Weʼre raising £10,000 to promote the development of a District Veterinary Nurse role, training and qualification in the UK.

A role that will become an accessible & affordable outreach veterinary care support service – to improve patient welfare & human wellbeing at home.

I am a Registered Veterinary Nurse but I work - uniquely - as a District Veterinary Nurse, allowing pets of those with disabilities, or those who are emotionally distressed to cope or those who are in full time work so not home to nurse their animals and need assistance or those with no access to transport to visit the veterinary practice, to receive the same standard of nursing care as others.

I only work under the direction of the pet’s veterinary surgeon to provide nursing care. Each pet is cared for through the ongoing relationship between the owner, vet and nurse.

Most veterinary care is provided in the veterinary practice and owners have to manage their pet’s medication and treatment regimes in their home. There is no readily available outreach nursing support in the UK for those who can't.

I have been contacted by many registered veterinary nurses who want to provide a district veterinary nursing service in their own communities and make provision for people who are unable to afford or access the services of the veterinary practice following discharge.

I campaign that no owner and no patient are left helpless leaving our veterinary premises - that no animals go without receiving their needed veterinary treatments due to emotional or physical inability by an owner - no judgement, no questions asked, accessible to all - that a District Veterinary Nurse should be readily offered by vets no matter what the circumstances - so no shadow of a doubt that the animal welfare five freedoms especially freedom 3 and freedom 5 are overlooked by the veterinary profession. https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/endcruelty/changingthelaw/whatwechanged/animalwelfareac

I want to see the development of the District Veterinary Nursing role in the UK, through a formal training programme for Registered Veterinary Nurses with recognition from the veterinary profession and stakeholder organisations.

The impact a District Registered Veterinary Nurse could provide to local communities is invaluable and my work of 5 years testament to it - a massive impact on animal welfare and human well-being.