Welcome to our May update. This issue includes some useful wellbeing articles and resources; a reminder about our new CPD system; and interesting news from across the sector.

CPD reminder

We are now operating under the new CPD system, which you can read about here: Continuing Professional Development

VCNZ won’t be taking a strict enforcement approach, but all veterinarians should be trying to comply with the new rules. Later in the year, we will be conducting a small audit, as well as running an evaluation of the system, so it would be helpful for people to have given it a good trial.

VCNZ articles and guidance

We published an article, reprinted with the kind permission of the Companion Animal Veterinarians branch of the NZVA, that discusses the challenges veterinarians face in giving advice on supply socialisation and vaccination. It features comments at the end from our Professional Advisor, Dr Seton Butler, on extending a vaccine programme to 16 weeks when the product is not registered for this.

The puppy vaccine dilemma

Wellbeing resources

We know that it is still a busy and stressful time for vets in Aotearoa, and we encourage you to contact us if you need support. Below are some articles and resources about wellbeing that you might find helpful for yourself or your team.

Upcoming VCNZ election

The 2022 Veterinary Council of New Zealand election will place later in the year, and now’s the time to think about whether you would like to put yourself forward as a candidate.

In July, we will be posting an information pack on the VCNZ website which will contain a nomination form and details about what is expected from Council members. Nominations will open in August.

Voting will take place online this year, and we will share information about when and how you can cast your votes closer to the time.

The Council is VCNZ’s governing body and responsible for ensuring we carry out our functions under the Veterinarians Act.

There are seven members on the Council. Three are elected by veterinarians; two are lay people appointed by the Minister of Agriculture; one is a veterinarian also appointed by the Minister; and the seventh member is the Academic Programme Director of the undergraduate veterinary programme at Massey University.

Being on the Council is a fantastic opportunity to increase your involvement in your profession. We encourage you to consider putting your name forward.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us for a confidential chat.

We will also be hosting an election webinar to provide more information. Details will be provided soon.

Messages from others

 

The items below come from other organisations. We've agreed to share them with veterinarians because they may be of interest. If you have any questions or concerns about them, contact the organisation directly.

Back your backyard poultry

Tired of treating preventable poultry diseases? Stumped on how to save sick birds? Massey University is leading a research project to co-design a national poultry information system aimed at improving the health and welfare of New Zealand’s backyard poultry population (www.poultryintel.org.nz). As part of Phase 1, we want to hear from veterinarians about what resources we could create to make it easier for both you and your clients to care for their backyard birds. Please help support the project by taking 10 minutes to register your interest and share your opinions through the following survey link:

https://massey.au1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9NTDETj59cOVCgm

The survey will close on 15th June 2022. If we can demonstrate enough engagement from stakeholders across New Zealand, funding is available for Phase 2 to put your ideas into action. If you have any further questions about the project, please contact Carolyn Gates ([email protected]).

Bovine disease surveillance quarterly report

MPI has developed a new bovine disease surveillance report to help veterinarians better understand disease patterns at regional and national levels.

These reports use data collected as part of Biosecurity New Zealand’s (BNZ) Animal Health Surveillance Programme. The anonymised data comes from on all sick bovine cases seen by the veterinary diagnostic laboratories - Gribbles, SVS and IDEXX.

These new reports show the past three years of presenting signs and diagnoses data for each quarter (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sept, Oct-Dec).This may help veterinarians understand what diseases to expect in the same quarter of the current year, assuming there are similar climatic conditions. It also may assist in identifying emerging diseases in a timely way.

The endemic disease reports have two parts:

  1. Graphs showing presenting signs and corresponding diagnoses for the upcoming quarter for the past three years, both regionally and nationally.
    The graphics demonstrate the frequency of each presenting sign for the quarter and then, for the three most frequently reported presenting signs, the aetiological diagnoses that were achieved for each sign.
  2. Bovine disease narratives from Surveillance magazine for the upcoming quarter from the previous year (nationally and regionally). These are pathologist reports from the veterinary laboratory network.<

As an example, the upcoming ‘Quarter 2’ National Report (reporting data for the April-June quarter) can be found here: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/assets/newsletters/surveillance/2022-National-Surveillance-Report.pdf

If you would like to receive these reports via email please subscribe by adding your details here: Get the latest from bovine disease surveillance quarterly report

 Kahore taku toa i te toa takitahi, he toa takitini.