BVNA has been campaigning for reform of the outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 for many years.

We know this is an issue BVNA members feel strongly about. New legislation is required to:

  • Provide the professional recognition veterinary nurses deserve, including title protection
  • Ensure better utilisation of veterinary nursing skills, with opportunities to expand the role in future
  • Modernise regulation of the veterinary sector, including veterinary businesses and allied veterinary professionals

Now, you can help us to ensure this becomes a reality.

Hosting an MP visit to your veterinary workplace is a fantastic way to:

  • Highlight the crucial services that your veterinary team provides to your local community
  • Showcase the skills and dedication of the veterinary profession
  • Generate positive publicity for your profession and your workplace
  • Vitally, discuss why MPs should support reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act

Taking a cross-profession and cross-party approach, we are working on this campaign closely with the British Veterinary Association (BVA). Together, the more MPs we can invite to visits to secure their support for a reformed Veterinary Surgeons Act, the greater the chances of new legislation progressing.

BVNA and BVA will collaboratively support you and your team throughout the process, including template emails, briefing notes, and reaching out to local media.

Interested in volunteering to host a visit?

Register your interest via this BVA online form – mentioning BVNA in the “how did you hear about this campaign” box. (This means we can avoid overlap with MPs being invited by both BVNA and BVA members who may be in the same constituency.)

Alternatively, please email Charlotte Bullard, BVNA Head of Policy and Public Affairs, at charlotte@bvna.co.uk.

Frequently asked questions

I’m unable to host a visit in my workplace, can I write to my MP instead?

We have liaised directly with Defra to understand how BVNA and our members can best support the process.

Due to the way that MP queries are managed, responses surrounding VSA reform actually end up being compiled by Defra’s veterinary policy team, rather than by MPs themselves. Consequently, we have been advised that, at this stage, letter writing would have a limited impact on raising awareness amongst MPs, but would instead contribute to an increased workload within Defra with no tangible benefit.

MP workplace visits have been encouraged instead as this would open up a dialogue between constituents/businesses and their MPs; showcasing the care provided by veterinary professions, giving MPs a practical sense of why legislation must change, and ensuring this message can land more effectively ahead of a draft Bill being debated in Parliament.

I don’t work in a veterinary practice; can I still host a visit?

We’re encouraging MP visits which reflect the diversity and breadth of the veterinary profession, showcasing how veterinary professionals protect animal health and welfare in all species, alongside their your contributions to public health and society as a whole. If you work outside the “traditional” practice setting, but your workplace delivers veterinary services or education, we’d equally love to hear from you.