Truly honoured to be invited to the RCVS HQ today to talk about zumi and the role of RVNs in community pet care.
I was genuinely overwhelmed by the openness and support from the RCVS team – all RVNs themselves 🙌🏼 It was refreshing to have a real, progressive conversation about the outdated regulations that don’t reflect the realities of our profession.
We talked about:
🧾 The need for legislative reform – whether that means replacing Schedule 3, modernising the Code of Professional Conduct, or updating the Veterinary Surgeons Act itself
📘 Why clearer guidance is essential for RVNs working outside traditional practice
🩺 The need to recognise RVNs as autonomous professionals, not just ‘assistants’ under the 1966 Act
🔐 The importance of protecting the ‘veterinary nurse’ title for public trust and patient safety
It was also amazing to see the genuine interest in zumi and the potential it has to support preventative, accessible, contextualised care in the community – something RVNs are uniquely positioned to provide. There’s even talk of future speaking opportunities at congresses, which is incredibly exciting (and slightly terrifying! 😅).
Thank you to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for listening, and for the warm welcome in your beautiful new HQ – such a brilliant space full of potential.
UPDATE: Alongside my visit today and the important conversations with the RCVS, I want to clarify that it’s the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) who are leading discussions with Defra and representing vet nurses throughout.
Let’s keep this momentum going. RVNs are ready for change. 💚
@thercvs @rcvsknowledge