A decade of amplifying your voice and driving change

At BVA, we’re passionate about providing a strong voice for vets. But to do that we need to be confident that we’re speaking about the issues that matter to our members and accurately reflecting their experiences.

Ten years ago we recognised that we needed more insight into the concerns, challenges and experiences of our members to help us deliver influential, evidenced-based campaigns that could drive positive change. So, in 2014 we created BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey panel, giving BVA members a direct opportunity to shape and influence the important issues that matter most to them and the profession.

I signed up for the panel soon after it launched because I recognised the important role that data plays in understanding the concerns of the profession and adding weight to BVA’s campaigns. I see the value and impact of the survey responses daily as a BVA officer, and regularly refer to the statistics in media and wider lobbying and engagement work. From concerns around disease risk and animal welfare, through to veterinary workplace culture and workforce retention issues, Voice continues to deliver insightful data, raising the profile of vets and their work in media; driving legislative reform; and shaping the profession.

Here are 10 highlights from the last decade of Voice:

• In 2014, we used data from Voice to shape the seminal Vet Futures report, working with the RCVS to lay out a blueprint to ensure the veterinary profession remains sustainable and relevant.
• In 2015, we began collecting data on antimicrobial resistance to promote more responsible prescribing and to encourage clients to move away from requesting antimicrobials for their animals. Today, the profession annually comes together for an Antibiotic Amnesty, which last year saw sign-ups from 302 practices and veterinary organisations leading to the return of over 2,458 antibiotic tablets.
• In 2016, Voice data played a critical role our response to the outcome of the Brexit referendum. It ensured the veterinary voice was heard on the wide range of issues relating to animal welfare and the future of the profession as politicians navigated the UK’s exit from the European Union.
• In 2018, data on the health issues experienced by brachycephalic dogs was a key element in the launch of our high profile #BreedToBreathe campaign, shifting the public conversation about flat-faced pets and helping us to convince major brands to remove them from their marketing.
• Later in 2018, we worked with the University of Exeter on a groundbreaking report into retention issues in the profession. The data helped us understand more about what was causing the ‘leaky bucket’ effect and the following year we followed up with the first ever Report on discrimination in the veterinary profession, using Voice to scope the extent of the issue.
• In 2020, our response to the pandemic included a focus on tackling abusive behaviour towards vet teams. This developed into our #RespectYourVetTeam campaign, which uses Voice data to highlight issues around client behaviour on social media and to journalists.
• Later in 2020, we launched our Good Veterinary Workplaces position, using the data from Voice to inform and promote a range of Good Veterinary Workplaces resources to support vet teams. We’ve continued to regularly add to these resources, tackling everything from flexible working and pay to the menopause and its impact on veterinary professionals.
• In 2021, we launched our #CutTheCrop campaign, using Voice data to demonstrate the strength of feeling in the veterinary profession about closing the legal loopholes that allow this mutilation of dogs to continue.
• In 2023, we used your reported experiences to shine national media spotlight attention on the concerning welfare issues affecting the UK’s ‘exotic’ pets and secured changes to the Animal Welfare Act, that will mean it is no longer possible to keep primates as household pets in environments that fail to provide for their needs.
• This year, Voice data has been central to our responses to the Competition and Markets Authority’s review of the UK vet services market for pets, both in our submission and when standing up for the profession in the media.

These are just a handful of examples from the huge amount of work supported by Voice surveys over the past decade and none of it would have been possible without Voice panellists giving their time. The panel is open to all BVA Members. We send out 3 or 4 surveys a year, each one is totally optional and takes just 5-10 minutes to complete.