There is a shortage of vets in veterinary public health.

"Innovative thinking" needed to encourage vets to take non-clinical career paths

A revised draft of the BVA's position on new veterinary schools has been presented to the council for consideration, according to a report in the Veterinary Record (Vol 175 No 14, p.348).

In October 2012, after the University of Surrey revealed it would open a new veterinary school, the BVA raised concerns about the pressure this would place on the veterinary employment market.

Since then, the University of Ulster and Aberystwyth University have announced they may also open vet schools, sparking much debate among the veterinary profession.

Although the position statement put to council at the July meeting received broad support, some amendments were suggested.

According to the report in the Vet Record, Jason Aldiss of the Veterinary Public Health Association (VPHA) said the association does not believe an increase in the number of graduates is a bad thing.

Vets should be encouraged to consider entering more non-traditional roles as there remains a shortage of vets in working in veterinary public health, he noted.

Bill McKelvey from the Veterinary Policy Group said the profession should welcome new vet schools, which may boost veterinary research capacity. Furthermore he said there is little to no evidence to support some of the predicted negative outcomes of a rise in graduate numbers.

The significant number of overseas graduates being registered with the RCVS suggests a lack of UK graduates, he added.

Mr McKelvey felt the draft statement should be more positive, although he agreed with the position on the impact rising numbers of students may have on the provision of extramural studies and the need for more innovative thinking from graduates about non-clinical career paths.

BVA past president Peter Jones said the statement must be finalised at the December council meeting.

For the full story, see the Veterinary Record, October 11, 2014, Vol 175 No 14