Raise a concern about a veterinary professional

Call our confidential reporting line on 020 3795 5600, 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday or email [email protected]. 

There are limitations to what we can do if you don’t fill out a consent form, consent to your identity being disclosed and provide full details of the incident. 

If you do give consent, all material you supply to us will be disclosed to those you’re raising the concern about. 

We only deal with the most serious concerns affecting a vet or vet nurse’s fitness to practise, that is, their right to work. This means behaviour that has fallen far short of what is expected, including:  

• Very poor professional performance, where there are serious departures from the standards set out in the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct 

• Fraud or dishonesty 

• A criminal conviction or caution 

• Physical or mental health problems affecting ability to work 

The RCVS cannot: 

• Fine a vet or vet nurse 

• Resolve business disputes between practices 

• Resolve employment issues 

• Order an apology 

• Resolve issues relating solely to negligence 

We don’t ordinarily investigate concerns that are more than two years old.  

If you’re raising a concern about something that took place over two years ago, the concern will be referred to the Chairman of the Preliminary Investigation Committee (PIC) and the Head of Conduct, who will decide if we can take it further.

A case manager will give you a call within two weeks of receiving your concern to discuss your concerns and explain our three-stage investigation process: 

Stage 1: Preliminary Investigation Committee (Stage 1 PIC) 

We’ll investigate your concern with a Stage 1 PIC. The Stage 1 PIC will ordinarily consist of  three members: one vet or vet nurse, one lay member and one other.

The Stage 1 PIC will decide whether it can conclude the matter. This happens if there is no realistic prospect of the concern being proven and amounting to serious professional misconduct. The concern will be progressed to Stage 2 if it cannot reach that conclusion.

During each stage, your case manager must collate information by contacting:  

• You 

• The veterinary professional you’re concerned about 

• Others at the vet practice 

• Anyone you’ve told us may have witnessed the incident 

They may also ask for copies of clinical records relating to any animal you’ve told us about. 

If you wish to remain anonymous, we cannot complete this step. This may mean your concern can’t be taken further. 

View Stage 1 guidance 

Stage 2: Preliminary Investigation Committee (Stage 2 PIC) 

We’ll consider all available information at the Stage 2 PIC. We may also ask for further investigation to be carried out before deciding whether to refer it to Stage 3, a public Disciplinary Committee hearing. 

The concern will be progressed to Stage 3 if there’s a realistic prospect that the veterinary professional’s conduct could affect their fitness to practise, and it’s in the public interest. 

The case may also be referred to the Charter Case Committee. This happens when there’s a realistic prospect that the veterinary professional’s conduct could affect their fitness to practise, but it’s not in the public interest for it to progress to a full Disciplinary Committee hearing. 

View Stage 2 guidance 

Stage 3: Disciplinary Committee 

A Disciplinary Committee hearing is ordinarily held in public, similar to a court, to decide whether the vet professional is guilty of serious professional misconduct and must face formal action. Relevant witnesses may need to give evidence. 

If the veterinary professional is found guilty of serious professional misconduct, they may be: 

• Removed from the Register 

• Suspended for up to two years 

• Given a formal reprimand or warning

There is also the possibility that no further action will be taken.