Vets are speaking with a strong voice in changing times, says outgoing BVA President

The BVA President opened his final address by underlining the importance of championing the workforce and keeping animal welfare standards high post-Brexit, and reiterated calls for vets to be reinstated on the Shortage Occupation List to safeguard against shortfalls in the workforce. 

He said: “We see a strong veterinary workforce as being the key piece of the puzzle to ensure that all the other relevant matters relating to trade, agriculture, animal welfare, animal health and public health play out smoothly in a post-Brexit world. This work will continue well past 2019, as we along with everyone else try to navigate a very different and unpredictable new policy landscape.”

Mr Fishwick reflected on a recent meeting with Environment Secretary Michael Gove, which covered a wide range of items relating to the veterinary workforce and animal welfare including an assurance that animal sentience legislation will be embedded pre-Brexit. He said: “While animal sentience is another ‘watch this space’ issue, we’re at least pleased that the government has taken notice of the strength of feeling on the matter, and understands that recognising animals as sentient beings sends a strong signal to the global community that the UK continues to be a world leader when it comes to animal welfare.”

He also highlighted several animal welfare wins that have been realised in the last twelve months, including the introduction of CCTV in slaughterhouses, a consultation on the transportation of live animals and pledges to ban both shock collars and the use of wild animals in travelling circuses, and underlined the need to ensure that positive action on these fronts is consistent across the UK.

On workforce issues, Mr Fishwick outlined the significant amount of work that has gone on in his presidential year to review the needs of the workforce and put support in place for vets at every stage in their career. 

Previewing a new careers hub, ‘My Vet Future’, that will launch at the London Vet Show in November, he said: “It is so important to have clear information on veterinary careers for diverse audiences, including those school children who may be weighing up whether it’s the right path to follow. We need to showcase the amazing opportunities on offer in Team Vet, without glossing over the challenges.”

The BVA President emphasised the importance of working together to achieve change and realise benefits for both animal and human health and welfare. He singled out the achievements of a Targets Taskforce spearheaded by the Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance (RUMA) for particular praise, saying: “There is still much to do, but we can be proud of the energy and efforts that have gone in from all sides to date to achieve goals that may before have seemed out of reach.”

He went on to thank all of BVA’s specialist divisions for their positive engagement during his Presidency: from shaping joint position papers and activity on issues including surveillance, farm assurance, goat welfare and pet travel to feeding into the work of the Vet-led Team Working Group and helping to shape the forthcoming pet advertising guidelines. He said: “This year has seen some great joint working on key animal welfare priorities across the whole spectrum of species. Thank you to everyone for your scrutiny and inputs: your expertise is the beating heart of BVA’s policy work.”

The BVA President also thanked BVA Branches in the devolved regions of the UK: “I want to pay a special tribute to everyone who has played a part this year in spreading the word about BVA’s work at grassroots and engaging frontline vets across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in amplifying the veterinary voice and ensuring that we can look at devolved policies and regional engagement through a local lens.” 

Mr Fishwick concluded his Presidential address by looking ahead to the challenges to come, and encouraging ‘Team Vet’ to continue working together: “We are entering an unprecedented period of change, challenge and uncertainty. What is clear, however, is that Team Vet is a small but hugely passionate and valued profession that will equip itself as well as it can to support animal and public health and welfare in the months ahead. BVA will keep working hard on your behalf and championing our members in everything we do.”