Concerns Over Future Vet Lab Changes
The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) has confirmed that its laboratory work is to be delivered from fewer locations.
This follows on from proposals which were put forward at the start of the month, outlining the closure of eight Defra labs to save up to £2.4 million a year.
Laboratory services involving testing, research and development work are currently delivered by scientists based at sixteen sites across Britain. In the future, work undertaken at eight of the locations will transfer to other AHVLA laboratories over two phases.
Carl Padgett, President of the BVA, acknowledged "the very difficult task AHVLA is undertaking to find significant budget savings and more efficient ways of working," but he also expressed his concern at the move.
He said: "At our recent Council meeting and annual Congress, we heard the concerns of our members loud and clear. Although phases one and two will not include veterinary redundancies the loss of scientific colleagues and their expertise will have a knock-on effect."
Phase one will see the redistribution of work from the labs at Thirsk, Truro and Langford, which will be completed by the end of March next year.
Phase two will be completed by 31st March 2013, and the labs at Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Luddington, Preston and Winchester will be spread amongst the remaining laboratories at Bury St Edmunds, Lasswade, Newcastle, Penrith, Shrewsbury, Starcross, Sutton Bonington and Weybridge.
The AHVLA has announced that the changes will not affect the location of post mortem (PM) facilities, the activities currently undertaken by the veterinary investigation officers, or the surveillance programme.
However, Carl Padgett emphasised that the announcement "raises many questions about the provision of services and the future of Britain's surveillance network."
He added: "The future of the AHVLA regional laboratories remains uncertain and the BVA joins with BCVA in reminding members who wish to retain their local lab to 'use it or lose it'. AHVLA will need to see a strong business case for keeping the labs in the longer term."
To read the AHVLA news release, click here.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
