Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom
British legal framework for the practice of animal medicine / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom is the performance of veterinary medicine by licensed professionals. It is strictly regulated by the statute law, notably the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. Veterinary medicine is led by veterinary physicians, termed "veterinary surgeons" (with a different meaning to how it is used in some other anglophone countries, where it denotes a surgical specialist), normally referred to as "vets".
Vets are often assisted by registered veterinary nurses, who are able to both assist the vet and to autonomously practise a range of skills of their own, including minor surgery under direction from a responsible vet.
Other professionals are also permitted to perform some animal treatment, through exemptions in the law, and these include manipulation techniques such as physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy. Other alternative medicine therapies, such as homeopathy, acupuncture, phytotherapy and aromatherapy may only be performed by a licensed veterinary surgeon.
The practice of veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom is regulated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), which licenses both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses.