"It is important that a female viewpoint is heard"
Jacqui Molyneux says she is standing for re-election to the RCVS Council for the last time.
Former RCVS president Jacqui Molyneux has been on the RCVS Council for eight years. She says this year she is standing for re-election for the final time, to allow "new blood and new ideas" on the council in future.
Last year, Jacqui became chair of the Practice Standards Committee, which is currently re-writing the Practice Standards Scheme to address criticisms that it is bureaucratic and inflexible. Jacqui hopes to be elected for a third term on the council in order to see this project through, and to educate the profession about the RCVS disciplinary system.
As a practising vet, Jacqui says she understands the problems facing members of the profession, particularly mothers trying to raise a family whilst maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Elections are now open and votes can be cast either online or using the ballot papers posted to all veterinary surgeons and nurses. Voting closes on April 25 at 5pm. If re-elected, Jacqui will take her seat on the RCVS Council in July.
1. Why did you decide to stand for re-election?
There are several projects that I became involved with during my time as president that I would like to see through. The most important one of these is the re-write of the Practice Standards. If I am re-elected this will be my last period on council. After that I think it is time for new blood and new ideas.
Also, as I will no longer be on the Preliminary Investigation Committee (PIC) I would like to spend time educating the profession about how the disciplinary system works.
2. What changes would you like to see in the profession?
I would like to see more women on council. Women have a different outlook on life and the profession and, as the profession is becoming more and more female dominated, it is important that a female viewpoint is heard. I am delighted to see many more female candidates this year.
I would also like to see less "RCVS bashing". Even a fairly robust individual like myself becomes worn down by the constant RCVS bashing on some of the professional discussion lists. Often the points that are being made are factually incorrect but, no matter how many times we councillors correct these points, the myths persist.
Personally I would like to see Practice Standards become mandatory - I don't think it is too much to ask that all practices should be operating at core standards. Currently we can only investigate a practice if there is a complaint made about them and I would like us to be able to be more pro-active in inspecting standards.
3. Where do you see the college in five years?
I think the college will be getting stronger and stronger. I think RCVS Knowledge will be a respected source of evidence based veterinary medicine (EBVM) and the RCVS itself will be recognised as setting and upholding very good standards amongst veterinary surgeons.
4. Why should our members vote for you?
I am a vet working at the coal face - I still spend more than 50 per cent of my time doing clinical work. I run a five vet small animal hospital in the north east of England. I know what problems practising vets face - I face them too. I also have raised a family whilst running a practice so, again, I know what it feels like to have all those pressures on your shoulders.
5. How can the college connect better with the veterinary profession?
I would like to see the college make more use of electronic means of communication; maybe our own discussion list so that people can ask questions directly rather than second hand. I would also like to see a campaign to allow the profession to understand the disciplinary system much better so that all those vets doing a good job can relax and stop worrying about being struck off.
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