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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 5th August 2013
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New model for veterinary services
AHVLA announces new contractual model

The Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) has announced plans to develop a new model for the supply of veterinary services.

Delivery Partners will be invited to tender for the supply of government-funded veterinary services, which will be delivered within defined areas across England and Wales.

Services will include tuberculin testing for TB in cattle, other government-funded services such as brucellosis testing and possibly new areas of work.

According to the agency, it aims to make the process more efficient for the taxpayer, the farmed livestock industry and the veterinary profession. As well as enhancing quality controls, the agency says it will market-test the price paid for such services by taxpayers.

It is estimated that 10 Delivery Partners will be needed to deliver services in England and Wales. These will then sub-contract to small and medium businesses, who will supply veterinary services to livestock businesses within the region.

A single supplier will be responsible for new methods of veterinary training to support the new model. New training approaches include a "Certificate of Competence" which can be acquired by individual vets through accredited training, and maintained through periodical validation.

Tuberculin testing is the highest value service currently carried out by Official Veterinarians (OVs) on behalf of AHVLA, with an estimated £20 million to be paid to OVs in the fiscal year 2013-14.

The new arrangements follow pressure from the EU's TB Eradication Task Force to improve the quality of TB testing in the UK.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.