BEVA continues to go from strength to strength. But it isn’t resting on its laurels. Many
issues are looming, especially as the economic downturn continues, with double
dip recession and no growth in the national economy for several years yet. Many
practices, including my own, are using this period to regroup, streamline
costs, develop marketing strategies and generally review their position. Most
equine practices are experiencing good and bad months, but, overall, fee
income, competition from online pharmacies and competition has hit less than
envisaged. Much of this is due to improved, and more attention to, management:
from HR, forecasting, and savvy purchasing to zoning, pay-at-time and debt
control. BEVA sojourned into practice
management CPD with a two day management course, in the luxurious surroundings
of a luxury hotel in the Forest of Arden with golf, spa, wine tasting and
course dinner included. Similarly, there will be a practice management
afternoon at Congress on the Friday, a taster for partners, directors, senior
assistants, budding entrepreneurs and the increasingly specialised equine
practice managers.
As BEVA president, I attend the Congresses (well at least
the dinners and awards’ ceremonies) of our fellow BVA specialist divisions.
This includes the BVA (London, September), the BCVA (Southport, November), the
VPMA (Kenilworth, January), the BSAVA (Birmingham, April) and the SPVS (London,
May). In addition, I have attended the AAEP (Texas, November) and CEVA
(Bologna, February). BEVA immediate past president Deidre Carson had a great
trip to the Cape for SAEVA Congress. Sadly I felt it prudent to turn down the Bane
Fallon Australian equine congress invite to Brisbane in July. I would like to
thank the presidents of these Associations for their generosity and kindness
during their hectic schedule at these events. I look forward to seeing many of
them at the ICC in Birmingham in September where BEVA will host international,
specialist division and past presidents meetings – to discuss and act on the
state of our profession on a national, European and global scale.
Liaison within our small, threatened profession is
essential. Perhaps the veterinary politicians do talk too much when action is
required! BEVA officers have had joint officers’ meetings with the RCVS and the
BSAVA this spring and liaison with the BVA is frequent. Since the RCVS’s
confusing stance on “thermocautery” in their November newsletter, BEVA Council
has debated firing and we have taken our views to the RCVS. We await their
response. Similarly concerns about sports/leisure horse insurance have led to
meetings with brokers and underwriters. Detailed vet and client guidelines will
soon be available to download on the BEVA website. Insurers have often made
losses in the equine market and the enforcement of exclusions, compliance with
history submission and other policy criteria is now strict – vets, and
particularly their clients (the insured) need to be aware of this. However, the
insurers need to understand that £5,000 vets’ fees don’t go far in 2012, and
that it is not due to increased fees, but increased veterinary technology,
knowledge, capability as well as owner expectations.
Meanwhile, BEVA has submitted responses to RCVS
consultations on Specialisation, Performance Protocol, and Northern Irish ones
on the DARD equine welfare code and the (agricultural) status of the horse.
BEVA regularly meets with defra, AHVLA, the VMD. We have excellent input into
the new government “Big Society” Animal Health and Welfare Board for England
through the executive Board members (the Chief Veterinary Officer and his
deputy) and the non-execs Tim Morris and Mark Tufnell. BEVA is an observer at
the British Horse Industry Confederation, attended by David Mountford, and the
Equine Health and Welfare Strategy Group (chaired by Paul Jepson and attended
by me and Roly Owers). James Wood, Roly, Paul and myself also attend a
government/industry liaison group – the Disease Coalition. BEVA has also met
with representative of the allied musculoskeletal professionals to determine
their criteria for our “approval”. Defra is setting up a Project Board on
Exemption Orders for paraprofessionals under the Veterinary Surgeons’ Act – and
there will be steering groups on EDTs and AI technicians led by BEVA and the
BVA.
In Scotland the Rural Affairs Cabinet Secretary is
pre-consulting on livery yard, dealer, stud and sanctuary licensing and/or
registration. This has been driven by the Equine Establishment Working Party, a
joint industry group chaired by BEVA to look into such secondary legislation
enabled by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (Animal Health and Welfare Act
(Scotland) 2006). All Scottish BEVA members (over 100) have been asked to
respond directly to the pre-consultation. Inspection of “commercial” livery
yards, dealers and sanctuaries can only benefit equine welfare, in a similar
way to the current riding establishments, but with earned recognition. However,
it is unlikely that the majority of inspections will be carried out by approved
bodies’ trained inspectors on an earned recognition basis. Registration of all
equine premises is already law in Ireland and France, however, enforcement is
an issue. Although this would be of massive benefit in endemic and exotic
disease control, we must be wary of other implications.
One of the issues that is drawing a strong (and varied) response
from all BEVA members is that of death, injury and euthanasia in racing,
eventing and competition. The live TV death (from a CV catastrophe) of Beijing
Olympic champion Hickstead in the ring of an international showjumping
competition Italy, then five fatalities at Cheltenham, and, above all, the loss
of Synchronised and According to Pete in the Grand National has made this a
developing, major and complex conundrum. The Competition Catastrophe Spring Workshop
in Newbury, attended by 60 members, helped concentrate the mind on this matter.
BEVA have discussed whether a network of media-savvy vets should be developed –
like the renowned AAEP system in the USA. However, the British media are
somewhat more critical and seek controversy more than in the USA. Meanwhile the
racecourses and large event organisers are acutely aware of the importance of
media liaison and have their own systems in place. BEVA member Chris Proudman
did an excellent job at Aintree, but even the racecourses can’t dictate who the
producer puts in front of the camera. No-one is criticising the excellent,
immediate and expert veterinary care that is given to horses trackside,
ringside and afterwards. Meanwhile, BEVA and the Association of Racecourse
Veterinary Surgeons (ARVS) are jointly talking to the racecourse owners’
association, the BHA, the FEI, the BEF and others to assure them that we are
here if needed. I did a radio interview on the two horse deaths at Bramham only
this week. After presenting “a jump too far” at the BVA Animal Welfare
Foundation Forum (attended by MPs and journalists) in London last month, I
realise the level of concern with our sporting practices even within our own
profession. It is important that equine vets concentrate on what they can do –
deliver extraordinary veterinary medical care - whilst considering how this
appears to others in this multimedia, instant comment, public-sees-all world.
All these issues are significant and important to large swathes
of our membership. Daily Current Affairs sessions at Congress will include
debates on firing, insurance and the current situation with respect to
paraprofessionals. Naturally, Congress will primarily be about science – with 3 days of 5 streams of world class CPD
to educate, stimulate and inspire you – along with the biggest trade exhibition
yet and the opportunity to socialise and, indeed, party with friends and
colleagues. I look forward to seeing you there.
