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The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) is the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the United Kingdom, established in 1844 by royal charter. It is responsible for monitoring the educational, ethical and clinical standards of the veterinary profession. Anyone wishing to practice as a vet in the United Kingdom must be registered with the RCVS.
Anyone who wishes to practice as a vet in the United Kingdom must first register with the RCVS. Eligibility for registration is based either on having a recognised qualification or by passing the RCVS statutory membership examination. After registration, the vet is entitled to use the letters MRCVS (Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) or FRCVS (Fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) after their name.
During the ceremony of admission to the RCVS, members make a declaration:
I PROMISE AND SOLEMNLY DECLARE that I will pursue the work of my profession with integrity and accept my responsibilities to the public, my clients, the profession and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, and that, ABOVE ALL, my constant endeavour will be to ensure the health and welfare of animals committed to my care.
The 1844 charter regulates particular aspects of the college's management of its affairs and gives it the power to award fellowships, diplomas and certificates to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, and others engaged in "veterinary science and its auxiliary sciences".
The statutory duties of the RCVS are laid out in the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966.
The regulatory role of the RCVS has always meant that members of the public could rest assured that their individual vet is properly qualified and fit to practise, and now the same assurance can apply to practice premises. The RCVS Practice Standards Scheme is a voluntary initiative to accredit veterinary practices in the UK. Through setting standards and carrying out regular inspections, the Scheme aims to promote and maintain the highest standards of veterinary care.
RCVS Accredited practices are able to display the RCVS accredited practice logo, which indicates that the practice has undergone a rigorous, independent inspection and various minimum standards have been met.
The Disciplinary Committee of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons hears charges against veterinary surgeons accused of serious professional misconduct or being unfit to practice because of a criminal conviction. [2]
Appeals from decisions of the Disciplinary Committee are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. [3]
In order to carry out its statutory duties a council of 33 members governs the RCVS and meets eight times a year. The President, vice-presidents (two), and Treasurer are elected by Council and together with the Chief Executive and Head of Legal Services/Registrar, form a team of officers who have the main responsibility for running the RCVS. [4]
Veterinary medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with the prevention, management, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, disorder, and injury in animals. Along with this, it deals with animal rearing, husbandry, breeding, research on nutrition, and product development. The scope of veterinary medicine is wide, covering all animal species, both domesticated and wild, with a wide range of conditions that can affect different species.
A veterinarian (vet) is a medical professional who practices veterinary medicine. They manage a wide range of health conditions and injuries in non-human animals. Along with this, veterinarians also play a role in animal reproduction, health management, conservation, husbandry and breeding and preventive medicine like nutrition, vaccination and parasitic control as well as biosecurity and zoonotic disease surveillance and prevention.
The Royal Veterinary College is a veterinary school located in London and a member institution of the federal University of London. The RVC was founded in 1791 and joined the University of London in 1949. It is the oldest and largest Veterinary school in the United Kingdom, and one of only 11 in the country where students can study to become a vet.
The Veterinarian's Oath was adopted by the American Veterinary Medical Association's House of Delegates July 1969, and amended by the AVMA Executive Board, November 1999 and December 2010.
Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.
I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics. I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, commonly referred to as the Dick Vet, is the University of Edinburgh's vet school. It is part of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.
Dame Olga Nikolaevna Uvarov was a veterinary surgeon and clinical researcher. She was the first woman president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. She was a distinguished member of the veterinary profession in every sense, spanning general practice and animal health research as well as veterinary politics and high-level contributions to enlightened legislation affecting animal welfare.
The Bachelor of Veterinary Science, "Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine" (BVetMed), or "Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery" is a degree for studies in veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom, Australia, and several other countries outside the United States and Canada. These degrees qualify one to practice as a veterinarian in the US if the degree is conferred from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited school and the candidate passes the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), just as any other US and Canada graduate. They are equivalent to DVM/VMD degrees; the main equalizer being licensure in the US. On 5 March 2015, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Council made the decision to allow UK veterinarians to use the courtesy title "doctor", to align with international practices. The RCVS president said of the change: “Whether one regards the decision as correcting a historical anomaly or simply providing greater clarity at home and abroad, there is no doubt that the issue has generated huge interest".
Aleen Isobel Cust was an Anglo-Irish veterinary surgeon. She was born and began her career in Ireland. In 1922 she became the first female veterinary surgeon to be recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is the national body for veterinary surgeons in the United Kingdom and is a not-for-profit organisation. Its purpose is that of knowledge dissemination, and not professional validation or academic competence. Knowledge dissemination is important in the veterinary profession to prevent a knowledge divide.
Veterinary ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgements to the practice of veterinary medicine. As a scholarly discipline, veterinary ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology. Veterinary ethics combines veterinary professional ethics and the subject of animal ethics. The subject of veterinary ethics can be interpreted as an extension of critical thinking skills necessary to make the decisions in veterinary care in order to support the profession's responsibilities to animal kind and mankind.
Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom is the performance of veterinary medicine by licensed professionals. It is strictly regulated by the statute law, notably the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Veterinary medicine is led by veterinary physicians, termed "veterinary surgeons", normally referred to as "vets".
Winifred Mary Brancker (1914–2010) was an English veterinary surgeon, best known as the first woman to become president of the British Veterinary Association since its foundation in 1881.
StreetVet is a registered charity that offers free accessible vet care to pets belonging to those experiencing homelessness in the United Kingdom. The organisation provides support for homeless pet owners who cannot afford private veterinary treatment and educates them on the responsibilities and care of animal ownership.
Anna Louise Meredith is Professor of Conservation Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where she has previously served as chairperson of zoological conservation medicine at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.
Richard E. W. Halliwell is a British veterinary surgeon. He has been President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the American College of Veterinary Dermatology and European College of Veterinary Dermatology. He twice served as Dean of the Dick Vet School in Edinburgh.
David Argyle BVMS DECVIM-CA (Oncology) FRSE FRSA FRCVS is Head of the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.
William Hunting was a British veterinary surgeon who founded the weekly scientific journal The Veterinary Record, and remained its editor until his death. He was also an authority on the horse disease glanders, and on the shoeing of horses.
Joan Olive Joshua was an English veterinary surgeon, dog breeder and feminist. She worked at her one-person private practice in Finchley, London from 1939 to 1962. Joshua was the first female fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVP) and the first woman to serve on the RCVP council. She served as a councillor for the National Veterinary Medical Association and successfully campaigned for the Animal Health Trust to be founded. Joshua was a reader at the University of Liverpool School of Veterinary Science's Department of Clinical Studies. She was the first woman to receive each of the RCVS Francis Hogg Prize and the Victory Medal of the Central Veterinary Society.
Sheila Voas is a veterinary surgeon and the Chief Veterinary Officer of Scotland since 2012.
Judy MacArthur Clark is a British veterinary surgeon, and former President of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. She has held government posts in the regulation of veterinary medicine.
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