All vets must shape the future of our profession, says outgoing BVA President

Speaking at BVA’s annual Members’ Day, Mr Blackwell emphasised the need to keep pace with the changing nature of the profession, stating that “it is hard to predict the future but we can at least prepare for it.”

Throughout his speech, Mr Blackwell reviewed a year of change, progress and success for BVA as well as looking forward to challenges ahead.

On the joint BVA/RCVS project, Vet Futures, Mr Blackwell said:

“It’s the first time in recent history that BVA and RCVS have come together on such a high level strategic project and I am very proud that we are a part of it…. It’s fair to say that the interests of BVA and RCVS will not always align perfectly but our open, positive and supportive dialogue is important for the future of the veterinary profession.

“The strong themes emerging from the Vet Futures project are being developed into a vision for 2030 and a set of clear ambitions and actions that we will launch together at the London Vet Show. And many of the sessions of BVA Congress at this year’s show are inspired by the debates coming from Vet Futures – education, regulation, animal welfare, and global imperatives to name just a few.”

Mr Blackwell also called on the profession to support the RCVS-led campaign to protect the title ‘veterinary nurse’.

Acknowledging that BVA’s recent Voice of the Veterinary Profession and Vet Futures surveys show that new graduates can have a tough time transitioning from the support networks at vet schools into the workplace, Mr Blackwell said; “we are re-invigorating and revitalising our Young Vet Network to create a space – online or in person – for vets to come together to provide support to one another.”

On the future of veterinary surveillance, Mr Blackwell said:

“The Defra Secretary of State has made a great deal of the value of Big Data, but we need to populate the database. We know from our survey that large animal vets are carrying out more post mortems themselves, so where is that vital data going?

“We have consistently argued that there is a real danger in dismantling a known and trusted veterinary surveillance system without a reliable system to take its place. Being able to join up the dots of disease is crucially important in our globalised world. We do recognise these austere times but governments across the UK must balance the pressure on budgets against the long-term cost of disease outbreak. We do not want to be in the position of saying ‘We told you so’.”

On the future of breeding and selling dogs in the UK, Mr Blackwell said:

“Together with animal welfare charities, we need to look long and hard at the question of supply and demand. We need to consider whether we can define the standards that would allow larger scale home-based breeding to stem the illegal imports that cause far worse suffering for the puppies and their mothers, and pose unquantifiable risks to animal and human health through the introduction and transmission of rabies, echinococcus multilocularis, and other diseases.”
On non-stun slaughter, Mr Blackwell said:

“I have been honoured to be part of the Officer team that put the BVA non-stun slaughter campaign on the front page of The Times not once, but twice, and dramatically increased public and political awareness of the issue.

“For us it has always been a matter of animal welfare, pure and simple, but … it is one of the issues where driving change and doing what is right has required real focus and diplomacy, whether in front of a TV camera or in private conversations with some of the religious groups potentially affected. In all of those conversations, we have taken strength from the overwhelming support we have had for the campaign from our membership. We couldn’t have done it without our members engaging in the campaign and I want to thank you all for what you did to make this possible.”

On BVA’s major initiatives, such as its governance review, Mr Blackwell said:

“The review set out with the explicit aims of ensuring BVA is keeping pace with the rapid and significant changes in the veterinary profession, and that we are also operating in line with modern principles of good governance. Through the work looking at our processes, structures, and relationships we are exploring how BVA and the specialist divisions can best work together for the benefit of the whole profession, and we are developing ideas to improve our transparency and ensure we can better engage members in our activities.

“The work is ongoing but we have already made great progress and had fantastic input from our divisions, committees and Council and it has been heartening to see such strong engagement and such a willingness to think about new solutions to old problems. Through the governance review, we are making sure we are not just fit for purpose but fit for the future.”