Co. Down vet honoured with Impact Award from RCVS

Co. Down vet Mark Little has been awarded the Impact Award from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

He received the award, which acknowledges a veterinary surgeon or veterinary nurse who has recently, or is currently, undertaking a project, initiative or similar endeavour that has a significant impact on the profession at large, animal health or welfare, or public health.

Dr Little was jointly president of the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) Northern Ireland branch and the Northern Ireland Veterinary Association (NIVA) for 2021/2022, a crucial time for the country’s veterinary sector as the impact of the post-EU Exit arrangements under the Northern Ireland Protocol were being worked out.

A graduate of University College Dublin, Mark currently works as a veterinary advisor for Fane Valley.

He was nominated by Esther Skelly-Smith MRCVS, practice principal of Shanaghan Veterinary Services, who also served alongside him on BVA NI and NIVA.

She said: “During his time as president, Mark recognised the need for and spearheaded the response around the concerning issue of veterinary medicine supply to Northern Ireland at the end of the Brexit “grace period” in December 2022. Had Mark not championed this issue, Northern Ireland could have lost access to over 50% of veterinary medicines. The NI veterinary profession, agri-food industry and wider animal industry owes Mark a great debt of gratitude of which many are unaware.

“Mark has worked tirelessly for the two-year project to safeguard the health and welfare of animals in Northern Ireland. He recognised how incredibly important it was to ensure a full complement of veterinary medicines remain available thereby preventing disease and unnecessary suffering. Mark also had the perseverance and insight to pursue this issue due to the important implications for the protection of human health, thereby eliminating the risk of potential zoonotic diseases.”