18 practices receive awards at special Practice Standards Scheme ceremony

The RCVS President handed 18 practices their Practice Standards Scheme awards at a special ceremony held last week which also recognised the vital role played by veterinary nurses in achieving RCVS accreditation. 

The event took place at the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) Congress in Telford on the afternoon of Friday 7 October 2016 where Chris Tufnell, RCVS President (pictured above), handed out a number of awards to representatives of the 18 practices in attendance.

Today’s event recognises and celebrates the vital but often-overlooked role of veterinary nurses in the Practice Standards Scheme.

Jacqui Molyneux

The practices came from all around the United Kingdom and the awards given were across the small animal, equine and farm animal practice accreditation categories.

Introducing the ceremony was Jacqui Molyneux, the Chair of Practice Standards Group which is responsible for coordinating the Scheme, whose own practice – Prince Bishop Veterinary Hospital near Durham – received six outstanding awards in the small animal practice category.

She said: “I feel immensely proud to be here today and introducing this awards reception at BVNA Congress. I’m proud of all those who worked so hard on the Practices Standards Group to develop and implement the new Scheme. I’m proud because my own practice, led by my Head Nurse Victoria Howarth, is receiving awards today. But most of all, I’m proud because today’s event recognises and celebrates the vital but often-overlooked role of veterinary nurses in the Practice Standards Scheme.

“We know that RVNs are frequently the champions of the Scheme, advocating its role, driving forward new approaches in their practices and preparing for assessments. There is, therefore, perhaps no better venue at which to mark the achievement of these practices than BVNA Congress.”

The ceremony then featured presentations from three veterinary nurses whose role had been integral in their practices achieving awards, including Gillian Calvo from the RVC Queen Mother Hospital for Small Animals and Victoria Howarth from Prince Bishop Veterinary Hospital. The third veterinary nurse to speak was Helen Boyd from Macqueen Vets in Wiltshire, which received five ‘outstanding’ awards.

Speaking of the awards assessment process, Helen (pictured above right) said: “The whole process has been very useful to the practice as it has provided an audit record on the majority of procedures carried out within the practice and allowed us to update and improve our working systems. For example, new surgical checklists, new general anaesthetic monitoring forms, physiotherapy techniques and so on.

“For anyone thinking of applying for the assessment, I would recommend it to others as it has improved our standards in all areas including better patient care and improved client experience.”

She added: “The assessor, Richard Killen, made us feel at ease throughout the whole process. He had a relaxed manner and was able to ask questions through conversation. He was very personable and understood the practicalities of a working practice.”

Chris Tufnell then invited representatives from each practice onto the stage to receive their awards, while excerpts from the Assessors’ award reports were read out to the audience and official photos of the practice teams were taken.

In his closing remarks, Chris then emphasised the sense of pride that all the practice should take in their ‘tremendous achievement’, reiterated the important contribution made by veterinary nurses in the Scheme, including in his own practice, and thanked Jacqui, the Practice Standards Group and the College’s Practice Standards Team for all their work and commitment.

Pictures from the event are available to download.

The full list of practices and their awards

Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic Ltd (Kent) –

• Outstanding in Equine Ambulatory Service;
• Outstanding in Equine Diagnostic Service;
• Good in Equine In-patient Service

Cinque Ports Veterinary Group (Kent)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Client Service
• Good in Small Animal Patient Consultation Service

Elands Veterinary Clinic (Kent)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Client Service

Golden Valley Veterinary Hospital (Somerset)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Client Service
• Outstanding in Small Animal In-patient Service

Holmefield Veterinary Clinic Ltd (North Yorkshire)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Client Service
• Good in Small Animal Patient Consultation Service

Lanes Vets Ltd (Garstang, Lancashire)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Client Service
• Outstanding in Farm Animal Client Service

Lanes Vets Ltd (Lancaster, Lancashire)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Client Service

Lanes Vets Ltd (Poulton, Lancashire)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Client Service

Macqueen Veterinary Centre (Wiltshire)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Client Service
• Outstanding in Small Animal Patient Consultation Service
• Outstanding in Small Animal Team and Professional Responsibility
• Outstanding in Small Animal In-patient Service
• Outstanding in Small Animal Diagnostic Service

Northampton Vets4Pets Ltd (Northamptonshire)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care

Prince Bishop Veterinary Hospital (Durham)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Client Service
• Outstanding in Small Animal Patient Consultation Service
• Outstanding in Small Animal Team and Professional Responsibility
• Outstanding in Small Animal In-patient Service
• Outstanding in Small Animal Diagnostic Service
• Outstanding in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care

Prospect House Veterinary Clinic (Conwy)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Client Service

Royal Veterinary College Queen Mother Hospital for Small Animals (Hertfordshire)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Team and Professional Responsibility
• Outstanding in Small Animal Diagnostic Service
• Outstanding in Small Animal In-patient Service
• Outstanding in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care

Royal Veterinary College Equine Referral Hospital (Hertfordshire)

• Outstanding in Equine Diagnostic Service
• Outstanding in Equine Team and Professional Responsibility
• Outstanding in Equine Client Service
• Outstanding in Equine In-Patient Service

Vets Now (Ilford, Greater London)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care

Vets Now (Liverpool)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care

Vets Now (Sheffield)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care

Willows Veterinary Hospital (Cheshire)

• Outstanding in Small Animal Client Service
• Good in Small Animal Team and Professional Responsibility
• Good in Small Animal Patient Consultation Service

Please note: This article was corrected on Friday 14 October 2016 to clarify that the Willows Veterinary Hospital that was invited to the awards ceremony is based in Cheshire and not the West Midlands.