How many vets do we need?
Professor the Lord Trees speaking at BVA Congress
On the second day of BVA Congress, which is being held at London Vet Show, a debate has been held to thrash out opinions on the rising number of veterinary students.
Christopher Ogden, senior vice-president of the Association of Veterinary Students (AVS), opened the debate against more vet schools.
Mr Ogden raised concerns that where new vet schools open over a relatively short period of time, there is the potential for declining teaching standards due to a lack of professors.
Waiting lists for EMS placements, he added, can extend as far as 12 months, and are likely to get longer with the opening of a vet school at the University of Surrey in 2014.
A recent survey by the RCVS was cited, which found that it was taking graduates slightly longer to find a job than in previous years, and that there had been a slight rise in the number of respondents who left their first job after a relatively short time.
Mr Ogden voiced the concern that if more graduates are forced into non-clinical roles, job satisfaction may decline resulting in wellbeing issues.
Professor the Lord Trees, however, argued that the debate is largely "pointless" as there is little that can be done to change the growing number of vet students. Therefore he asserts that the profession should look for the opportunities, as well as the threats.
He noted that as many vets from overseas are looking for work as those being trained within the UK, which is not something that the government, RCVS or any other organisation can change.
Commenting on the issue of EMS placements, he argued that there are sufficient opportunities, but co-ordination could be improved.
As the debate opened up to delegates, BVA president Robin Hargreaves voiced concerns that veterinary graduates are not valued enough by employers, which he feels is reflected in salary dips.
It was also debated that more could be done to raise awareness of the other employment options after a veterinary degree, to give potential students a greater understanding of the possibilities.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
