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The new materials include a downloadable guide to each CMA remedy and short videos on providing information about ownership, prices, services and treatments, on prescribing veterinary medicines, managing complaints and offering cremation services.
Whilst the CMA's detailed Orders have not yet been released, with more information expected over the summer, the BVA said its information will continue to be updated.
BVA President Dr Rob Williams MRCVS said: "Given the CMA's starting point, following significant pushback from BVA, the final remedies now better balance the needs of the pet-owning public, with practical delivery of vet services."
He added: "However, we understand that the next steps may still feel a bit daunting.
"The first thing to say is that most of you will already be undertaking many, if not most of the measures required by the CMA in your day-to-day work and this next step will be about formalising these processes.
"We're here to support the profession as it gets ready for change later in the year with practical resources to help you comply."
Further discussion of the changes is also planned at BVA Live at the NEC Birmingham on 11 and 12 June, including sessions on complaints handling after the CMA outcome and what the remedies mean in practice.
https://www.bva.co.uk/resources-support/misc-resources/competition-and-markets-authority-measures-for-vet-businesses-get-ready-get-compliant
The guidance reflects the latest Home Office rules on the Skilled Worker Visa pathway and sets out the visa process and sponsorship requirements for veterinary businesses looking to sponsor a vet from overseas and for qualified vets looking to move to the UK.
The FAQs cover salary thresholds, visa costs, timelines and the application process.
They also address questions including how to obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship, who qualifies for a salary threshold discount, and what happens if you lose or change jobs.
BVA Senior Vice President Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux said: "The veterinary profession in the UK heavily relies on overseas vets, who play a crucial role in our workforce.
"However, we've been contacted by many members with questions and concerns around navigating the recent changes to the skilled worker visa rules.
"In response, with this resource we're bringing clarity, by answering the most pressing questions and simply outlining the visa process as well as sponsorship requirements."
https://mybva.bva.co.uk/skilled-worker-visa-guidance-for-vets.html
Among the programme highlights is "Managing complaints post-CMA, what do you need to know?", featuring BVA President Rob Williams, Jennie Jones, Head of Veterinary Client Mediation Service, and Gavin Durston, Director of Thrums Vets.
In another session, "Hot topic: CMA remedies - what do they mean in practice?", Rob Williams, Kate Higgins, owner and Director of Village Vets Formby, and Lyndsay Hughes, BVNA Senior Vice President, will debate where we are with the investigation, what comes next, and the possible impact of the CMA remedies on practices.
The programme also includes sessions on clinical practice, leadership in the workplace and the role of vets in ethical decision making.
Clinical stream highlights include euthanasia in small mammals, birds and reptiles, anaesthesia in comorbid patients, updates in ocular pharmacology, optimizing hospital care for long-term patients, and managing anxiety in "pandemic puppies".
The BVA Interactive Zone will also return, with President Rob Williams, Senior Vice President Elizabeth Mullineaux and Junior Vice President Gwen Rees leading debates on overtreatment, managing and improving a toxic workplace and contextualised care.
Rob said: "As the profession emerges from the CMA investigation, BVA Live will be one of the first opportunities for vet teams to come together to access practical CPD to move forwards and comply with the CMA remedies."
https://bvalive.vetshow.com/conference-programme
The policy pulls together current research on potential long-term health and welfare impacts of neutering and ways these may be reduced, including different methods, delaying the procedure, or not neutering.
It recommends assessing male dog castration on an individual basis, taking factors such as age, breed and lifestyle into account.
Advice for cats is unchanged, with male and female cats still recommended for neutering at around four months of age, before sexual maturity.
The Associations say the general consensus is that male and female dogs should be neutered at around 12–24 months, when many breeds are considered to have reached skeletal maturity, to reduce the risk of developing orthopaedic conditions.
A joint FAQs resource has also been produced to summarise the conclusions and recommendations for practice teams.
BVA Senior Vice President Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux said: "The updated policy position brings together the latest evidence to support small animal vets with making context-based decisions on a case-by-case basis and what that might mean for discussing neutering options with clients."
BSAVA President Julian Hoad added: "The evidence base underpinning decision-making continues to evolve and although the policy position covers many key research outputs, ambiguities still exist.
"BVA and BSAVA have made recommendations based on existing knowledge and how best this can be applied in practical scenarios.
"The resulting aim of the policy is to support veterinary professionals in clinical practice by equipping them with the tools that help them in offering tailored neutering advice to pet owners."
https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/neutering-of-cats-and-dogs/
The awards celebrate talented veterinary professionals who are going above and beyond for their patients and clients, supporting wellbeing and positive workplace culture, driving positive change across sustainability, delivering inspirational leadership and mentoring, and pushing the boundaries of veterinary science.
The winners will be announced at a special awards dinner at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Thursday 11 June 2026, as part of BVA Live.
BVA President Dr Rob Williams MRCVS said: "Our new BVA Awards event is a fantastic opportunity to shine a light on our outstanding vets and veterinary teams.
"If you know an inspirational vet or vet team who always goes the extra mile, this is your chance to nominate them and give them the recognition they deserve.”
The Awards:
The nomination deadline is 16 March 2026.
https://www.bva.co.uk/membership/bva-awards-2026/
Leah won the award for her extraordinary dedication, compassion, unwavering devotion to her patients and professionalism in all aspects of her work, both in practice and outside it.
After graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 2021, Leah began working as a mixed practice vet at Flett and Carmichael Veterinary Surgeons in Orkney, where she always goes the extra mile for her patients, whether within her practice or out and about in the Orkney countryside and coastline.
She is involved with multiple charities outside of work, becoming an Orkney Nature Festival trustee, a British Divers Marine Life Rescue (BDMLR) medic and Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme volunteer.
Her involvement is not confined to daylight hours or predictable situations as she frequently responds to emergency call-outs for seals, porpoise or dolphins at all hours, often in challenging conditions.
It is not uncommon for her to be found on windswept beaches in the dead of night, providing expert care to stranded or injured marine mammals.
She has also been involved in providing first aid to stranded whales and dolphins and assisting in their re-floatation or euthanasia when the animals can’t be refloated due to illness and also assisted with 37 pilot whale postmortems on Sanday, Orkney, in 2024 after the most significant mass stranding event in the UK in the last 100 years.
Leah said: “I am very humbled to even be nominated, let alone win this award, especially when I know how many amazing and talented young vets there are in the UK.
"I truly do love the work that I do, island vetting really is unique and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to help make a difference.”
Rachel Dean won her award for her significant contribution to clinical practice and veterinary education.
Since graduating from the University of Glasgow, she has worked in mixed, dairy and small animal general practice in the private, charity and academic sectors.
"She is passionate about veterinary healthcare and is a recognised international leader of evidence-based veterinary medicine and encourages authentic collective clinical leadership and progressing care through developing professional connections, research, innovation, quality improvement and professional development.
BVA President Rob Williams said: “Rachel's work on evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM), including founding the Centre for Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine at University of Nottingham’s School of Veterinary Medicine, has been truly pioneering and she is an impressive educator, having delivered education and mentoring in the fields of feline and shelter medicine.”
Andrew Cunningham won his award for his exceptional contributions to the advancement of veterinary medicine and the field of wildlife veterinary science.
Andrew is currently Deputy Director of Science at ZSL, where he has worked in various roles since 1988.
He has led several national and international, multi-disciplinary wildlife disease research projects investigating the emergence, spread, impact and mitigation of disease threats to wildlife conservation, understanding the role of anthropogenic environmental change on wildlife disease emergence.
His large body of original, high-quality research has had major impacts across conservation biology, veterinary science and public health, informing and influencing the policies of governments, intergovernmental organisations and NGOs.
Polly Compston received her award for her outstanding contribution to animal health and welfare on a global scale.
After graduating from Edinburgh Vet School, Polly worked in mixed and small animal practice before completing a residency in clinical research at Rossdales Equine Hospital alongside an MSc in Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health.
She went on to work in research for an NGO, developing an evidence base for animal welfare interventions across Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, and later completed a PhD on the economic and social drivers of foot-and-mouth disease control in Kenya.
She currently has two roles, one as Veterinary Head of Outbreak Central Services at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), leading licensing, tracing and surveillance teams in the UK’s response to notifiable disease outbreaks, and also as a Technical Lead at EuFMD supporting international efforts for improved transboundary livestock disease control.
Finally, Pet People Vets, 387 Vets and Brooke Action for Working Horses and Donkeys all won a Wellbeing Award for going above and beyond to support staff wellbeing.
Congratulations to one and all!
"Great Workplaces: Raising the Bar (Elevating Skills, Culture, and Leadership)" is a series of four in-depth conversations that will tackle themes that have an impact on recruitment and retention, uncovered through the Great Workplaces by BVA accreditation scheme.
All members of the profession are welcome to join the 50-minute webinar, which will be hosted by Rob Williams, BVA President, and Dr. Kirsten Ronngren, ManyPets Consulting Veterinarian & Vet Engagement Lead.
Rob said: “Effective mentorship is the backbone of any thriving veterinary workplace.
"Whether you’re guiding others or building your own skills, strong mentoring relationships can make all the difference.
"We hope colleagues find the webinars engaging and informative. In our first session, we’ll explore the power of mentoring and work through common gaps revealed by the Great Workplaces by BVA accreditation scheme.”
https://mybva.bva.co.uk/ems-event-calendar/mentoring-matters.html
A 2001 graduate of University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine with an RCVS Certificate in Small Animal Surgery, Rob has worked for many years in general and referral practice and as clinical director of a large hospital in York.
He is also a qualified HR professional and holds an MBA from York Business School.
Since 2016, Rob has worked with VetPartners in management roles, with a focus on graduate programmes management, colleague engagement and career development.
In a career spanning almost 25 years, Dr Williams has also been actively involved with veterinary and academic organisations in various voluntary roles, including as a member of BVA’s Member Benefits Committee for five years; board member for the Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons; member of the RCVS VetGDP sub-committee; and member of the University of York Animal Welfare and Ethical Review Body.
He is currently a member of the advisory board at York Business School.
The advice includes buying healthier breeds, not overfeeding, and reducing the amount of toys and accessories people buy for their pet.
BVA members can download other resources to help start conversations with clients, including a poster, which can be displayed in practice, and social media graphics.
British Veterinary Association Senior Vice President Dr Anna Judson said: “We know many vets are concerned about the role the veterinary profession has in protecting the planet, with our Voice of the Veterinary Profession statistics showing 68% of vets feel that vets are either very responsible or quite responsible for prioritising and leading on environmental issues.
"It’s also clear that many pet owners are becoming more interested in being more sustainable and the impact of their pets on the world.
"This new resource aims to support vets to have those conversations with clients and inspire them to become more sustainable pet owners, right from the moment of choosing what pet to welcome into their family.”
https://www.bva.co.uk/resources-support/client-guides/pet-sustainability
The BVA is calling on the UK Government to urgently develop a coherent, risk-based national strategy to close the gaps in border biosecurity and protect the UK from devastating diseases like African swine fever and foot-and-mouth disease.
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee report makes for sobering reading.
It reveals a lack of adequate border control enforcement when it comes to personal imports of meat and other products of animal origin, weak intelligence networks, poor Government interdepartmental working and an absence of a national strategy to manage the significant animal disease and public health risks posed by potentially contaminated products.
The report raises particular concerns about funding cuts for Official Vets at Dover, alongside ministerial comments that appear to dismiss the role of vets in protecting biosecurity.
British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Rob Williams said: “This report is deeply concerning, exposing serious gaps in border enforcement and warning that large amounts of illegal and potentially contaminated meat continue to enter the UK and make their way on to our plates.
"We cannot know where this meat has come from or if it meets the UK’s high animal welfare and biosecurity standards, and without appropriate checks, we can’t stop illegal meat imports at the border.
"This could have catastrophic and costly impacts on the UK’s food security, public health, and animal health and welfare through the import of exotic animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease.
"The findings from this report, coupled with the recent National Audit Office report on animal disease resilience, should act as a wake-up call to Government to urgently deliver a coherent and properly resourced national strategy to tackle illegal meat imports and safeguard the UK’s biosecurity.
“Government vets play a critical role in protecting the nation’s biosecurity but can only do their jobs effectively if they are supported by effective systems.
"Currently, veterinary capacity required to perform checks remains a concern.
"As part of a national action plan, we would like to see better support for vets through a data-driven and risk-based system that is fit for purpose.
"This should also include adequate resources for Official Vets and the agencies tasked with keeping borders secure, which is why we want to see the proposed 70% cuts to Dover Port's budget for spot checks on animal products reversed.”
committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/135824/html/
Photo: www.depositphotos.com
Giles is the professor of molecular neuroendocrinology at the Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit and scientific director of the Genomics/Transcriptomics Core at the University of Cambridge.
He is a well-known broadcaster thanks to his appearances on programmes such as BBC’s ‘Horizon’ and ‘Trust me, I’m a Doctor’ and author of two books: Gene Eating: The Story Of Human Appetite and Why Calories Don't Count.
He also hosts the podcast Dr Giles Yeo Chews The Fat.
Giles and his colleagues at the University of Cambridge recently identified a genetic mutation in Labrador retrievers that significantly increases their propensity for obesity and food motivation.
This mutation, a 14-base pair deletion in the POMC gene, disrupts the production of beta-MSH and beta-endorphin, hormones involved in regulating appetite and energy balance.
The study found this mutation is present in about 25% of Labradors and 66% of flat-coated retrievers, and is also more common in assistance dogs than pet Labradors.
Giles' lecture: "The genetics of obesity: Can an old dog teach us new tricks?" will lay out the evidence for a genetic basis to body weight and explore the role of the leptin-melanocortin pathway in both human and dog obesity, and its conservation through evolution.
Giles said: “It is clear that the cause of obesity is a result of eating more than you burn.
"It is physics.
"What is more complex to answer is why some people eat more than others?
"Differences in our genetic make-up mean some of us are slightly more hungry all the time and so eat more than others.
"I will highlight the fat-sensing 'leptin-melanocortin' pathway, as a key appetite control circuit.
"Not only is the pathway conserved in all mammals and many higher vertebrates, but genetic disruption of the pathway as an evolutionary strategy to influence feeding behaviour has also been conserved. In contrast to the prevailing view, obesity is not a choice.
"People who are obese are not bad or lazy; rather, they are fighting their biology.”
British Veterinary Association President Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “I’m sure our BVA Congress delegates will appreciate both Dr Yeo’s scientific knowledge and his dynamic delivery style and I’m personally looking forward to learning more about this exciting topic.”
https://london.vetshow.com
The library currently has 28 on-demand recordings, covering a range of sessions on three main themes: people, planet and animals.
They include: ‘Managing emotions in stressful situation’ and ‘Shaping practice culture as a team’, and BVA Congress recordings, such as "Is neutering dogs doing more harm than good?".
BVA President Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “All veterinary professionals will understand the crucial role that CPD plays in maintaining and enhancing our knowledge and skills.
"Whether you're catching up on missed sessions or looking to revisit key topics, the new BVA CPD library can help members stay up to date throughout your career.”
https://mybva.bva.co.uk/cpd-library.html
Apparently the commonly reported use of AI technology was for radiography diagnostics and reporting (44%), followed by laboratory diagnostics and reporting (27%), communications with clients (11%) or to assist with administrative work (7%).
Vets were asked about the benefits and risks of using AI technology in their work.
The most common reported benefit was data interpretation (55%), followed by diagnostic testing (49%), saving time more generally (40%) and for routine admin tasks or note taking (38%).
The most commonly reported risks of AI were the possibility that results are interpreted without context (83%) or that AI is used incorrectly, without follow up checks (82%).
The other reported risks were an overreliance on AI undermining human skills (68%) and a lack of data protection (25%).
BVA Junior Vice President Rob Williams said: “It’s fascinating to see how many vet teams are already using AI technology in their daily work.
"The massive boom in the use of these tools represents an exciting opportunity for the profession, particularly around diagnostics and interpreting large data sets.
"But as well as benefits there are clear challenges and risks, so this timely session is a great opportunity to address some of the ethical questions around the use of technology when it comes to treating animals and ensuring their welfare.
"It’s set to be an interesting debate, with the chance for delegates to pose questions to our incredibly knowledgeable panel, and I hope many of you will join us to add your voice to the discussion.”
On the AI discussion panel at BVA Live will be: Nick Jackson, Director, Veterinary Surgeon, Council Member - NGJ Locum Ltd, Ben O'Halloran, Policy Officer - BVA and Nicolò Frisiani, Co-founder and CEO - Lupa Pets.
The award, which is sponsored by Zoetis, celebrates vets in the first eight years of their career who have shown outstanding care, dedication or success.
Nominees may have delivered exceptional care to a patient, made a positive contribution to their community or the wider veterinary profession, or shown their dedication to a cause.
Early career vets who are keen to demonstrate their ambition and dedication to the profession can also self-nominate for the award.
British Veterinary Association President Elizabeth Mullineaux said: “We know how hard all vets work to care for the UK’s animals and to protect both human and animal health and welfare.
"Our young and early career vets deserve to have their incredible work recognised and this award is an opportunity to highlight their compassion, skills and positive contribution to the profession.”
The winner will be announced on Thursday 16th October 2025 at the BVA Awards in London, where they will be awarded a prize package which includes £1,000, a year of free BVA membership and mentoring/engagement opportunity with Zoetis.
The deadline for entries is 9am on Monday 4th August 2025.
www.bva.co.uk/YVOTY
Photo: Last year's winner, David Charles.
Great Workplaces by BVA is an accreditation scheme designed to recognise and reward positive workplace culture in both clinical and non-clinical veterinary workplaces.
The first webinar: 'How to have more good days at work' will be hosted by BVA Junior Vice President, Rob Williams (pictured), and VDS Training’s Carolyne Crowe.
The speakers will discuss strategies to support physical and psychological wellbeing at work and explore how to create a safe and inclusive team environment that supports everyone's needs.
Rob said: “This webinar series is designed to help your team identify practical steps to improve your veterinary workplace and create a working environment that allows the whole team to thrive.
"We’ll be diving into the first session with lots of practical tips and strategies and I hope to see many of you there.”
https://www.bva.co.uk/great-workplaces
https://mybva.bva.co.uk/ems-event-calendar/building-great-workplaces-how-to-have-more-good-days-at-work.html
The report comes on the back of a survey by the association which found that 93% of vets say sustainability is important to them.
The BVA says the report aims to break down the challenge that both teams and individuals face in working towards net zero emissions.
It explains the impact of climate change, what the veterinary profession’s role is in tackling it and why the BVA thinks it is so important that the profession plays its part.
The report also includes resources and showcases the ways real veterinary workplaces are taking action to reduce their impact on the environment.
British Veterinary Association Senior Vice President Anna Judson said: “Many veterinary professionals have long been concerned about the impact the sector is having on the environment, and many are already taking action to mitigate this.
"However, there is still more work to do.
"Our vision is that by 2050 the profession will have adapted to support the UK’s net zero targets; is trusted on mitigating its own carbon footprint; and is a leading advocate for environmental sustainability.
"This new report is providing vet teams with the tools and the inspiration to do their bit, because small changes add-up to make a big difference.”
There'll be a session on the subject at the London Vet Show this year, chaired by Anna Judson, with panelists Ed Bailey, Clinical Director and Sustainability Lead at George Farm Vets, Laura Binnie, Sustainability Lead at Paragon Veterinary Group and James Bevan, Planetary Health Senior Teaching Fellow Public Health Registrar, University of Southampton.
"Practice what you preach: Reaching net zero is a team effort" will be held at 10.45am - 11.45am on 14 November in the BVA Congress Theatre.
www.bva.co.uk/net-zero-report
The association says that its research has found that 94% of companion animal vets say they have clients who feed a raw diet, 42% who feed meat-free diets and 29% who feed insect-protein in place of meat.
However, 6 in 10 vets are unsure how many of the cats and dogs they see are fed meat-free diets.
In a new policy position, the BVA is now urging vets to talk to all cat and dog owners about what they feed their pet, and record nutritional histories and any resulting issues on their practice systems.
BVA President Anna Judson said: “We know that owners of cats and dogs are increasingly drawn to pet diets that reflect their own personal values and lifestyle choices, and this is leading to a surge in alternative approaches to pet food.
"We support owners making informed choices about what to feed their pets, but they must be aware that these choices play a pivotal role in the health of the animal and can also have a wider impact on human health and environmental sustainability.
“One of the key issues in these conversations is the lack of long-term, evidence-based research.
"If vet teams are to maintain our position as the ‘trusted voice’ in these conversations, it’s vital that we ask the right questions and also record as much data as possible so that we can understand the long-term impact of some of these newer diets.”
The BVA says its new policy position is not trying to dictate the ‘best’ diet for individual pets but to support pet owners in meeting their pets’ nutritional needs as well as meeting their own lifestyle choices.
The BVA is also recommending changes to veterinary education to include a new emphasis on the importance of nutrition in day one competencies for vets and nurses, and improved awareness of the need for supportive conversations with animal owners.
To support the profession, the BVA says it will create a new public facing resource and lobby for better labelling of pet food and better labelling and traceability of the animal by-products that represent one of the major sources of protein in many cat and dog foods.
Anna added: “The issues around pet food are complex and with so much information available to pet owners from breeders, friends, online forums and other sources, we want to support all members of the vet team to feel fully confident in guiding their clients through dietary decisions.
"We hope that these recommendations and our upcoming resources will improve the information available to both clients and vets, supporting owners to make healthy, informed choices for their pets.”
https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/diet-choices-for-cats-and-dogs
The BVA says that securing 'Great Workplaces' will be a collaborative assessment process.
Each workplace will have a dedicated, experienced accreditor from a veterinary background, who will work with leadership teams and employees to gather a full picture of their workplace.
Workplaces will be assessed in four main areas: health and wellbeing, leadership and management, culture, and learning and development.
Successful workplaces will achieve either gold or silver accreditation.
Those that don’t meet the criteria yet will be recognised as ‘working towards’ accreditation and will be supported to make the changes needed to achieve success next time around.
Successful workplaces will hold their accreditation for three years and at the end of that period they will be required to undergo reassessment to retain their accredited status.
BVA President Anna Judson said: “As well as attracting more people to join our veterinary profession, ensuring we retain the incredible talent we already have is critical to building a resilient and sustainable veterinary workforce.
"Positive workplace culture is central to achieving this and Great Workplaces by BVA is an innovative new approach that puts the well-being of vet teams front and centre.
"The knock-on impact will be good for vets and vet practices, good for clients and ultimately, good for animal welfare.
Photo: BVA
“Workplaces accredited under this new scheme, will be seen as employers of choice, attracting top talent who seek fulfilling careers and a healthy work-life balance.
"For existing team members, working in a recognised Great Workplace could enhance job satisfaction.”
A number of workplaces have already undertaken Great Workplaces accreditation during a series of pilots in 2023.
Two, Westport Veterinary Clinic in Linlithgow and South Moors in Devon, have become the first veterinary workplaces to receive a silver accreditation.
Fiona Leathers at Westport Veterinary Clinic, said: "At Westport Veterinary Clinic, our collaboration with the British Veterinary Association and its Great Workplaces accreditation scheme has been transformative.
"It has given us invaluable insights into how this initiative positively impacts workplace culture and employee well-being.
“The simplicity of the accreditation process and the approachable nature of BVA’s accreditors facilitated seamless integration of the scheme’s principles into our daily routines.
"The tangible impact of the Great Workplaces accreditation has been profound.
"It's fostered a more inclusive, supportive, and cohesive environment, elevating employee satisfaction and bolstering team morale significantly.
"This experience extends beyond personal growth; it solidifies our belief in cultivating healthy work cultures.”
www.bva.co.uk/great-workplaces
The BVNA Nursing stream is returning to BVA Live in 2024.
The Nursing Programme for BVA Live this year is:
British Veterinary Association President Anna Judson said: “This has been an incredibly challenging year for the profession, with the review by the Competitions and Marketing Authority (CMA) prompting increased scrutiny of the value of veterinary care.
"We know that all veterinary professionals strive to provide the best possible care for the animals they see and we hope our focus on contextualised care at BVA Live provides a timely opportunity to explore this concept in more depth and consider how it can be applied in practice to support both decision-making and communication with clients.”
https://bvalive.vetshow.com
The response offers further evidence concerning the CMA’s potential concerns, and says that voluntary measures relating to transparency of fees and ownership could be introduced before the conclusion of a market investigation.
The BVA has formed a working group to develop guidance on transparency, client choice and the value of veterinary care to support companion animal practices.
British Veterinary Association President Anna Judson, said: “We’re keen to see healthy competition and consumer choice and we recognise that some of the areas identified by the CMA would benefit from further scrutiny.
"We are already taking steps to support vet practices by developing guidance for the profession in relation to transparency of fees, transparency of ownership, prescribing and dispensing of veterinary medicines, and contextualised care.
“However, we are extremely disappointed to see the suggestion in the CMA’s report, as well as in subsequent media reporting, that veterinary professionals might prey on owners’ desire to do the best for their pets by using these circumstances as a “strategy” to promote more sophisticated or expensive treatment.
"Vets enter this high-pressure profession out of genuine care for animals and will always prioritise their health and welfare."
“We also have significant concerns about the suggestion that practices might be mandated to provide information to clients about quality or outcome-related measures.
"We do not see primary concerns about the quality of veterinary treatment and we believe such a requirement would not meaningfully support consumer choice.
"Instead, it would be extremely challenging to deliver and could significantly exacerbate many of the complex issues faced by our members, who are already under significant pressure.
There will be a panel discussion about the CMA investigation at BVA Live this year.
COMMENT
There are lots of good points made in this latest response to the CMA, if no more than a nod to the real issue here: which is the often eye-watering cost of modern veterinary care.
But it is hugely disappointing to see the BVA (and others) berating the CMA and the media for suggesting that vets might prey on owners' desire to do the best for their pet, rather than asking WHY people think that, and how can the profession regain trust.
That, surely, is the starting point here: for the profession to stop feeling sorry for itself, and instead think how it can change to meet the needs of its customers and dispel their perception of being taken for a ride.
The CMA Investigation is a bit of a red herring: the price of veterinary care is not going to be significantly changed by displaying the prices for a few standard procedures on practice websites, with greater transparency over practice ownership or with slightly cheaper prescriptions, all of which is just tinkering.
The biggest influence on the size of the client's bill is not marketplace competition, it's the vet's recommendation.
Paul Manktelow, Chief Vet at the Blue Cross has already hit the nail square on the head when he called on the profession to practise pragmatic medicine.
The BVA now alludes to this with talk in its response of 'contextualised care' - a concept which allows practitioners to offer pragmatic medicine (aka what people can afford, rather than 'gold standard'), without the judgement that it is inherently associated with).
The benefits of 'contextualised care' are well explained by Ruth Serlin at VDS Training here.
That's great, but will it be enough?
Perhaps not, because whilst someone might be happy to walk out of the car showroom with a Dacia Sandero knowing they cannot afford a Bentley, they may be less happy to accept the Dacia level of care for their beloved pet, when they watched 'Supervet' only the night before.
If that's true, then pragmatic medicine will have to be combined with all sorts of other measures, such as reviewing and reducing the cost of regulation, questioning the value of diagnostics and changing to a less 'referall' (sic) culture.
In the last four years, there has been an increase in the number of identified B. canis cases in the UK, which had previously been sporadic and isolated.
Data released by the Government shows that cases have risen from three reported before 2020 to 240 in the last three years.
Most dogs were either imported, had returned from holiday overseas, or been bred with an imported dog.
In 2022, the first UK case of dog-to-human transmission was reported, highlighting the risks to those handling and treating infected dogs and raising levels of concern within veterinary teams, although the BVA says the risk is relatively low.
The BVA, SPVS and BVNA joint policy calls on the Government to :
British Veterinary Association President Anna Judson said: “Vets are seriously concerned about the lack of adequate checks for potentially zoonotic diseases entering the country via imported dogs.
"Brucella canis is not currently considered to be widespread in the UK, so a proactive approach with an emphasis on reducing the risk of this and other worrying exotic diseases being brought into the UK is crucial.
“This is important both for the health of the UK’s dogs and the humans who care for them."
https://www.bva.co.uk/take-action/our-policies/brucella-canis
Henry won the title in recognition of his work tackling bird flu, as the outbreak of this devastating disease spread across the country this summer.
A total of 140 nominations were received for this year’s Zoetis-sponsored award, which celebrates vets who have made a significant impact in the first stages of their professional career.
The judging panel comprised BVA President Anna Judson, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) President Sue Paterson, National Veterinary Lead Ruminant and Equine at Zoetis UK Ally Ward, and last year’s award winner vet Hannah Hunt.
In addition to his work tackling bird flu, the judges also acknowledged Henry’s role in encouraging other young vets to join the poultry industry.
After graduating from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) in 2018, he began working at Crowshall Veterinary Services, Norfolk, providing dedicated consultancy and Official Veterinarian (OV) provision to the poultry/gamebird industry across Great Britain and internationally.
This has seen him working through the recent bird flu outbreaks, holding multiple OV panels, and preparing for export changes associated with Brexit.
Henry is also a mental health first aider and trustee of regional rural mental health charity You Are Not Alone (YANA), deputy rotation lead for the new RVC poultry rotation, which takes its first students in 2024, and is also co-lead of his practice green group through which he has steered his practice to the top Green accreditation for sustainability with Investors in the Environment.
In his role as external lecturer for the RVC, Henry provides opportunities to engage with avian population medicine for new members of the profession.
Henry said: “To be named BVA Young Vet of the Year is a huge honour and it means all the more having heard about the outstanding work, dedication and skills of the other two finalists.
I’m delighted that after a challenging few years the poultry sector has been highlighted tonight, as all those involved have worked tirelessly to overcome the largest animal health outbreak the UK has experienced in recent times - I hope that winning this award will encourage more young vets to consider joining us in the poultry sector.
"It’s extremely rewarding work.”
Henry was shortlisted alongside vet Rebecca Hampson, who co-founded animal welfare charity Veterinary Education Malawi, and equine vet Camilla Church, who set up her own practice, Perth Equine Vets.
BVA President Anna Judson said: “The standard of nominations this year was outstanding. It sounds cliché, but we really did have our work cut out when choosing the finalists.”
Photo: Young Vet of the Year Henry Lamb with finalists Rebecca Hampson, BVA President Anna Judson and Camilla Church.jpg
‘Is neutering dogs doing more harm than good?’ (BVA Congress Theatre, Thursday 16th November 2023 at 10.30am), will explore the latest research into the science of neutering and its impact on dog health and welfare, particularly on behaviour, and will also consider the role of non-surgical alternatives.
The session will be chaired by BVA President Dr Anna Judson, joined by:
The BVA says statistics from its Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey show that among clients who chose to neuter their dogs last year, only 6% picked non-surgical options.
Awareness of these options is low, with vets reporting that 9% of their clients had requested information about non-surgical options when considering neutering, such as sustained-release implants to suppress testosterone production in male dogs.
Among those who considered non-surgical options, clients cited the cost and need for repeat treatments as their main concerns (mentioned by 67% and 58% of vets, respectively), followed by individual variation in the effect and duration of non-surgical alternatives (22% of vets).
Anna said: “Canine neutering is a firmly established part of preventive pet healthcare in the UK, but it is also very much a live discussion within the veterinary profession, with a healthy ongoing debate around its merits and risks, based on evolving evidence.
"BVA’s survey shows low awareness among clients about all available neutering options for their pets, with only a tiny percentage choosing to go down the non-surgical route.
“Our BVA Congress discussion will offer vet professionals in small animal practice insight into the latest research on neutering, including potential longer-term impacts on a dog’s health and behaviour, and views on what that might mean for how vets discuss neutering options with clients.
"The panellists will also share useful tips on how to deal with clients’ questions about surgical and non-surgical options for their pets.”
https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/20427670/2023/193/S1
The reasons are: above average increases in veterinary salaries, advances in veterinary medicine which mean practices can now offer ever more complex but expensive treatments, veterinary practices becoming more business-focused and now charging fair prices for services that they have in the past subsidised, and the cost of providing out-of-hours care.
One reason for the increase in veterinary salaries is the fact that historically veterinary surgeons and especially nurses have been relatively badly paid, although for vets that was always mitigated by the expectation of practice ownership later in their career, something which is no longer a realistic prospect for many.
Veterinary salaries have also been driven higher by the reduction in EU vets coming to work in the UK post-Brexit, although the report shows that UK trained vets and vets from the rest of the world are starting to pick up the slack.
The BVA report says it recognises that it is 'challenging' for clients to accept that rising bills are in part because of increased salaries, but they need to increase further still, pointing to the fact that NHS consultants earn around £100K per annum after four years, whilst vets earn around half that.
The submission also points to developments in veterinary medicine and technology which allow for far better standards of care, but which come at increased cost, notably in advanced imaging, dental work and laboratory services which increasingly involves specialist input.
The BVA also highlights the fact that veterinary practices have become more business savvy, especially since the 1997 decision by the RCVS to allow people and organisations other than veterinary surgeons to own practices.
With that came an influx of business skills and a prioritisation of financial considerations.
Lastly, the report points to the ongoing burden of providing out-of-hours care.
Unlike in most European countries, British vets must provide 24 hour emergency first aid and pain relief to animals, the costs of which have increased considerably as practices which used to provide the service in house at a loss, have increasingly opted to outsource it to veterinary service providers which charge commercially realistic prices.
The submission also discusses the cost of prescriptions, noting how important it is that veterinary practices are able to charge for the time and work it takes to issue a prescription, which despite an above-inflation increase, still only costs around £18.
Finally, the BVA addressed the issue of transparency over practice ownership, saying that whilst it is not aware of any data concerning whether pet owners select a practice based on its ownership, it nevertheless "supports the principle of improved transparency of ownership to help increase customer awareness and enable consumers to make an informed choice".
British Veterinary Association President Anna Judson (pictured) said: “In our submission to the CMA, we have explained the complex challenges facing the profession, alongside highlighting the value of veterinary care.
"The CMA’s review will provide valuable insights, but it is essential that any recommendations are informed with full knowledge and understanding of today’s veterinary landscape and the pressures the profession is operating under, including workforce shortages.”
In all, the submission seems a detailed and fair representation of the reasons for increasing veterinary costs, although there is no mention of the impact of the increasing regulatory burden (such as the cascade), other than, ironically, the need for more regulation at a practice level, as well as of individuals.
It will be very interesting to see what the Competition and Market Authority concludes.
After all, there is no reason whatsoever why veterinary practices shouldn't charge a price which reflects the costs of providing the service, or that veterinary professionals should not be paid reasonably for their knowledge, skills and experience.
The problem is that as the industry has started to charge commercially viable rate for an increasingly higher standard of more advanced care, so the true cost of providing that care has become clear.
Maybe the industry is in danger of trying to sell a Rolls Royce service to marketplace of people who either can't afford or don't want to spend more than the cost of a Ford Focus.
If that is true, the only logical conclusion is that either society will have to accept that pet ownership is a luxury for a smaller group of people who can afford it, or the industry will have to adapt its offering, in other words offer a lower level of cheaper care in order that more people can experience the joys of pet ownership.
The latter of those will be ideologically challenging for a profession bound by its oath that "my constant endeavour will be to ensure the health and welfare of animals committed to my care", not to mention pet owners who often want the best that the profession can offer, despite not always having the wherewithal to pay for it.
https://www.bva.co.uk/media/5459/submission-to-cma-oct-2023.pdf
Evidence given to the Women and Equalities parliamentary committee by BUPA last year suggested that 900,000 women may have left the UK workforce in recent years as a result of menopausal symptoms.
With the veterinary profession increasingly female in composition it is hoped that the hub will support more women to stay in the profession and therefore retain their vital skills in the workforce.
Statistics from the Voice of the Veterinary Profession Spring 2023 survey showed that only 14% of vets are aware of a menopause policy at their workplace, while 46% say there is no policy and 39% are unsure.
The survey also revealed that only 59% of vets would feel confident supporting a colleague experiencing menopause.
The new menopause hub provides veterinary specific menopause content to support everyone working in practice including colleagues, managers and partners of people experiencing menopause.
BVA recently signed the Menopause Workplace Pledge – committing to take positive action to make sure everyone experiencing menopause is supported - and is now urging other veterinary employers to do the same.
British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Anna Judson, said: “We know that menopause is of growing importance to our profession, with female vets now making up more than half the workforce, and we know that issues with managing menopause symptoms prompt a significant number of women to move away from clinical work.
“As part of our Good Veterinary Workplaces campaign we’re committed to supporting all veterinary staff affected by menopause, allowing them to remain in post, and to providing relevant resources to improve employer engagement in this area.
"We urge all veterinary workplaces to sign the pledge and consider what more they could be doing to support their staff in managing menopause symptoms in the workplace.”
BVA members experiencing menopause are also eligible for 3 months free access to the Stella app, which includes a personalised plan to manage your specific symptoms, real-life coach support, menopause resources, progress tracking, and a supportive community.
Content on the Stella app is created in collaboration with a range of clinicians and healthcare professionals and goes through a rigorous fact-checking and review process.
https://www.bva.co.uk/menopause-hub