Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

MPs urged to launch inquiry into sheep dip poisoning
OP sheep dips were banned in 1999 over fears that some farmers were being made sick by the chemicals.

Campaign group looks forward to giving evidence

MPs are being urged to launch an inquiry into concerns that people working with organophosphate (OP) sheep dip were poisoned.

OP sheep dips were banned in 1999 over fears that some farmers were being made sick by the chemicals.

Figures obtained by The Sheep Dip Sufferers Group (SDSG) earlier this year revealed there were 160 occasions where some form of ill-health occurred after dipping. 

However, only three of these cases were reported to MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) or the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

Speaking to the Farmer’s Weekly, campaign co-ordinator Tom Rigby said that the time had come for a full inquiry into the issue and that the group looks forward to giving evidence ‘as soon as possible’.

His comments follow a parliamentary question raised by Newport East MP Jessica Morden last Thursday (24 November). According to Farmers Weekly, Ms Morden told parliament that documents showed there were long-term heath effects from using sheep dip.

When she asked farming minister George Eustice if he could meet the group - as he had done in the past - he replied by saying the committee on toxicity had looked at the issue exhaustively, examining 26 different studies over a period of more than a decade.

The committee had “concluded that in the absence of acute poisoning there would not be meaningful long-term effects,” he continued.

Mr Rigby told Farmers Weekly that the response showed Mr Eustice was not taking the matter seriously.

“In any other department, to dismiss concerns about health and safety by saying the issue had been looked at exhaustively and could find no evidence of long-term effect in those who had not been affected would not be considered an adequate response,” he said. “We do not think those involved in agriculture should be treated in such a shoddy manner.”

Over the last 18 months, George Eustice had been working with the SDSG in trying to raise awareness of the issue.

In 2015, he met with farmworkers who had been affected by OP dips - the first minister to do so in over 20 years. He also helped to ensure the release of blood test results, taken by MAFF in the early 1990s.

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.