A Sustainable Approach to Clinical Veterinary Practice Part 3: April 2025

A Sustainable Approach to Clinical Veterinary Practice

Are you ready to support meaningful change for a sustainable future? Registration is now open for our brand new online course.

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Become a sustainability champion today

This course will empower veterinary professionals to drive the changes needed at a practice level to meet the needs of a changing profession, offering a step-by-step guide to action sustainability in veterinary practice and embed these principles into our daily veterinary work.

Sustainability course designed for veterinarians and paraprofessionals
Self-Paced Online Learning Course
Designed to fit around busy work and life schedules
Suitable for all roles within the veterinary profession
Primarily companion animal focused, although the principles are applicable to all spheres of clinical practice
Create an environmental management system for your workplace - including policies, audits and action plans
Equivalent to 35 hours of CPD
Attain a LANTRA accredited certificate

Curriculum

1. Course Overview
2. Welcome to the Course from Module Authors
3. Modules
4. What to Expect
5. How to Navigate The Course - Top Tips
6. Pre-CPD Questionnaire
7. Directory of recommended reading and resources
8. About Us
1. Brief Overview
2. Module Champion: Nicole Dyer
3. 8.1 Introduction
4. TASK 8.1 Introduction
5. 8.2 Sustainable surgical principles and lean surgery delivery
6. TASK 8.2 Sustainable surgical principles and lean surgery delivery
7. 8.2.1 Sustainable surgical principles and lean surgery delivery
8. TASK 8.2.1 Sustainable surgical principles and lean surgery delivery
9. 8.3 Introducing Sustainability quality improvement (SusQI) in the ‘single-use era’
10. TASK 8.3 Introducing Sustainability quality improvement (SusQI) in the ‘single-use era’
11. 8.4 The Greener Theatre Checklist
12. QUICK QUIZ 8.4 The Greener Theatre Checklist
13. DEEP DIVE 8.4 The Greener Theatre Checklist
14. 8.5 Rational use of surgical textiles
15. TASK 8.5 Rational use of surgical textiles
16. QUICK QUIZ 8.5 Rational use of surgical textiles
17. 8.6 Surgical instruments
18. DEEP DIVE 8.6 Surgical instruments
19. 8.6.1 Surgical instruments continued....
20. QUICK QUIZ 8.6.1 Surgical instruments continued....
21. 8.7 Sterilisation protocols
22. TASK 8.7 Sterilisation protocols
23. 8.8 The social aspect and global responsibility
24. DEEP DIVE 8.8 The social aspect and global responsibility
25. 8.9 Final Reflection
26. 8.10 References
1. Brief Overview
2. Module Champion: Helen Gould
3. 9.1 Introduction
4. 9.1.1 Introduction
5. 9.2 The environmental impact of waste management
6. 9.2.1 The environmental impact of waste management, continued...
7. TASK 9.2 The environmental impact of waste management
8. DEEP DIVE 9.2 The environmental impact of waste management
9. TASK 9.2.1 The environmental impact of waste management, continued...
10. QUICK QUIZ 9.2 The environmental impact of waste management
11. 9.3 Optimising the management of healthcare waste
12. 9.3.1 Optimising the management of healthcare waste continued....
13. DEEP DIVE 9.3.1 Optimising the management of healthcare waste continued...
14. TASK 9.3.1 Optimising the management of healthcare waste continued...
15. QUICK QUIZ 9.3.1 Optimising the management of healthcare waste continued...
16. 9.4 Plastics and recycling in practice
17. DEEP DIVE 9.4 Plastics and recycling in practice
18. 9.4.1 Plastics and recycling in practice - Are Bioplastics Better?
19. 9.5 Composting
20. QUICK QUIZ 9.5 Composting
21. 9.6 Pharmaceutical waste
22. DEEP DIVE 9.6 Pharmaceutical waste
23. TASK 9.6 Pharmaceutical waste
24. 9.7 Taking a rational example to PPE use for reduced waste generation and operational resilience
25. 9.8 Final Reflection
26. 9.9 References
1. Brief Overview
2. Module Champion: Jo Oakden
3. TASK 10.1 What does the world need?
4. 10.1 What does the world need?
5. 10.2 People want change, but do not want to be changed. Why is change so difficult?
6. QUICK QUIZ 10.2 People want change, but do not want to be changed. Why is change so difficult?
7. 10.2.1 Why is change so hard?
8. 10.3 What the science says: The reason for performing a behaviour
9. TASK 10.3 What the science says: The reason for performing a behaviour
10. DEEP DIVE 10.3 What the science says: The reason for performing a behaviour
11. 10.3.1 Further elaboration of the COM-B model
12. 10.3.2 The Theory of Planned Behaviour
13. 10.3.3 Stages of Change Model (Transtheoretical Model)
14. 10.3.4 Behaviour Change Within Organisations
15. QUICK QUIZ 10.3.4 Behaviour Change Within Organisations
16. TASK 10.3.4 Behaviour Change Within Organisations
17. DEEP DIVE 10.3.4 Behaviour Change Within Organisations
18. 10.4 Veterinary professionals as ‘Change Makers’
19. TASK 10.4 Veterinary professionals as ‘Change Makers’
20. 10.5 Theory into practice
21. TASK 10.5 Theory into practice
22. 10.6 Communication and language around change
23. DEEP DIVE 10.6 Communication and language around change
24. 10.6.1 Communication and language around change, continued...
25. DEEP DIVE 10.6.1 Communication and language around change, continued...
26. 10.7 Initiating and maintaining change within an organisation
27. TASK 10.7 Initiating and maintaining change within an organisation
28. DEEP DIVE 10.7 Initiating and maintaining change within an organisation
29. QUICK QUIZ 10.7 Initiating and maintaining change within an organisation
30. 10.8 Education for change
31. 10.8.1 Education for change
32. 10.8.2 Education for change
33. TASK 10.8.2 Education for change
34. DEEP DIVE TASK 10.8.2 Education for change
35. 10.9 Non-governmental organisations for creating change
36. TASK 10.9 Non-governmental organisations for creating change
37. 10.10 Final Reflection
38. 10.11 References
1. ASACVP Assignment: Integrating sustainability initiatives in practice
2. Course Conclusion
3. Post-CPD Questionnaire

About this course

£450.00
101 lessons
Live and Recorded Tutorials from Course Facilitator
Interactive Content including Charts and Figures, as well as videos from Module Champions
Opportunity for Deep Dives and Recommended Reading

Future Course Dates

Our next courses will run in April and October 2025. Places are limited, register your interest now

What Students Can Expect From The Course

Discussion Forums

Students will have the opportunity to join and interact with a community of like minded veterinary professionals taking the course at the same time
Online Tutorials

Option to attend live (recorded) online tutorials at the beginning, middle and end of the course to consolidate the learning material, address specific questions and participate in discussions
LANTRA Certificate

Upon completion of the course and submission of an assignment successful students will receive a LANTRA accredited certificate

Hear what those who have joined the course have to say:

I have found it incredibly interesting and informative!

Judy Scrine, Veterinary Surgeon and Member BVA Electoral College

'I have found [the course] incredibly interesting and informative. It is helping me to fill the many gaps in my knowledge about sustainability, and it is also allowing me to be much better prepared to enter into meaningful climate change conservations... I have already been inspired to make a significant number of changes in my own sphere, and feel I now have the information to encourage others to do the same. Not to mention satisfying all 35 hours of my CPD requirements in one chunk! Thank you Vet Sustain'

An excellent course!

Helen Gould, Vet & Old Hall Vets Practice Owner.

"An excellent course. Really well put together. Very accessible and full of interesting and pertinent information all of which is of immediate use as we strive to make the vet profession more sustainable."

Wow! This is hands down the most comprehensive course of its kind in the world

Dr Diccon Westworth

"I have just completed the course A Sustainable Approach to Clinical Veterinary Practice - offered through Vet Sustain. Wow! This is hands down the most comprehensive course of its kind in the world. Not only is it detailed and accurate, it is full of very practical and immediately implementable measures to enable you to reduce your hospital's impact. It is well paced and together with your learning cohort you get to share ideas and your trials and tribulations in this space! I felt energized and driven the entire way through! Thank you so much to all of those involved at Vet Sustain for creating this educational masterpiece! This tool together with the carbon calculator now has empowered the entire profession to lead the way to practicing more sustainably ... the solutions are very much in our hands!"

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I eligible to sign up for the course?
This course is primarily companion animal focussed, although the principles are applicable across all clinical practices. All veterinary professionals and members of the wider veterinary team (including practice management) are welcome to enrol on the course. There is some scientific content throughout the course, but learners should not find this too challenging.
How much is the course?
The price of the course is £1,250 +VAT per student. Overseas (non-UK) businesses only may be eligible for a non-VAT price of £1,250.
How long with the course take me to complete?
We expect each module to take around 3 - 5 hours to complete over the course of 6-9 months. In addition there are a number of deep dives and a list of further reading for those interested in a particular area or wishing to expand their knowledge further. We highly recommend diarising regular study sessions to keep progressing through the course content.
How much support with I have during the course?
There will be a live (and recorded) tutorial with the community and course organisers at the beginning, and in the middle of the course to consolidate learning, address specific questions and participate in discussions. Students will also join a community of veterinary professionals all taking the course at the same time, to help each other along the way.
What do I need to accomplish in order to complete the course and receive my LANTRA accredited certificate?
During the course there will be discussion tasks and quick quizzes to solidify learning throughout the course which are compulsory. In order to receive the LANTRA accredited certificate for completing the course, you are also required to complete an assignment. You will accumulate all the knowledge you require during the course to complete this assignment. In the assignment, you should formulate a strategy for driving sustainability within your clinical veterinary business, in-depth assessment guidance is given in the course.

Meet our Course Authors

Zoe Halfacree

MA VetMB CertVDI CertSAS FHEA DipECVS FRCVS.

Zoë is a veterinary surgeon with a passion for environmental sustainability. She is a European specialist in small animal veterinary surgery (Soft Tissue) and works at Davies Veterinary Specialists, Linnaeus. Zoë previously worked at the Royal Veterinary College and has provided training to other veterinary professionals via lecturing nationally and internationally, publishing scientific papers and writing book chapters. Zoë was awarded the Fellowship of The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in August 2021 for meritorious contribution to clinical veterinary practice. She is a subject matter expert for Sustainability on the Linnaeus Clinical Board. Zoë is a Director of Vet Sustain and was Chair of the Greener Veterinary Practice working group from 2020 to 2022. Zoë has completed the Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership course in Business Sustainability in 2020 and is currently completing a Masters course in Sustainability and Behaviour Change at the Centre for Alternative Technology, Wales. Zoë was recognised as the Green Individual of the year by Webinar Vet in 2023 for her work in sustainability in clinical practice.

Becky Sedman

BVSc MRCVS

Becky graduated from Liverpool in 2018 and currently works for a small animal referral hospital in Yorkshire. She previously completed the Business Sustainability Management course with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, worked as the Sustainability Advisor for VetPartners and was a previous Chair of the Vet Sustain Greener Veterinary Practice working group. Becky has practical experience of implementing an environmental management system in a large first opinion veterinary hospital whereby they successfully achieved the highest level Investors in the Environment award. She has delivered a number of webinars and presentations on the topic of sustainability at veterinary conferences and universities.

Jen Gale

BVetMed Dip Coaching(Hons) MRCVS

Jen qualified in 2004 from the Royal Veterinary College and worked in small animal practice for over 10 years. She is the founder of Sustainable(ish) - a platform all about empowering and inspiring ‘ordinary non-greenies’ to take imperfect eco-action, and is the author of The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide and The Sustainable(ish) Guide to Green Parenting. Jen is a qualified coach and a certified Carbon Literacy trainer, as well as Vet Sustain Director.

About Vet Sustain

Vet Sustain supports veterinary professionals to become leading forces for sustainability

Vet Sustain is a not-for-profit community interest company on a mission to inspire and enable members of the veterinary professions to drive change for a more sustainable future. Vet Sustain produces the tools, training, communications and advocacy centred around our six Veterinary Sustainability Goals, to help veterinary professionals and teams to continually improve the health and wellbeing of animals, people and the environment through their day-to-day work. We seek to contribute to global food strategy, particularly around animal health and welfare and sustainable agriculture, and develop relationships and networks, to build capacity and collaborate globally.

Visit the Vet Sustain Website

Pricing Options

The price of the course is £1,250.00 +VAT

All UK residents and overseas individuals are subject to Value Added Tax (VAT). Overseas businesses are eligible to purchase the course exclusive of VAT, this discount will be automatically applied at the checkout when valid business details are provided.

UK - Enrol Now

Overseas Registration

Not from the UK? No Problem!

Participants are able to purchase the course in a range of local currencies. Here are our most popular choices - if your currency is not listed please email us [email protected]. Overseas businesses are eligible to purchase the course exclusive of VAT, this discount will be automatically applied at the checkout when valid business details are provided.

Currency	Price	Purchase Link	Currency	Price	Purchase Link
Australian Dollars (AUD)	$2,400.00	Click here for AUD	New Zealand Dollars (NZD)	$2,600.00	Click here for NZD
Danish Krone (DKK)	DKK 10,995.00	Click here for DKK	US Dollars (USD)	$1,595.00	Click Here for USD
Euros (EUR)	€1,475.00	Click here for EUR