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Equine practice 'must adapt to family life'
equine vet
"Choosing to be an equine vet shouldn't go hand in hand with giving up the rest of your life."
Majority of voters want better work-life balance

Equine practice needs to become more compatible with family life, according to BEVA members who took part in a 'moral maze' debate.

During the recent BEVA Congress, 92 per cent of members said the profession should adapt to offer better work-life balance.

BEVA believes this shift in attitudes could be due in part to the changing demographics of the profession - female vets now account for 76 per cent of new graduate intakes.

New president Mark Bowen said: "I'm not surprised that 92 per cent of voters supported the motion, given the fact that the recent VetFutures survey has shown a high rate of job dissatisfaction in equine practice.

"It reiterates the importance of moving with the times to evaluate the needs of working parents and make the equine veterinary workplace more adaptable to family life."

Delegates contended that by working smarter rather than harder, it is possible to have good work-life balance and be an effective vet in a successful equine practice.

Carolyne Crowe, a veterinary coach and mentor, said: "Choosing to be an equine vet shouldn't go hand in hand with giving up the rest of your life. Allowing flexibility within job roles should result in more engagement, productivity and thus economic benefit for the practice."

Job share was cited as a possible solution. In order to meet the level of consistency demanded by clients, it was suggested two vets of equal calibre could be introduced to the client from the outset.

Members of the audience offered examples of successful job sharing, concluding that the turnover generated by part time, job share employees is often higher than their full time equivalents.

BEVA says it is working on various projects to help address the needs of members seeking a better work-life balance. Further information on other initiatives will be announced towards the end of the year.

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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.