Wide-ranging action is needed to improve capacity and wellbeing in the veterinary profession, according to a leading vet.
In a speech at the British Veterinary Association’s (BVA) annual dinner last week, BVA President Justine Shotton said that “multi-pronged, multi-stakeholder measures” are needed to help the profession become more sustainable for those working in it.
Dr Shotton praised the efforts of veterinary teams to keep animals healthy against a backdrop of Covid, Brexit and a recent surge in pet ownership, but added that this has come “at a significant – and ultimately unsustainable – cost to the profession’s capacity and wellbeing.”
She continued: “If we are going to cope with ongoing and new or unforeseen challenges ahead, we need action now to improve recruitment, retention and rates of return to veterinary work, to ensure that all existing vets can feel supported, safe and rewarded in their careers, and to encourage future vets from all walks of life to follow in our footsteps.
“We must all work together to create a sustainable future for our workforce and the environments that surround us. This will not be easy, but I have the greatest respect for members of our wonderful profession and feel confident that we will rise up to face the challenges ahead.”
