Overhaul of the current Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 has been a long time coming. Many organisations, including BVNA, have been calling for brand new legislation to replace the existing Act, which at 60 years old is significantly outdated.

On Tuesday 27th January 2026, Defra launched a consultation on potential reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act, and what future veterinary legislation could look like.

Now is the time to use your voice! The consultation is accepting responses until 23.59 on Wednesday 25th March, and we’re encouraging as many veterinary nurses as possible to take part, submit their views, and join our calls to UK Government in support of this much needed reform.

Legislation must properly recognise the skilled and professional workforce that veterinary nurses are today. A strong response from veterinary nurses means we collectively have a better chance of securing a positive future for our profession.

We know there’s lots of information within this consultation for a busy profession to digest, so we’re here to help. This discussion panel will help you to break down the content of the consultation, providing an opportunity to ask questions. You can also listen via our Spotify channel here.

Speakers:

  • Lyndsay Hughes RVN, BVNA Senior Vice President
  • Steph Worsley RVN, BVNA Junior Vice President
  • Natasha Widdowson, Head of Veterinary Policy at Defra
  • Charlotte Bullard, BVNA Head of Policy & Public Affairs (Chair)

Find out more about how BVNA is working for you throughout work towards a reformed Veterinary Surgeons Act here.

Veterinary Surgeons Act Reform Consultation Q&A Session – Follow-up answers here.