Suicide and mental health crisis are not abstract risks in veterinary practice — they are realities our profession must face head on. Since April 2026, the RCVS now requires every practice to have a formal Suicide Prevention Plan in place, andyet many teams still don't know where to start.

In this episode of Practice Matters, we're joined by Dr HANNAH PERRIN, to explore what meaningful suicide prevention actually looks like within a veterinary setting.We'll be discussing how to create and implement a Suicide Prevention Plan that goes beyond box-ticking — one that equips you and your whole team with the knowledge, language, and confidence to act when it matters most.

This is an essential listen for practice owners, managers, and anyone who cares about the wellbeing of the people they work alongside.

As ever, we would love to hear from YOUR practice – send us a voice note or message via WhatsApp to 07709 83 68 65

For more information about the workshops mentioned, visit

https://clarity-pro.co.uk/product/suicide-prevention-workshop/

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this episode, please contact:

https://www.samaritans.org/

https://helpline.vetlife.org.uk/

Welcome back to Practice Matters, the podcast that champions independent veterinary practices and the brilliant people within them. In this episode, we're reflecting on FIVP's recent appearance at the University of Liverpool Vet School's Career Fair in May. It was a fantastic opportunity for us to get in front of the next generation of veterinary professionals and share what makes independent practice such a rewarding and fulfilling career path.

From clinical autonomy to genuine community connection, we were there to fly the flag for independents and show students that there's a vibrant, values-driven alternative to the corporate route. We'll share some highlights and thoughts from the day.

We've also got updates on two things worth knowing about: BERNARD FROST provides details of the upcoming BSAVA LUMOS platform, a fresh approach to CPD that's generating real buzz across the profession, and we shine a spotlight on new FIVP member Ardsley Vets, a brand new independentpractice in West Yorkshire.

And if you would like YOUR practice to be featured onPractice Matters, simply send us a voice note or message to 07709 83 68 65

In this ‘Practice Matters’ episode, we're joined by ANDY DONLEY from Practice Made Purrfect to tackle one of the most common - and quietly costly - problems in vet marketing: sounding exactly like everyone else.

If your website says "we treat your pet like family," you're in good company.  But Andy explains why phrases like that have stopped doing any real work, and what practices can do instead to build messaging that is genuinely theirs.

With the CMA remedies now pushing for greater consistency across the profession, the ability to articulate what makes your practice truly different has never mattered more. Andy shares practical ways to uncover your real differentiators, turn everyday details into compelling messages, and find the confidence to say something that actually stands out.

How is your practice truly unique?  As ever, we would love to hear from your practice.  Send us a voice note or message via WhatsApp to 07709 83 68 65

For more details about the work of Practice Made Purrfect - visit https://www.practicemadepurrfect.com/

In this special edition of FIVP Practice Matters, recorded at a landmark parliamentary reception at Westminster hosted by Cats Protection, Ian Wolstenholme is joined by JOHANNA BAXTER MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cats, JOHN MAY, Chief Executive of Cats Protection, KIT STURGESS, Chair of Trustees at Cats Protection and IZZY HOCKING, vet and Senior Veterinary Engagement Manager.

Together, they explore the growing momentum behind improving feline welfare in the UK, discussing the challenges of securing legislative reform, the need for stronger regulation of cat breeding, and why cats continue to lag behind dogs in terms of welfare protections despite being the nation's most popular pet.

The conversation highlights the vital role of veterinary professionals, charities, policymakers and cat owners in driving change, while offering practical insights into understanding feline behaviour, recognising signs of pain, and advocating for better outcomes for cats. It's a thought-provoking discussion about partnership, persistence and the collective responsibility to see the world through a cat's eyes.

As ever, we'd love to hear from your practice. Send us a voice note via WhatsApp to 07709 83 68 65

In this episode of Practice Matters, we sit down with IMOGEN BURROWS, President of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA), to explore the real landscape of equine veterinary practice today.

With a career rooted in first-opinion equine work, Imogen brings a refreshingly grounded perspective to the role. From her presidential theme of "Everyday Welfare" to the pressures facing independent practices around recruitment, retention, and burnout, this is a candid conversation about what it truly means to work in equine medicine — and what the profession must do to support the vets within it.

As ever, we would love to hear from your practice.  Send us a voice note or message via WhatsApp to 07709 836865

They've been part of veterinary medicines legislation since 2005, yet the three letters SQP are still not as widely recognised as they perhaps should be. That's about to change.

For the very first time, the profession is marking a dedicatedNational SQP Week, running from 5th to 12th June 2026 — a landmark moment for a qualification that has quietly underpinned the safe distribution of veterinary medicines for decades. In this episode of Practice Matters, we're joined by CAROLINE JOHNSON, Director of Vetpol, to explore what National SQP Week means for the profession, how to get involved, and why this milestone is long overdue.

As ever, we would love to hear from your practice.  Send us a voice note or message via WhatsApp to 07709 836865

For more information about National SQP Week, visit https://vetpol.uk/vetpol-sqp-why-choose-us/national-sqp-week-5-12-june-2026/

When a critical patient arrives and every second counts, access to blood products can mean the difference between life and death. But what does it actually take to keep thoselifesaving supplies available around the clock? In this episode of Practice Matters, we're joined by LARA HOWE, Clinical Supervisor and Veterinary Surgeon at Pet Blood Bank UK — the country's leading canine blood bank charity and the animal equivalent of the NHS blood service. From donor eligibility and blood typing to the journey of a single unit from donation session to emergency ward, we're exploring everything veterinary teams need to know about canine blood transfusion.

As ever, we would love to hear from your practice. Send us a voice note or message via WhatsApp to 07709 836865

For more information about the Pet Blood Bank UK charity, visit

https://www.petbloodbankuk.org/

With 61% of the veterinary profession now female, personal safety has never been more relevant — yet it remains one of the most overlooked conversations in the industry. 

In this episode, Ian Wolstenholme speaks with JESSICA JONES, founder of Amazonia School of Self Protection, about what it truly means to protect yourself in a caring profession. 

From lone working and aggressive clients to boundary-setting and post-incident recovery, Jessica shares practical strategies and powerful mindset shifts for female vets and vet nurses navigating real-world risk. 

Because a profession that gives so much to others must also equip its people to stay safe.

As ever we would love to hear from your practice. Send us a voice message via WhatsApp to 07709 83 68 65

https://www.facebook.com/AmazoniaSOSP/

Our veterinary profession is (fortunately) blessed in the modern age with lots of support for colleagues struggling with their mental health wellbeing.  Oftentimes, this care is drawn upon when problems have manifested.  Our guest onthis edition of Practice Matters, GEORGINA HILLS from Vetamorphosis, joins Ian to talk through how practice leaders and team members can look for the subtle signs of mental distress before they reach that crisis point.  George discusses this with the benefit of a ‘dual lens’ – she is a long-time experienced veterinary nurse, practice manager who in2022 made the courageous choice to transition into the third sector as a Community and Mental Health Advocate withing the NHS and is now also a Transactional Psychotherapist with Vetamorphosis.

As ever, we would love to hear from your practice if you have been affected by any of the issues raised.  Send us a voicenote to 07709 83 68 65

https://www.vetamorphosis.co.uk

https://www.vetlife.org.uk/

It’s our 10-year anniversary! 

To celebrate a decade of FIVP representing independent practices, Ian Wolstenholme and the FIVP team reflect on the organisation’s humble origins and look to the future for the sector. Joining Ian is chairperson Rita Dingwall, co-founder Jacqui Garrett and administrator Ruth Cleaver. 

FIVP was founded in 2016 as a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to securing a future for independent practices. We work closely with practice owners and managers, ensuring they have they are supported and represented to grow their business. 

Don’t forget to share how your practice showcases its independence! Whether you are an FIVP member or not, we want to hear how your stories about engaging with your community. Send a voice note via WhatsApp to 07709 836865