Name: Rachael Buzzel
Approved Comments:
Date:
New Version
February 26, 2020
Volume 20 | Issue 3 | March 2020
VN ‘advisor of the year’ announced A head nurse has been named veterinary nurse registered animal medicine advisor of the year at the Animal Medicines Training Regulatory Authority (AMTRA) Awards. Emma Penn (pictured left), of Middlewich Veterinary Surgery in Cheshire, is qualified to advise p e t ow n e r s o n p reve n t i ve health care, including flea and worm treatments, and is able to prescribe and dispense certain medications over the counter instead of clients having to see a vet. Miss Penn said: “I am passionate about helping our clients provide the best care for their pets, as well as educating owners.
“My role as an AMTRA advisor gives me a thorough knowledge of the products and their safe use, and enables me to explain and consult with clients to ensure the most suitable and safest treatment for pets.” Middlewich Veterinary Surgery is part of Willows Veterinary Group, where Miss Penn has worked for 17 years. All AMTRA SQPs must pass written exams at higher education level 4 or above. Exams are based on a syllabus produced by AMTRA and Harper Adams University. The best equine advisor award went to Ellie Houston (inset), an SVN at Harper Adams. She said: “I am on my industry placement, but already I can recognise the importance of communication to build a rapport with clients and to give them the best possible advice for the individual situation. “Also, I feel raising awareness of what animal medicines advisors are registered and qualified to do, and their skill sets, is important.”
Online abuse not ‘constructive’ or ‘good representation’ – BVNA The BVNA has released a statement following an unprecedented open letter – which it co-signed – from leaders of the profession decrying the “disparaging and demeaning” language they say is being used against them.
Engagement
In the letter (www.vettimes. co.uk/?p=210203), 35 officers and senior staff of the leading veterinary and nursing bodies accept the need for challenge and criticism of their views and actions, but warn against the use of personal attacks that could prevent people from putting themselves forward for leadership roles in the future. The document – co-signed by representatives from the BVA, RCVS, AVS, BSAVA, British Veterinary Zoological Society, BVNA, SPVS and VMG – stated the use of derogatory
The BVNA statement highlighted the importance of engaging with the profession, but warned “attacking individuals” on social media goes against its code of conduct and is “not a good representation” of the profession. It said: “We want people to be engaged with the profession, and actively discuss decisions and question the representative and regulatory bodies. This is how we drive change. This is positive. “Those people who have ideas and opinions, and are engaged, should
and offensive language “is wholly inappropriate and falls far short of the expectations of professionals”. The document noted with concern that women, and people from minorities, often face the worst of it.
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consider standing for a position in the representative or regulatory bod[ies]; they should become involved in the research for decisions that are taken.” It continued: “Attacking individuals who are professionals [and give their time voluntarily] on social media, is not constructive; it is against our code of conduct and it is not a good representation of our profession as a whole.” The letter was coordinated by BVA president Daniella Dos Santos, whose presidential theme is #VetDiversity. Ms Dos Santos emphasised that not all 35 signatories were victims of the abuse, but all fully backed the stance against such conduct within the profession. Ms Dos Santos said: “Online veterinary forums can be a fantastic place for us to share ideas or
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concerns and support one another, but they can also have a darker side. I’ve become increasingly aware of people using forums and other social media to attack and criticise individuals who I know are working hard for our profession. “It’s high time we collectively speak up and I’m incredibly grateful to those who have co-signed this open letter to our colleagues. “Every single vet or vet nurse who volunteers or works as an officer or committee member within the veterinary sphere – and all of our lay colleagues – work hard on behalf of our professions.”
Personal attacks ‘not okay’ In an interview with Veterinary Times (VT50.09), Ms Dos Santos declined to go into specifics of the alleged online abuse, or identify
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individuals or online platforms involved. However, she said the open letter had not been sparked by a single incident, but an accumulation over time that had been “slowly impacting” on the people involved. She said: “It’s not about criticism – I want to be clear. We are leaders of the profession and we are open to criticism of the policies or the organisations we work for. What is not okay is when it goes into personal criticism and attacks.” Asked how many individuals were involved in online abuse, Ms Dos Santos said: “Would I say it’s a large number within the profession? No, I would say it’s a small number, but they are very vocal and very hurtful to people who are giving their time – whether it’s voluntary or not – but they’re still giving their time to a profession they love.”
Walk on the wild side in Africa
