Weekly BVA view
Find out the British Veterinary Association (BVA) view on issues currently affecting the veterinary profession
Each week we publish our views on an issue affecting the veterinary profession in our weekly journal The Veterinary Record
This week's topic: getting points across
This week’s Veterinary Record comment looks back at the BVA London Dinner and the Minister’s response to BVA President Professor Bill Reilly’s speech.
To recap the issues raised, they were
- dangerous dogs
- vets and the public good
- Defra’s responsibility and cost sharing proposals
- breeding and selling of dogs
- UK Pet Travel Scheme
- control of bovine TB
Professor Reilly made the point that vets’ contribution to the public good was under-appreciated by the public and, more worryingly, by the Government. A case in point were the negotiations over a fair fee for Official Veterinarians who play a vital role in disease surveillance/control and in safeguarding the farming industry, food production and public health.
Responding to the issues raised by Professor Reilly, Lord Davies of Oldham said the Government does value the contribution that vets make to society, and that the need to carefully manage reducing resources by making increasingly tough decisions should not be confused with a lack of regard for the work vets do in many vital areas.
Parliamentarians cross the political spectrum will have much on their minds as an election approaches, and the profession must continue to work hard in getting its views across.
Read the full comment