Driving positive change for RCVS
In the run up to the RCVS Council elections, candidate Chris Sturgess spoke to MRCVSonline about his views on the future of the college, and driving positive change.
Beginning by addressing the college's aim of becoming a first-rate regulator, Mr Sturgess spoke of the importance of ensuring that "members of the RCVS do not become a casualty" of this aim.
Mr Sturgess believes that in order to achieve status as a first-rate regulator, the RCVS council should be reduced in number, from 42 to 8-10 members. He says: "A directly elected council [that] meets much more regularly than three times a year can oversee governance of the profession."
Also under discussion in recent months has been the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, which the college recently announced could see changes in the future.
Addressing the much-debated issue, Mr Sturgess said: "I do not believe the RCVS should run a practice standards scheme. The RCVS is responsible for professional conduct and indirectly professional standards through education and conduct."
He advocated the use of an independent PSS scheme, with standards set and regulated by the college. "This will allow the PSS provider to advertise the standard appropriately without any issues of bias and conflict of interest that I feel are inherent in the current system."
As part of the first-rate regulator project, RCVS CEO Nick Stace recently announced plans for positive change within the college. Commenting on the issue of improving communication, Mr Sturgess said that before this can be addressed, the college must "re-engage" with the profession.
Moving on to the subject of antimicrobial resistance and the responsibility of the vet, Mr Sturgess said resistance is a "biological fact of evolution" for which the profession is "not responsible". He added that the system for antimicrobials development is "innately flawed", as limiting their use to prevent resistance makes further product development "commercially unviable".
He added, however, that the profession is responsible for "minimising the rate and spread of such resistance by appropriate use of antibacterials." A simple way for practices to begin or continue this, he says, is utilising the PROTECT poster created by the Small Animal Medicine Society and BSAVA.
Discussing his hopes for the outcome of the election, Mr Sturgess spoke of his "passion", as well as his "broad and diverse experience" of the profession. He added: "I feel that the RCVS needs to change to meet current and future demands on the profession, and that I can help to drive this change."
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
