Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Knowledge has launched its new Farm Vet Champions course, providing free and practical training in championing good antimicrobial stewardship, available on the charity’s new e-learning platform.
The Farm Vet Champions initiative is building a supportive community of farm animal veterinary professionals; to collaborate and share knowledge; to apply preventative measures and active management plans; and to establish and embed good antibiotic principles.
Led by RCVS Knowledge and funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), the project has brought together major UK specialised veterinary and agriculture organisations to develop free learning materials for farm veterinary professionals, that will improve animal health and welfare standards and provide positive inspiration and leadership towards antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The launch of phase one of the project sees the release of the learning modules on the new RCVS Knowledge Learn platform.
The course covers:
- Technical species-specific modules;
- Communication skills and behaviour change principles;
- The legal use of veterinary medicines, policies, and One Health aspects of antibiotic prescribing and stewardship.
Users will be able to access the platform and choose which modules are relevant to their area of work. A total of 20 hours of free on-demand CPD will be instrumental for the Farm Vet Champions in tackling AMR.
Second phase
The second phase, due to start development over summer 2021, will provide online and in-person networking opportunities for Farm Vet Champions to learn from one another, by sharing their experiences and working together towards the common goal of good antibiotic stewardship.
Farm Vet Champions and their practices will also be able to use the platform to set both their own and their practice’s SMART goals.
They will be able to track progress towards these goals, to help support the sustained translation of their learning into practice.
Based on the principles of ‘Plan, Prevent, Protect’, Farm Vet Champions will put infection prevention and control practices at the heart of veterinary prescribing on livestock farms.
Chris Gush, executive director of RCVS Knowledge, said,
With antimicrobial resistance being one of the top 10 health threats facing our planet, we are delighted with the quality of the Farm Vet Champions course and we look forward to connecting with farm vets across the UK to tackle AMR.
“Farm Vet Champions is just the beginning of our work in antimicrobial prescribing, and we look forward to building on our resources that will benefit all animals, the public and society.”
