A concern has been raised about me

The role of the RCVS in responding to concerns

If a concern has been raised about a veterinary professional, it is our responsibility to investigate it. For both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses, we follow the same three-stage process, but with appropriate professional peers responsible for overseeing the investigation.  

We understand that if a concern has been rasised about you, it can be a worrying time. We aim to be fair and transparent in our investigations and to work quickly and thoroughly to resolve the matter.

What kind of concerns do we investigate?

We only investigate matters that call into question a veterinary surgeon’s or veterinary nurse’s fitness to practise. These are cases where the individual’s conduct may have fallen significantly short of the standards expected of veterinary professionals.

Examples may include:

The three-stage process

Stage 1

The first stage is for a preliminary investigation committee (Stage 1 PIC) to investigate the concern.  

For concerns raised about vets, this committee will have at least three members, including one vet, one lay member and one other.  

For concerns raised about vet nurses, the PIC will include either one vet nurse, one vet and one lay member, or two vet nurses and one lay member.

Once it has gathered its information, the Stage 1 PIC will meet to consider the matter and decide whether it can be closed (with or without formal advice). We will write to you to explain the decision.

If the Stage 1 PIC decides that the case cannot be closed at that point, the matter will be progressed to Stage 2 for further investigation. Only around 20% of all concerns raised with us progress beyond Stage 1.

Stage 2

The Stage 2 Preliminary Investigation Committee (Stage 2 PIC) will consider all available information. They may request additional material, such as expert reports or detailed witness statements, before deciding whether tje case should be referred to Stage 3 – a public Disciplinary Committee hearing.

If the Stage 2 PIC decides that it is unlikely your conduct could affect your fitness to practise, it has three options. 

It can:

• close ther case with no further action,
• close the case and issue you with formal advice, or
• refer the case to the Charter Case Committee for a warning.

If the Stage 2 PIC considers that your conduct could affect your fitness to practise, and that it is in the public interest to proceed. the case will be progressed to Stage 3. Only a small percentage of complaints reach Stage 3.

Stage 3

A Disciplinary Committee (DC) hearing is normally held in public and operates in a similar way to a court. The committee will decide whether you are guilty of serious professional misconduct and whether formal action should be taken. 

The DC may call relevant witnesses to give evidence. 

There are two possible outcomes:  

• No -  we will write to you and let you know the outcome and the reasons for the decision.
• Yes - if you are found guilty of serious professional misconduct, you may:
  • be removed from the Register,
  • be suspended for up to two years, or
  • given a formal reprimand.

The DC may also decide to postpone judgment for up to two years.

How we gather information

Each concern will be assigned a case manager. It is the case manager’s responsibility to gather the relevant information about the matter. They may obtain information from:

• you
• your colleagues
• any other veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses who have treated the animal concerned
• anyone else who may have knowledge of the incidents raised

The case manager may request information either by telephone or in writing. While speaking by phone may sometimes be quicker, it is important that you feel comfortable sharing information and having it recorded in this way.

You should also have the opportunity to seek advice from your professional indemnity insurers or a legal adviser before providing information.

If, at any point during a telephone conversation, the case manager considers that you should obtain advice, they will pause the discussion to allow you to do so.

Accessing support

Whether the process concludes within six months or continues to a full Disciplinary Committee hearing, we understand it can feel like a long time if you’re being investigated.  

As a compassionate regulator, we believe that members of the professions should be able to access appropriate emotional support throughout the process.

The review process

If you are unhappy with the outcome of the concerns process, your case manager can provide a detailed explanation of the investigation’s findings.

If you remain dissatisfied, you can write to the Head of Professional Conduct and the Chair of the Preliminary Investigation Committee to request that they consider your concerns.

You will need to state the reasons for your request and detail any new or relevant information. If you are still dissatisfied with the response, you have the option to pursue your concerns through the courts by seeking a judicial review of the decision.