BVA Past President's speech at the House of Lords Reception
Dr Freda Scott-Park spoke at the end of the BVA Divisional Presidents' Day at a reception held at the House of Lords on 17th October 2006:
“Let’s work in partnership”
That was the title of my speech on the first day of BVA Congress a couple of weeks ago. Of course I shouldn’t be standing here – having handed over but since young Catlow has another day to host he has allowed me this one to say thank you and farewell. So let’s return to the title of my brief speech tonight:
“Let’s work in partnership”
On this occasion the words were uttered by David Miliband Secretary of State for Defra.
He goes on to say: “We are a nation of animal lovers and believe that animals should be treated accordingly”.
And that he is delighted to find himself responsible for the Department that owns the government’s policies on the health and welfare of animals.”
Excellent – the BVA can work with people like David Miliband and indeed with the AWB looking for Royal Assent later this year we believe that the veterinary profession can offer much to Government as it facilitates this very significant piece of legislation.
However the past year has been dominated by ‘exotic’ disease; not in the way that Foot and Mouth Disease swept through the country in 2001 but in threats here and there, necessitating late night phone calls from the CVO’s office; avian influenza of the H5N1 variety arriving in Western Europe but stopping short at the shores of the Kingdom of Fife. Avian influenza – this time H7N3, confirmed on 28th April in Norfolk; low pathogenic. ‘A useful exercise’ was the comment from all involved in both incidents, except those poultry farmers whose livelihoods were challenged.
Then another personal phone call from the deputy CVO late on an August evening: bluetongue found in northern Europe. Now that brought dread to a veterinary surgeon’s heart. A disease spread by a tiny vector – the Culicoides midge, numerous in Great Britain and well able to spread disease to our sheep flocks and cattle herds.
The CVO held a close up and personal meeting of major stakeholders and asked: could we honestly be certain that we (in the UK) would have identified the disease when it first arrived and before it spread? If it came to cattle first then possibly ‘yes’; because most cattle are checked on a daily basis. But if it was established only in the sheep flock? The answer had to be ‘no’ but surveillance tells us that for the moment we are clear.
As we manage to body swerve outbreaks of exotic diseases, relationships have been strengthened and there has been an outbreak of partnership between Defra and its stakeholders. The approach to both avian influenza and bluetongue has been exemplary and the stakeholder groups have felt fully engaged. The same can be said of the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland where the Chief Veterinary Officers, Christianne Glossop, Charles Milne and Bert Houston, are held in high regard for their co-operative approach to disease control.
However, this partnership is to be severely tested over the forthcoming months as the Joint Industry Government Working Group gets to grips with the widely quoted concept of cost sharing: that’s the short hand for Sharing Responsibilities and Costs of Exotic Animal Disease. There needs to be a common approach to this concept across the UK and the JIGWG is about to expand its membership to include the devolved administrations, all the while remembering that Europe is developing its own strategy at the same time.
But let us be very clear that there is a fine line between cost sharing and total cost recovery. Any cost sharing agreement must be affordable and must be clearly defined. The debate will now rage as the JIGWG considers what diseases should be included. There is mention from Europe that endemic diseases may be included. This has a particular significance for England, Wales and Northern Ireland as the dialogue on how to reduce the incidence of bovine TB continues.
It is young Catlow that is now receiving the late night phone calls from the CVO and indeed has had his first – as Newcastle Disease arrived in Scotland just this last week.
This is our opportunity to thank our BVA Divisional representatives, our Honorary Associates, our colleagues in Government and specifically in Defra for their friendship as we develop a close working relationship to the benefit of the animals that we serve.
My Lord, ladies and gentlemen, please join with me in thanking our host for this evening, Lord Soulsby – a real friend to the BVA in so many ways.