Giving a voice to the veterinary profession

The past year has been an enormous privilege and the highlight of my 25-year career as a vet. The role of BVA President is varied, and I have particularly enjoyed travelling throughout the UK, meeting you all in a wide range of settings and from across the breadth of our profession. 

Championing our profession 

BVA has played a pivotal role in representing both our members and the wider profession throughout the ongoing Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into veterinary services for household pets. I’m particularly proud to have led a formal hearing with the CMA, as well as the collaboration within our CMA-focused working group, which brings together BVA members alongside colleagues from BSAVA, SPVS, BVNA and VMG.  

I’ve particularly enjoyed taking part in media interviews relating to the CMA investigation and the cost and value of veterinary care. I’ve had some memorable encounters with interviewers, having to assertively hold my ground and stand up for the profession at times but believe we have given the profession a voice and helped change a negative narrative into a more positive story.   

When Cambridge University’s Vet School was at risk of closure earlier this year, I was proud to stand with our student members, alongside staff and alumni of Cambridge University, at a Save the Vet School campaign rally. Together we stood up for the vet school and called for university to throw out the proposals to discontinue the undergraduate degree. We also met with senior leadership at Cambridge to discuss the importance of the vet school. Happily, the joint teamwork made a difference and the school was saved. 

Reform of the VSA and importance of political engagement 

Reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act (VSA) has also been at the top of the agenda this year, and I’ve enjoyed supporting our Senior Vice President Liz Mullineaux, who has led BVA’s work on VSA reform. This work, which has taken place over a number of years, resulted this year in the publication of the White Paper, “Our vision for a thriving veterinary sector”, another important milestone representing the first stage in securing a parliamentary Bill slot. The proposed reforms will bring regulation of our profession into the 21st century. While nobody will agree with 100% of the proposals, as a profession we need to be supportive of the reforms and recognise the opportunity they present. 

To support this, we are working to raise awareness among MPs about the amazing work our profession carries out across the whole breadth of veterinary practice and encourage them to get them behind the proposed reform of the legislation. If you’re interested in hosting your constituency MP at your workplace, please register your interest at Host your MP, and we will help you set up a visit. 

A significant amount of time this year has been spent lobbying UK Government Ministers and MPs from Northern Ireland to ensure continuity of supply of veterinary medicines for colleagues working there. It was particularly satisfying to see a BVA suggestion for the establishment of a supply coordination forum taken up by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) and Defra. None of this work would have been possible without collaboration with veterinary groups in Northern Ireland and the support we received from several Northern Irish MPs. 

I’ve also spent time raising awareness among MPs of the very significant issue of illegal meat imports and the risks these pose to both animal and human health. We’re about to begin a major piece of work on the related issue of animal disease resilience and our collective ability to respond to incursions of exotic infectious diseases and I’m confident that incoming President Gwen Rees is the right person to continue this important work throughout her presidency. 

To the next chapter 

Finally, thank you to everyone who has made this year such an incredible experience – my veterinary colleagues and friends, the BVA team, and my fellow officers Liz and Gwen. 

I am already looking forward to another amazing year as a BVA officer and to working alongside Gwen. I know she will be a fantastic President, and together we will continue to give you all a voice on the issues that matter most to you.