FIVP Practice Matters

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 

On this edition of Practice Matters we hear about some of the latest practice support strategies around the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative.  The College Lead RAPINDERNEWTON tells us about the new Academy courses for Managers, MMI online workshops and Applied Mental Health Science, as well as guidance for the forthcoming requirement as part of the Practice Standards Scheme to have a Suicide Prevention Plan in place.  We also meet Professor Elinor O’Connor from the Alliance Business School at the University of Manchester - one of the 2025 Research Grant Award recipients about their work and how independent practices can contribute to their research project to support wellbeing in practice.

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

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

Samaritans - https://www.samaritans.org/

HOW TO HELP WITH RESEARCH:

The University of Manchester and Birkbeck, University of London are undertaking a research project funded by the RCVS Mind Matters Initiative on organisational stress management and wellbeing initiatives in the UK veterinary sector. Many stress-management initiatives aim to develop workers’ ability to cope with stress, for example mindfulness. In contrast, organisational wellbeing initiatives are those that target sources of stress at work by changing how work is arranged or managed; examples might include changes to rota systems, workload management strategies, or efforts to improve communication or support within teams.

If you are currently working or have worked in the UK veterinary sector and have been involved in implementing or participating in an organisational wellbeing initiative in the past three years, the research team would like to hear about your experiences People working in any role in the veterinary sector can participate in the study (e.g. clinical staff, animal care assistants, receptionists etc). Please contact Professor Elinor O’Connor for more details: [email protected]

As ever, we would love to hear from your practice. You can send us a voice note, via WhatsApp to 07709 83 68 65

In this episode of the FIVP Practice Matters podcast,we explore two recent developments shaping the veterinary and animal welfare landscape. The first topic comes from the BVNA Congress, where certified animal behaviourist Dr Andrew Hale discusses how modern understanding of pet behaviour has evolved. Andrew explains how shifting perspectives on animal emotions, stress, andcommunication are influencing the way veterinary teams, particularly vet nurses, interpret and manage behaviour in clinical settings.

The episode also features another change-maker – Dr. TomWard, lead scientist at Warrington-based research company XCellR8. Dr Ward describes the company’s pioneering work in the cosmetics and personal care industries to replace controversial animal testing. He outlines new innovativelaboratory methods and technologies that allow products to be tested safely and ethically without animals, highlighting how scientific progress is accelerating the global move toward more humane research and product development practices.

As ever, we would 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 explore how transparency within veterinary teams can transform client relationships and strengthen practice culture.   Drawing on expert insights from Dr Rebecca Maher from Inside Minds, we unpack why transparency isn’t just about pricing—it’s about communicating value, fostering clarity, and helping clientsfeel confident in their decisions.   Vet teams often shy away from open conversations about cost and care, but when approached with empathy and behavioural insight, transparency builds trust, reduces surprises, and enhances client satisfaction. Learn how teams can embrace openness, improve communication skills, and make every interaction more meaningful for clients and their pets.

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