Two more BVA Welsh Branch members appointed to influential animal welfare group

Two members of BVA Welsh Branch have been appointed to the Wales Animal Health and Welfare Framework Group.

Branch President Sarah Carr and Regional Officer Les Eckford were confirmed yesterday as new members of the group, which works to ensure healthy livestock are kept to high standards of welfare and lower the risk of the spread of animal diseases.  The appointments were announced by Lesley Griffiths, Minister for the Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs.

Both Sarah and Les bring a wealth of veterinary experience and expertise to the group, which now has eight members.  Sarah, a Liverpool Veterinary School graduate, has a background in rural mixed practice and now works as a small animal vet, as well as running her own flock of crossbred commercial ewes.  Les has had a long career in government veterinary services, including time spent as a veterinary adviser to the Welsh Government.

Sarah and Les will be joining fellow BVA Welsh Branch member Ifan Lloyd, a senior veterinary surgeon in an independent veterinary group in Swansea and Neath.

Both new appointments come following a recruitment drive to increase the size of the group and give it greater capacity and scope to cover a wider number of animal health and welfare priorities. Members spearhead contingency and business continuity planning as well as coordinating responses to animal welfare issues and disease outbreaks.

Sarah said: “I am delighted that both Les Eckford and myself have been appointed to the Wales Animal Health and Framework Group. I look forward to working with the group and all our stakeholder partners in Wales, in continuing to support and improve Wales’ high standards of animal health and welfare.”