal – VMD information on Gov.UK

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Throughout the government’s negotiations to leave the EU on 29 March the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has developed plans for all possible outcomes including no deal.
VMD has therefore published on GOV.UK  its EU Exit Information Hub www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-exit-information  which sets out what  vets and other stakeholders will need to do differently if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. It also sets out the areas of veterinary medicines regulation where there will be no change.
For vets the areas you will need to do things differently in the event of a no deal are:
–              Applying for a Special Import Certificate/Special Treatment Certificate
–              Operating the prescribing cascade
Please visit the Veterinary Medicines Directorate’s EU Exit Information Hub www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-exit-information  for detailed advice and guidance  on the above areas and all areas of veterinary medicines regulation that will and won’t be  changing in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal. 
The VMD will continue to assure the safety, quality and effectiveness of all veterinary medicines authorised in the UK  to protect animal health, human health and the environment.

Be aware! Export of horses and ponies post-BREXIT

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Vets! Please check and familiarise yourselves with the government guidance on equine movements post-Brexit as you will be the source of advice for your clients. As well as travel to mainland Europe, the rules also apply to NI – R of I cross-border movements.

A Q&A sheet is included from DAERA here but please also refer to the Gov.UK site link above for the latest updates.

Using bovine post-import samples for BVD testing – PVP role

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FAO All PVPs
Where clients have imported cattle that are to be tested by DAERA for Bluetongue virus, the blood samples may also be tested for BVD in the AFBI laboratory.  Clients importing cattle may contact you to request that you complete a submission form, the link for which follows:
https://www.afbini.gov.uk/sites/afbini.gov.uk/files/publications/Farm%20Animal%20Submission%20Form_051018.pdf
Your client should have been given a DAERA Test Identification number by the AHWI taking the samples.  Please write the DAERA Test Identification number for the sample on the form and add a note that the sample result is to be uploaded to the BVD Programme.
If you have any questions, please contact AFBI’s DSIB or AHWNI, as appropriate.

N.I vet becomes BVA President

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One of Northern Irelands homegrown vets, Simon Doherty was elected President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) for 2018/2019.

“It is a real honour to have been charged with the presidency of BVA at a time when it is critical for the association to provide a strong voice for vets. We are a relatively small profession, but the association has a growing membership who are becoming increasingly engaged due to cross-cutting concerns around issues such as workforce capacity and capability. However, it’s also an exciting time when many vets are exploring the diversity of available career paths, novel working patterns and the opportunities afforded through leadership and innovation.”

To read the full BVA article Click Here!

Why not climb Slieve Donard and help support Vetlife and Vet Support NI?

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Join SPVS President Peter Brown as he scales the highest peaks in the UK to raise money for Vetlife and Vet Support NI.

Peter would love vets (SPVS members and non-members too!) to join him in supporting Vetlife or Vet Support NI on any (or all!) of his walks or just to get together afterwards.

Walbury Hill – Sunday 13th May, Kinder Scout – June
Snowdonia – July, Scafell Pike – July
Ben Nevis – August, High Willhays – September
Slieve Donard – Friday 12th October (AVSPNI Autumn Conference – time to be confirmed)

For full details visit www.spvs.org.uk/presidents-peaks/

Donate to Vetlife www.justgiving.com/fundraising/peter-brown69 or Donate to Vet support NI- www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/vetsupportni

A very successful and well supported Spring Meeting for NIVA with speaker Des Rice

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On 3rd May NIVA members turned out to the Seagoe Hotel, Portadown for the NIVA Spring Meeting.  Following the business meeting Vets, Nurses, Practice managers and their friends and family arrived to hear Dr Des Rice give an excellent, very practical presentation teaching five useful skills to help you cope in life.  Everyone in attendance seemed to really enjoy trying out some of these techniques in the practical demonstrations that Des included in his talk.  Des is a partner in the coaching business CCO, an acronym for Creating Collaborative Organisations.  He coaches individual Executives and teams to become the best they can be.  He gives clients the tools to modify attitudes and behaviours that cause unworkability and underperformance for themselves, their team and the business.  Frequently this involves helping individuals deal with stress, overwhelm, anger, anxiety, panic, depression and even suicide.  Find out more about CCO by visiting the CCO website.

Des also introduced some of the Vet Support (NI) colleagues and demonstrated how they might support members of the wider profession.   The Vet Support (NI) Team have been trained with a variety of supportive measures including coping skills, reflective listening, goal setting and other coaching techniques.   Visit www.vetsupportni.co.uk for confidential support for the profession in Northern Ireland

Some of the delegates are pictured below practicing the 7-11 breathing technique, one of the many ways of helping to reduce stress and stay calm.  If you missed the opportunity to attend this very useful talk and would like to find out more about the techniques taught on the night you can find a list of tips on the http://www.vetsupportni.co.uk/tips/ 

Seamus O’Kane represents local vet associations at Veterinary Ireland Annual Presidents Dinner

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Seamus O’Kane, AVSPNI President and NIVA Junior Vice President, recently represented local vet associations at the Veterinary Ireland Annual Presidents’ Dinner in Kilkenny.  As well as a great dinner, the event provided opportunity for networking with Veterinary Ireland peers, discussion on common issues and in depth debate on the impact of Brexit on animal health and welfare.  Seamus also found time for a morning walk to enjoy the beautiful surroundings at the Lyrath Estate.  AVSPNI and NIVA are grateful for the invitation from John O’Connor, outgoing President of Veterinary Ireland.