Vets and veterinary services

In this section you can find out more about vets and veterinary services – one of the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) current issues

Background

The England Implementation Group (EIG) is an independent advisory group appointed by the Government to drive forward delivery of the Animal Health and Welfare Strategy for Great Britain

Following the concerns raised by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRACOM) on the decline in rural veterinary services, the EIG had reservations about whether private veterinary practice will be able to fulfil the aims of the strategy.

In 2007 Professor Philip Lowe was appointed as the new Chair of the Vets and Veterinary Services Group. The Group’s Terms of Reference are to consider changing public priorities in Great Britain, for farm animal health and welfare, food safety and public health and the ability of farm animal veterinarians to respond.

Professor Lowe’s report 'Unlocking Potential: a report on veterinary expertise in food animal production' was published on Thursday 6 August 2009. The report makes a number of recommendations on how the profession might halt the drift away from agriculture and food production including establishing a Veterinary Development Council.

What the BVA has done

In a press release on 6 August 2009 Nicky Paull, then President of the BVA, welcomed the challenges the report sets out for the profession and made it clear that the BVA would be at the centre of shaping how the recommendations are taken forward. The report is a key issue for the BVA’s Veterinary Policy Group and the BVA is in discussion with the Vets and Veterinary Services Group on the response to the report.