Embracing and adapting to change

I HAVE always believed that the time to hang up my stethoscope would be when I thought I had nothing more to learn or when I could not embrace and adapt to change. Fortunately I have not yet reached that point!

Change, or even the threat of change, necessitates a close examination of the way one works clinically and professionally. One has to consider any impact there might be on one’s business or indeed on other areas of the profession.

The veterinary profession has recently been subjected to scrutiny under the auspices of the Government’s Independent Review Group (IRG). While this started as an initiative under the ‘Action plan for farming, it soon became clear that the working practices of both large and small animal practice would be examined and, in addition, it appeared as if the group had extended their remit to include undergraduate education and the classification of medicines.

In order to answer the questions posed by the IRG, the BSAVA had to consider the structure of small animal veterinary practice in the UK, the pricing structures of small animal practice, the benefits to the consumer and the patient of the current ‘one-stop shop‘ and the classification of medicinal products. Having considered this, it was then important to look at how any potential change could and would affect animal health and welfare, the safety of medicines, consumer interests and the economics of practice.

this issue ofJSAPgoes to press). It is likely that the privilege to dispense will not have been removed, but it is not known what changes the group will have recommended.

One of the benefits from this whole exercise, involving the preparation of the written submission and providing evidence at the oral submissions and workshops, has been the increased cooperation between species divisions and the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and understanding

The IRG will not have reported until the end of March (after

more fully the factors affecting those involved in other veterinary fields. This process has built on the cooperation developed within the Practitioners’ Medicines Liaison Group that was initiated, and is facilitated, by the BSAVA, and which provides a forum for representatives of the main species divisions, SPVS, the Union of European Veterinary Practitioners, RCVS and BVA to discuss matters that affect either individual groups or all veterinary practitioners.

Change, however, is not confined to those of us in practice. Universities have experienced and are experiencing considerable change, not least in the funding of clinical research. While government funding has decreased, other sources are eagerly sought. There is increased involvement of commercial companies, from whish funding is very welcome, but which obviously have an interest in the field and nature of the studies carried out. If a study fs not of commercial value there is a danger that, with the current trend of decline in funding, some research will not be carried out at all. Petsavers, the BSAVA’s own grant-awarding arm, is an important source of independent funding for clinical studies. The fund needs to grow in order to provide for the future. BSAVA members need to support it, not only for the direct benefits from the results of those studies but also for the many indirect benefits; the recipients of Petsavers’ small grants/residencies/PhD awards are often those who become contributors to the BSAVA manuals, speak at Congress and CE Courses and submit papers to thejSAP. If we value the work of Petsavers then we as an Association must be prepared to continue to support it and to increase our support for it. We should remember that our remit is ‘to foster and promote high scientific and educational standards of small animal medicine and surgery in practice, teaching and research and the publication of results therein.’

Lynn Turner BSAVA President

JOURNAL OF SMALL ANIMAL PRACTICE VOL 42 APRIL 2001