The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the Royal College and regulatory body for veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in the UK, is seeking to recruit around 30 animal owners and keepers for a new Public Advisory Group (PAG), to help inform and guide its policies.
The group, which will initially be set up for a 12-month trial period, will support the RCVS in its mission to uphold and advance the educational, ethical and clinical standards of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, in the interests of animal health and welfare and public health. The RCVS is setting up the PAG to help better gauge public opinion about its activities, to learn more about the experiences of veterinary service users, and to ensure that it continues to work in the public interest to the best of its ability.
Louise Allum, RCVS Council Member and Chair of the Public Advisory Group, said: “The UK veterinary and veterinary nursing professions are small, but mighty. There is a lot of responsibility resting on our shoulders to ensure that we uphold animal health and welfare and public health effectively, but we cannot do this alone.
“Animal owners and keepers play an essential role in supporting animal welfare, and it is therefore not only right, but necessary, that we actively seek to inform the public of our activities and take their opinion into account when making wide-reaching decisions.
“We are inviting animal owners and keepers from all backgrounds – from companion animal, to equine and farm – to be a part of our Public Advisory Group to help us actively engage with members of the public and to ensure that the veterinary professions continue to meet the needs of clients and animals alike. We also hope that, by involving animal owners and keepers in our work, we can improve the ways in which we communicate our messages to veterinary service users. When working towards a collective goal, it is vital that everyone has a chance to be a part of the conversation.
“If you are interested in supporting veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to continue delivering high standards of animal health and welfare, please do consider applying to become a part of our PAG. Your opinions matter and we look forward to hearing from you!”
Anyone interested in joining the RCVS Public Advisory Group should be able to attend two or three online meetings across the year, be prepared to read paperwork ahead of time, and contribute in a clear, courteous and confident manner. PAG members must also be comfortable with maintaining confidentiality, as some of the issues discussed will be early in their development.
For more information on the RCVS Public Advisory Group, including specific information about the role, time commitments, remuneration, terms of reference, and how to apply, please visit www.rcvs.org.uk/PAG.
All applications should be submitted to Lisa Moffatt, at l.moffatt@rcvs.org.uk, by 5pm on Wednesday, 7 June 2023.
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