Who will regulate the profession under a new Veterinary Surgeons Act?

A resolution by the Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in March has set the College on the road towards achieving regulation for all groups of people providing veterinary services, not just veterinary surgeons. Here, Mr Roger Eddy, chairman of the RCVS working party on a new Veterinary Surgeons Act, discusses some of the options being considered by the College, and seeks views on an appropriate way forward     

Veterinarian: a healthy profession?

Data of the insurance company Movir reveals that veterinarians are more often occupationally disabled compared to other occupations. The causes for this disability are: problems with the locomotion apparatus, accidents and psychological problems. Regarding the complaints of the locomotion apparatus is found that proportionally between 51 and 65 years there are more vets disabled. In absolute numbers the majority of the problems at Movir involves the farm animal vet. About the relative importance or indemnities of other insurance companies no statements can be made. The localisation of the affections are: lower back, knees, shoulders, neck and wrist/hand. Regarding the accidents is found that a lot of problems happen in the private situation, but that the high percentage of disability caused by accidents compared with other professions is probably caused by the profession related accidents. From the numbers of Movir comes forth that especially working with horses is dangerous, but there is no specific veterinarian skill very risky. Regarding the psychological problems comes forth that there are no differences between men and women. Proportionally from 46 years until 65 years there is a higher incidence of burnout then at younger ages. In absolute numbers more companion animal vets are burnout, but no statements can be made about the relative importance. There is no difference at Movir between the solopractice and the partnership regarding burnout. The professional circumstances playing a role in developing burnout are: a too high workload, problems with colleagues within the partnership, irregular shifts, organisation and management and financial management. The personal aspects of these veterinarians that play a role in burnout are: high expectations and demands, perfectionism and insecurity about the own abilities. In many of the files there were also problems within the private situation.     

Is our divided profession a profession in decline?

Richard Halliwell is concerned by criticisms of the veterinary profession in the recent select committee report on a new Veterinary Surgeons Act. He fears that a lack of leadership and division within the veterinary profession may have contributed to loss of influence, and makes some suggestions for putting that right.