Veterinary profession concerned at decision

Following a wave of criticism after the announcement of a new veterinary school, the University of Surrey has defended its plans.

Many members of the veterinary profession, including the British Veterinary Association (BVA), last week voiced their concern at the plans for the new school of veterinary medicine, which is due to admit its first students in 2014.

Peter Jones, President of the BVA, said: "We are already seeing an increasing intake of students at the existing veterinary schools. Another veterinary course will place even more graduates on to the veterinary employment market, putting significant pressure on the employment prospects of individual graduates."

However, Lisa Roberts, dean of Surrey University's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences where the vet school will be, has said that a repot from the RCVS revealed the opposite. The report was an analysis of the veterinary profession for the migration advisory committee, published in October 2012, which "stated there will be a shortfall of 422 vets per year, plus or minus 100 or so."

Ms Roberts added: "We also know there is still a shortage of vets entering specialist areas such as pathology, livestock medicine, food security and research. Moreover the Surrey programme aims to open up the diversity of careers available to veterinary medicine graduates through the distinctiveness in our curriculum and through highlighting alternative careers through our partners such as the Pirbright Institute, AHVLA and the VMD."