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Increasing number of vets working part-time, survey finds
Over a quarter of veterinary surgeons are now working part-time.
This year’s Survey of the Veterinary Profession has been published.

The percentage of veterinary surgeons working part-time is increasing, the latest Survey of the Veterinary Profession from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has revealed.

This year’s survey showed that the figure has grown to 27 per cent. This compares to 23 per cent in the 2019 survey and 19 per cent in the 2014 survey.

The number has increased for both men and women working in the profession. According to the survey, 34 per cent of female veterinary surgeons now work part-time, while 17 per cent of male veterinary surgeons also do so.

The statistics are among a number of key findings from the survey, which has been carried out by the Institute for Employment Studies on behalf of the RCVS to provide information on the state of the profession and help inform the college’s next Strategic Plan. A total of 6,987 responses were received from veterinary surgeons.

The survey also found that there was an increase in the percentage of veterinary surgeons who graduated in the UK compared to the previous survey, with the figure rising from 64 per cent in 2019 to 73 per cent this year.

On issues facing the profession, there was a rise in the number of veterinary surgeons who saw the affordability of veterinary care as one of the top three issues. The other two issues that made the top three were stress levels and client expectations.

The survey also found that 34 per cent of respondents said they had been harassed or bullied by clients in the last 12 months.

A report of the findings of the survey has been published alongside a report on the Survey of the Veterinary Nursing Profession.

Lizzie Lockett, RCVS chief executive officer, said: “We look forward now to taking some of the key learnings and suggestions forward to our next Strategic Plan which we are in the process of finalising and will publish early in 2025.”

The full report can be read here.

Image © Shutterstock

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Applications open for MMI research grants

News Story 1
 RCVS' Mind Matters Initiative (MMI) has launched round two of its veterinary mental health research grants.

Researchers have until 11.59pm on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 to apply for a grant for research which reflects MMI's 2025 focus areas.

Only one Impact Grant was awarded last year, and so this year there are two Discovery Grants and one Impact Grants available. Each Discovery Grant is worth £5,000 and the Impact Grant is worth £15,000.

For more information or to apply, email researchgrants@rcvs.org.uk to contact the MMI team.

 

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News Shorts
Germany livestock import ban lifted

The UK government has amended its ban on the import of livestock, meat and dairy products from Germany.

Defra said the decision follows 'rigorous technical assessment' of the measures applied and the current situation. "If the situation changes, we will not hesitate to take necessary action in response to the FMD outbreaks in the European Union to protect our domestic biosecurity," it said.

The ban was implemented in January following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) near Berlin. Personal imports of meat, milk and dairy products will remain in place at a country level.