“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" - Dr Justine Shotton.

President Justine Shotton speaks at the association's Annual Dinner. 

British Veterinary Association (BVA) president Justine Shotton has urged immediate action to improve recruitment and retention in the profession and enable it to become more sustainable ‘for our workforce and the environments that surround us’.

Speaking at the association’s Annual Dinner in Westminster on Wednesday (16 March), Dr Shotton championed the efforts of veterinary teams to keep animals healthy and protect public health against the backdrop of multiple pressures.

She said that Brexit, COVID-19 and the rise in pet ownership has ‘been an incredibly challenging time', but warned that it has come at a significant cost to the profession’s capacity and wellbeing.

“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,” she said.

Around 80 guests were in attendance at the BVA’s annual dinner, including the UK’s chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss, parliamentarians and key representatives from animal health and welfare organisations.

During her speech, Dr Shotton called on governments, animal owners and vets to take a range of actions to help create a “flexible, resilient and future-proofed workforce”. Such actions include asking the government to ensure that new vet schools and course places are funded adequately and to remind animal owners to “Respect Your Vet”.

She also welcomed the government’s recent commitment to address a range of animal health and welfare issues through the Kept Animals Bill and new laws on animal sentience. Acknowledging the urgent need to introduce the legislation, she said: 

“We’re well aware that other events are rightly and understandably taking parliamentary priority at the moment, but I do want to make a plea to government to do what they can to get these crucial and long-awaited pieces of legislation over the line in time for the Queen’s Speech.

“Given the strength of feeling and – in the case of sentience – the length of the wait, we owe it to billions of animals to seize the chance to protect them in law and reassert the UK’s gold standards on welfare.” 

Dr Shotton also spoke about the rise in avian flu cases across the UK, applauding vets or their role in mitigating against disease outbreaks, and highlighted some significant campaign wins in the past year, such as successfully lobbying the government on ear cropping. 

She concluded her speech by thanking BVA staff, members and all stakeholders for all their support, and recognising that the year had been punctuated by “continued challenges and uncertainty for the veterinary profession.” 

Reflecting on her presidential year, she said: “I feel that my theme of sustainability rings truer than ever. 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.”