Resumen de Veterinary nursing: Peer bids for protection of title ‘veterinary nurse’

• A PRIVATE Member's Bill that would legally protect the title ‘veterinary nurse’ has been submitted by veterinary peer Professor the Lord Trees.

  Lord Trees submitted the Veterinary Nurses (Protection of Title) Bill to the ballot for Private Members' Bills in the House of Lords on May 19. If it comes sufficiently highly in a ballot, the Bill will be debated in the House of Lords and the House of Commons and, if approved by both, would become law.

  As drafted, the Bill would prohibit the use of the title ‘veterinary nurse’ by anyone whose name was not on the RCVS Register of Veterinary Nurses. Any non-registered person who used the title, or a name, title or description that implied they were on the Register, would be guilty of an offence and could be fined or convicted under the Veterinary Surgeons Act.

  Lord Trees commented: ‘It is very exciting, and a privilege, to be entering a Private Member's Bill to protect the title veterinary nurse into the ballot for Private Members’ Bills in Parliament. If we are drawn high enough in the ballot and if we can get parliamentary time – two important “ifs” – I am confident that the Bill will receive total cross-party support.