The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) it is looking to recruit around 30 animal owners and keepers for a new Public Advisory Group (PAG).
The RCVS said the group, which will initially be set up for a 12-month trial period, will support it in its mission to “uphold and advance the educational, ethical and clinical standards of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses”.
Those interested in joining the PAG are urged to submit their applications by the deadline of 5:00p.m on June 7, 2023. More information can be found via the RCVS website.
The PAG will aim to better gauge public opinion about the activities of the RCVS and will ensure the college and regulatory body for veterinary surgeons and nurses learns more about the experiences of veterinary service users.
RCVS council member and chair of the PAG, Louise Allum, 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.”
Allum said the college is inviting animal owners and keepers from all backgrounds – from companion animal, to equine and farm – to be part of the PAG.
“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,” she said.
“When working towards a collective goal, it is vital that everyone has a chance to be a part of the conversation.”
Anyone interested in joining the RCVS PAG 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, the college said.
PAG members must also be comfortable with maintaining confidentiality, as some of the issues discussed will be early in their development.
