Transcript
Page 1: Helping to shape the future: the new BSAVA President

BSAVA NEWS

Helping to shape the future: the new BSAVA President Mrlulian Welh took up the role ofPresidnt of the BSAVA for 2001/02 at thehsociationi Annual General Meeting at Congress in April

A 1974 Liverpool graduate, Mr Wells worked in mixed practice in the Midlands for a year before spending four years in a small animal practice in Durban, South Africa. He returned to the UK in 1979 and, in 1980, set up the Copthorne Veterinary Clinic, in Shrewsbury, which is now a two-centre, entirely small animal practice, employing four veterinary surgeons and six veterinary nurses (one fully quali- fied and five at various stages of training). He is particularly proud that the clinic meets the BSAVA inspected practice standard, is an accredited Investor in People busi- ness and is currently an Approved Training and Assessment Centre.

He additionally has an Open University Business Management certificate and diploma, following a period of study in the mid- 1990s. His veterinary interests encompass the whole business of veterinary general practice and the promotion of a high standard of veterinary

Mr Jullan Wells, the BSAVA's new Presldent, dlscuues tasks for the comlng year at the Auoclatlon's Annual General MeeUng at Congress

care. He enjoys working both in the consulting room and in the operat- ing theatre.

Away from work, Mr Wells tries to spend as much time as possible in the fresh air - often walking or sailing (he successhlly completed the British Steel Challenge round the world yacht race). He is a keen

CONTENTS

Helping to shape the future: the new BSAVA President

IRG publishes its report on dispensing of POMs

Ensuring comparable standards of Veterinary education in Europe

Advice for members visiting animals susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease

Clinical study competition

Fulfllllng a llfetime ambition: a career in veterinary nursing

BSAVA launches free pet-care guide

WSAVA News BSAVA endorses WSAVA Animal Welfare Convention News from around the world

International meeting

Dlary of events

Editor: Frances Barr Dlvlrlon of Companion Animals, Unlvemlty of Brlstol, bngford House, Brlstol, North Somerset BS40 SOU

IRa publishes Its report on dlspenrlng of POMs

Just before this issue of JSAPwent to press, the Independent Review Group (IRG) published its findings on the dispensing of prescription-only medicines (POMs) for veterinary use (see BSAVA News, March 2001, pp 153154). Here, Julian Wells, the BSAVA President, interprets (using the relevant IRG numbering) the 11 ofthe 14 recommendations that apply to companion animal practice. Those of the 11 that impinge less directly are given in brackets

L All decisions to prescribe should result in a written prescription, which the client could then use to obtain the medication from the diagnosing practice, another practice or a pharmacy. 2. As L, with the addition that following reclassification of some PMLs to POM category 'C' (see below), any suitably qualified person could dispense veterinary prescriptions for these at a registered outlet. 3. Improved business practice should be employed to streamline veterinary practice pharmacies and thereby reduce costs to clients. 4. The VMD should allow the import of medicines licensed in member states, provided that they are labelied in English and distributed through the normal channels. 6. Continuing professional development for all operators of veterinary pharmacy should be compulsory. 8. The cascade should be amended to ailow generic preparations to be used, in consultation with the owner, when the cost of licensed medication threatens to compromise the animal's treatment. 9. Pet shops should be able to train empiopes to

AMTRA standard, who would then be allowed to dispense in the same way as agricultural merchants. (ll. A suggestion that the EU should review the classification of products as well as its centralised licensing procedures.) (12. A suggestion that the VMD ensures that there are no obstacles in the path of mutual recognition arrangements.) 13. A review of existing classifications of therapeutic products should take place, with account taken of the views of any group with appropriate evidence to suggest specific reclassifications. l4. A long-term move is suggested towards a system of classification involving just POM and GSL products, with POMs being divided into three categories (A, B and C).

This summary is presented without comment as the full report was yet to be digested at the time of going to press. A full comment will follow In next month's BSAVA News. The full report Is avallable on the VMD portion of the MARwebslte: www.vmd.gov.uk/ird/irdfinal.pdf

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Information on foot-and-mouth disease and disinfection is available on the MAFF website, www.maff.gov.uk

skier and also plays some golf. In addition, he is a member of Rotary International and is a local school governor.

Mr Wells has one daughter just about to qualify in oceanography from the University of Southamp- ton and another in her second year of veterinary science at Bristol. Both are outdoor types and he tries to spend as much quality time with them as their collective busy lives allow.

Mr Wells’ voluntary career in the BSAVA began at Regional Officer level. Since then he has had various committee and Congress responsi- bilities and served as Honorary Secretary of the Association between 1997 and 2000.

The new BSAVA M c e r team after thelr election at the AQM: (from left) Dr Freda Scott-Park (Junlor WcbPresldent), Mn Lynn Turner (Senlor VlcePresldent), Mr Julian Wells (President), Dr Rlchard Harvey (Presldent-Elect), and Ms Judith Joyce (Honorary Treasurer). Dr Camel Mooney, the Honorary Secretary, was unable to attend the meetlng

He hopes that his many years works and looks forward to playing of service to the BSAVA will a part in shaping the future provide sufficient depth for him at what is an exciting time in the to understand how the Association development of the profession.

Ensuring comparable standards of veterinary education in Europe RESPONSIBILITY for ensuring Advisory Committee on Veterinary ACVT is dead but, in its dying comparability of veterinary educa- Training (ACVT), an off-shoot moments, it managed to shift its tion throughout the European of the European Commission. responsibility to the European Union (EU) used to lie with the To all intents and purposes, the Association of Establishments of

Veterinary Education (EAEVE, or ‘the Deans’ Club‘), writes Stephen

for members animals Ware. It is the EAEVE which, together with support from the Federation of Veterinarians of to wnbmouth disease

Mr John Matthews, of the State Veterinary Service, detaihprecautions that should be exercised when visiting anirnah swceptible to FMD

BSAVA members may be asked to visit animals susceptible to foot- and-mouth disease (FMD). These

with the FMD virus without show- ing any clinical signs of disease, and animals which have been exposed to

include the obvious farm species, such as cattle and sheep, but could also include pot-bellied pigs, pygmy goats, llamas and so on.

It is essential during an outbreak of FMD, and for some considerable time afterwards, that members take every precaution to avoid the possible transmission of the disease to or among susceptible species. This means that whenever making home visits, protective clothing and boots must be worn and these, along with

the virus could remain carriers and infect other animals for nine months or more. Cattle have been known to remain carriers for over two years.

Members should also remind clients that all owners of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs are required by law to register with their local MAFF Animal Health Division Office. This applies even if only one or two animals are kept as pets.

Hedgehogs are susceptible to FMD. In infected areas, euthanasia -

equipment and vehicles, must be disinfected with a MAFF-approved disinfectant on leaving the premises. If you cannot meet these require- ments, you should rehse to visit.

Sheep and goats may be aRected

of sick animals should be consid- ered to prevent possible disease transmission, and hedgehogs should never be released if there is any danger of infecting other hedgehogs or susceptible animals.

Europe, now runs a system of visitations to all the veterinary schools of the EU as well as to some schools in those countries which may soon accede to membership of the Union; in all about 75 schools.

Inspection team Between eight and 10 veterinary schools are visited each year by an international team of ‘experts’ covering basic sciences, clinical sci- ence, animal production and food hygiene. A coordinator and rappor- teur complete the team and it is the coordinator‘s job to organise the system of visits, usually starting over a year in advance. Clinical sci- ences are covered by two visitors, one from academia and the other a practitioner, who have complemen- tary knowledge of large and small animal topics. It is generally acknowledged that the presence of a

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