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: getting back together
The most recent Veterinary Record editorial discusses the Government’s proposal to re-merge Animal Health with the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) after 15 years of separation.
It raises a number of concerns. In principle there is no objection to reducing bureaucracy and cutting costs. In practical terms, however, there is always a danger that work will be disrupted, expertise lost and important activities axed. This cannot be allowed to happen in merging Animal Health and the VLA, which between them provide a ‘frontline service’ in disease control, and whose activities in relation to animal health, animal welfare and public health are clearly in the public interest. Given the often very local nature of much veterinary activity, it will also be important that the national network of disease surveillance laboratories is maintained.
The merger needs to be considered in the context of responsibility and cost sharing, devolution including devolution of animal health budgets, and Official Veterinarian services. If done properly, the result could be an integrated agency fully committed to animal health. However, in the current financial climate, that’s a pretty big if.
The aim must be to ensure the best possible outcome in terms of safeguarding animal health.