History
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1844
Granting of the Coat of Arms
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1844 -RCVS was formed after the Royal Charter was granted. Veterinary practice became a profession distinguished by the title "veterinary surgeon". Thomas Turner was the first President of the RCVS, from 1844-1851 1844 - Granting of the Coat of Arms 1881 - The first Veterinary Surgeons Act was passed which confirmed the Charters and authorised the establishment of a Register and imposed certain restrictions on unauthorised people 1914 - Further Royal Charters were granted 1920 - The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1881 Amendment Act imposed an annual fee of £1 and 1s on all members practising in the UK 1922 - Aleen Cust became the first woman to become an MRCVS 1948 - The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1948 set up the current system under which veterinary degrees awarded by UK universities may be recognised. The degrees of the Universities of Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool and London were recognised |
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Thomas Turner,
first President of the RCVS,
1844 to 1851 |
1949 - A Supplementary Veterinary Register was set up for existing practitioners who did not hold relevant formal qualifications 1966 - The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 consolidated and updated all previous legislation 1967 - Supplemental Charter revoked all the previous Supplemental Charters. It restated and consolidated provision of the previous Charters which were not covered by the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 1994 - The RCVS celebrates its 150th anniversary with a wide range of events under the Charter 150 banner 1999 - Council voted to allow lay people to sit as observers with its Preliminary Investigation Committee |
About RCVS
The role of the RCVS is to safeguard the health and welfare of animals committed to veterinary care through the regulation of the educational, ethical and clinical standards of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, thereby protecting the interests of those dependent on animals, and assuring public health. It also acts as an impartial source of informed opinion on relevant veterinary matters.In effect the RCVS is made up of three distinct organisations:
The RCVS as a statutory regulator - undertaking the statutory responsibilities set out in the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 - to maintain a register of veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK; to regulate veterinary education and to regulate professional conduct;
The RCVS as 'a Royal College' - exercising powers under the Royal Charter to award Fellowships, Diplomas and Certificates to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and others, and to act as an informed and impartial source of opinion on veterinary matters;
RCVS Trust - a separate charity established to promote and advance the study and practice of the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine - by providing the RCVS Library and Information Service and a range of grants largely to support educational and research activities.
The RCVS was established in 1844 by Royal Charter (see RCVS History) to be the governing body of the veterinary profession. Its statutory duties are currently laid out in the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. The RCVS safeguards the interests of the public and animals by ensuring that only those registered with the RCVS can carry out acts of veterinary surgery.
In order to carry out its statutory duties a Council of 40 Members governs the RCVS and meets three times a year.
The breakdown of members is as follows:- 24 members: elected to Council by the profession itself (in May of each year - results 2006)
- 12 members: 2 each nominated to Council by each of the six UK Veterinary Schools
- 4 members: appointed by the Privy Council
Council is supported by a system of Committees. RCVS policy issues put forward by working parties or the secretariat go first to Committees for recommendation and, if recommended, on to Council for approval or rejection.
The terms of reference are laid out in the General Administration Bye-Laws 2009 (PDF 118Kb). Some decisions are delegated to Committees, but Council does receive reports of all Committees.
The President, Senior Vice-President, Junior Vice-President and Treasurer are elected by Council from its number. Together with the Registrar, they form a team of Officers and have the main responsibility for running the RCVS.
Preliminary Investigation Committee
- Dr Jerry Davies
- Mr Mark Elliott (Vice-Chairman)
- Mr Peter Jinman
- Mrs Jill Nute (Chairman)
- Professor Stuart Reid
- Professor Sandy Trees
- + 3 Lay Observers
- Dr R (Bertie) Ellis
- Mr Chris Gray
- Mrs Andrea Jeffery
- Dr R (Bob) Moore (Chairman)
- Mr R (Bob) Partridge
- Mrs Clare Tapsfield-Wright (Vice-Chairman)
- Mrs Lynn Turner
- Mr John Walmsley
- Dr Christopher Chesney
- Mrs Beverley Cottrell (Vice-Chairman)
- Professor Sheila Crispin (Vice-Chairman)
- Mr Richard Davis
- Mrs Caroline Freedman (Chairman)
- Mrs Catherine Goldie
- Mr Charles Gruchy
- Professor Peter LeesMiss
- Miss Christine Shield
- Mr Richard Stephenson
Public Affairs Committee
- Revd Anthony Birbeck
- Mrs Alison Bruce
- Mr David Catlow
- Professor Sheila Crispin
- Mr Roger Eddy
- Mr Nigel Gibbens
- Mrs Catherine Goldie
- Mrs Lynne Hil (Chairman)
- Dr Barry Johnson
- Professor Duncan Maskell
- Dr Bob Moore
- Mrs Jill Nute
- Mr Bob Partridge
- Mr Richard Stephenson (Vice-Chairman)
- Mr Chris Tufnell
- + 4 RCVS Officers
- Professor Malcolm Bennett
- Dr Christopher Chesney
- Mrs Beverley Cottrell
- Professor Gary England (non-Council Observer)
- Professor Michael Herrtage (Vice-Chairman)
- Mrs Lynne Hill
- Professor Quintin McKellar
- Mr Bob Partridge
- Professor Jo Price
- Professor Stuart Reid (Chairman)
- Mr Christopher Tufnell
- Professor Elaine Watson
- Miss Liz Branscombe (VN Council Chairman)
- Dr Jerry Davies (Vice-Chairman)
- Dr Bertie Ellis
- Mrs Caroline Freedman (Disciplinary Chairman)
- Professor Christopher Gaskell (Co-opted Member)
- Mr Chris Gray
- Mrs Lynne Hill (Public Affairs Chairman)
- Mr Peter Jinman (President)
- Dr Barry Johnson
- Dr Robert Moore (Advisory Chairman)
- Mrs Jill Nute(Preliminary Investigation and RCVS Trust Chairman)
- Professor Stuart Reid (Education, Policy and Specialisation Chairman)
- Colonel Neil Smith
- Professor Sandy Trees (Senior Vice President)
- Mr Bradley Viner (Chairman)
Veterinary Nurses
- Miss Elizabeth Branscombe (Chairman)
- Mrs Dorothy Creighton
- Mrs Louise Glysen
- Mrs Andrea Jeffrey
- Mrs Katherine Kissick (Vice-Chairman)
- Miss Suzanne May
- Miss Hilary Orpet
- Ms Jenny Thompson
- Dr Jerry Davies (RCVS Council)
- Mr Richard Hooker (non-RCVS Council)
- Mr Alan Hughes (non-RCVS Council)
- Mrs Jacqui Molyneux (Vice-Chairman)
- Mrs Jill Nute (RCVS Council)
- Mr Chris House (Lantra Industry Group (Professions Allied to Veterinary Science))
- Revd Tony Birbeck (Lay member)
- Mrs Penny Swindlehurst (Lay member)
- (BVNA appointee)
- (BSAVA appointee)
The Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966)
As a statutory regulator, the RCVS undertakes the responsibilities set out in the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 - to maintain a register of veterinary surgeons eligible to practise in the UK; to regulate veterinary education and to regulate professional conduct.
Download a copy* of the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966) (including any amendments as at Aug 2010) (PDF file - 263Kb)
*Reproduced by permission of Reed Elsevier (UK) Limited, trading as LexisNexis UK, who are copyright owners and original publishers of this material.
The Royal Charter (1967)
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons was established by a Royal Charter of 1844. This is still in force to the extent that it incorporated the College and recognised "the veterinary art" as a profession, but other provisions of the 1844 Charter have been superseded by the Supplemental Charter of 1967.
The Charter regulates certain aspects of the management of the College's affairs and gives it power to award Fellowships, Diplomas and Certificates to veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, and others engaged in "veterinary science and its auxiliary sciences".
A copy of the Supplemental Royal Charter (1967) may be downloaded below.
Royal Charter (PDF file - 68Kb)
Royal Charter (Word file - 49Kb)
Royal Charter (RTF file - 60Kb)
Contact us
If you have a specific enquiry, please e-mail the appropriate department. Contact details for each department are supplied below. For more general enquiries about the RCVS or if you are not sure which department to e-mail, please complete the short enquiry form. For comments on the website, please complete our feedback form.
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons
Belgravia House
62-64 Horseferry Road
London SW1P 2AF
Tel: (020) 7222 2001
Fax: (020) 7222 2004
Website: www.rcvs.org.uk
Email: admin@rcvs.org.uk
Departmental Contact Details
Communications Department
Media, Government and public relations as well as congresses, regional meetings, publications (including the Annual Report, RCVS News) corporate communications and website.
Email: communications@rcvs.org.uk Telephone: 020 7202 0727
Corporate Services
For information on the Register, Directory of Practices, purchase of publications
Email: publications@rcvs.org.uk Telephone: 020 7202 0762
Education
Issues of undergraduate and postgraduate education e.g. Certificates and Diplomas, Specialists, CPD and Visitations
Email: education@rcvs.org.uk Telephone: 020 7202 0791 or go to Education Department contacts
Facilities Management
For information on room bookings and catering
Email: facilitiesteam@rcvs.org.uk Telephone: 020 7202 0726
Finance
For RCVS finances
Email: finance@rcvs.org.uk Telephone: 020 7202 0723
Registration
Membership and registration queries, changes of details and certificates of good standing
Email: membership@rcvs.org.uk Telephone: 020 7202 0739
President's/Registrar's Department
Matters relating to the President and Registrar, RCVS Council and RCVS Day
Email: registrar@rcvs.org.uk Telephone: 020 7202 0761
Professional Conduct
Matters relating to complaints, disciplinary and preliminary investigation issues, requests for advice, veterinary hospitals and riding establishments approval
Email: profcon@rcvs.org.uk Telephone: 020 7202 0789
RCVS Trust Library
For enquiries relating to book loans, database searches, historical collections, information services
Email: library@rcvstrust.org.uk Telephone: 020 7202 0752
RCVS Trust
For all enquiries relating to the RCVS Trust
Email: info@rcvstrust.org.uk Telephone: 020 7202 0741
Veterinary Nursing
For all matters relating to Veterinary Nursing and VNACs
Email: vetnursing@rcvs.org.uk Telephone: 020 7202 0788 or go to VN Department contacts
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