Mandatory Practice Regulation Working Party

Overview

Though the RCVS does currently regulate individual veterinary surgeons and nurses, it has no statutory powers to regulate veterinary practices. With an increasing number of practices being owned by non-vets, mandatory practice regulation may provide greater public assurance of standards.

In 2021 the RCVS set out a number of recommendations for legislative reform. A key recommendation was that the College should be granted the statutory authority to regulate all veterinary practices. In addition, for practice regulation to be meaningful and enforceable, the RCVS would need powers of entry, similar to those held by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The Mandatory Practice Regulation Working Party has been established to develop detailed proposals in anticipation of future legislation.

Terms of reference

The WG will develop proposals for a RCVS Mandatory Practice Regulation system and present them to Council for consideration by the end of 2024 (timetable TBC).

Membership

• Sue Paterson, FRCVS, RCVS President (chair)
• Linda Belton, MRCVS, Chair of Standards
• Belinda Andrews Jones, RVN, Chair of Veterinary Nurse Council and Chair of the Practice Standards Group (PSG)
• Anita Bickerdike, Lay Member of Veterinary Nurses Council (VNC)
• Anna Judson MRCVS, British Veterinary Association President (BVA)
• Alice McLeish MRCVS, Member of RCVS Council
• Jessica Beckett RVN, Member of VN Council
• Duncan Rudkin, CEO of the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC)
• Dr Simon Watson, Medical Director & Director of Safety, Healthcare Improvement Scotland
• Lee Grist, Head of Distribution and Supply, Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD)

Read a blog by RCVS President Sue Paterson on Mandatory Practice Regulation (MPR)