BVA responds to RCVS governance reform  

The British Veterinary Association responded to the consultation in July, making clear that it strongly supports the RCVS’s aim of modernising its governance structure to enhance transparency, lay representation, and effectiveness in regulating the veterinary professions and allied professionals. It also outlined its recommendations for reform and underlined the importance of delivering these as a complete package of measures that will enhance transparency and accountability, ensuring RCVS remains a trusted and effective regulator. 

Responding to RCVS’s Council decision, BVA President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux, said: "Reforming RCVS governance to ensure we have an effective regulator is an important step towards a thriving veterinary profession. It’s good to see in the changes outlined today, that the College is listening to the profession and is taking steps towards BVA’s recommendations around greater clarity of both its regulatory and Royal College functions. It has also responded to concerns regarding a fully appointed Council, committing to explore retaining elected representation on a future Council or committee focussed on the development of the profession. We are also pleased to see RCVS moving closer to our views on greater lay representation on Council and its commitment to consider in more depth external scrutiny against similar standards to the Professional Standards Authority (PSA) and publish the outcomes of that assessment in full.”