Misinformation on Practice Standards Scheme logos

Delegates at this year's BSAVA Congress may have been confused by a 'competition' flyer produced by the British Veterinary Hospitals Association which implied there is no difference between logos representing the three tiers of practice accredited by the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme.

In fact each category and tier of practice joining the Scheme will be eligible to use a specific and appropriate logo in order to promote its participation in the Scheme to its clients.

Each logo has common elements - for example, the colours and main RCVS accreditation - so that the Practice Standards Scheme will quickly build a strong and recognisable brand.

The Practice Standards Scheme was launched on 1 January 2005 and was the result of over 18 months of hard work by the Practice Standards Working Party and a broad consultation with the veterinary profession in the UK. It replaces two schemes, one run by the BVHA/RCVS and another by BSAVA. The Scheme also ties in with requirements for veterinary nurse training practices.

There was a great deal of interest in the Scheme at BSAVA Congress. This built on a very positive first three months, which saw over 300 practices registering under the new Scheme, resulting in some 600 practice premises now coming under the ambit of the Scheme. In total, approximately 1,200 Tier 2 information packs have been issued.

Speaking at the RCVS's Question Time session on the Friday of Congress (8 April), RCVS Junior Vice-President and Chairman of the Practice Standards Working Party, Lynne Hill, commented:

"It is particularly pleasing that around 70 of those practices signing up thus far are completely new, and were neither members of the BSAVA or BVHA/RCVS schemes, nor are they veterinary nurse training practices. This indicates the appetite that exists for raising standards at all levels within the profession.

"The Scheme will be launched to the general public once a critical mass of practices, across a range of types and covering a good geographical spread, have signed up to it. We anticipate this will be before the end of the year."