70% Of Calls Made To Out-Of-Hours Services Are Unnecessary

Research by VetSurgeon and Vetnurse has found that almost 70% of out-of-hours calls are ‘unnecessary’. 
In the study, 475 Vets and VN’s were quizzed on what the subject of their last out-of-hours call was. Only 28.2% stated that the last out-of-hour call they received was a genuine emergency. The remaining 64.8% stated that the last call they received could have been dealt with in practice- with 6.9% saying that the last call they got didn’t even warrant a visit.  
Richard Casey, president of the VMG, said that pointless out-of-hours calls were contributing to a wider culture of burnout within the profession. 
‘It’s likely that this problem is with us to stay as we’re increasingly living in an ‘always-on world’. Managing it successfully is essential for your team’s work-life balance and also for client retention as, if their expectations are changing and you are not keeping up, they will eventually look elsewhere.’
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RCVS Celebrates First-Ever All-Female Presidential Team

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has welcomed its first-ever all-female president team. 
The organization, founded in 1844, has made great strides in terms of diversity and inclusion. Kate Richard (RCVS president), Melissa Donald (Junior Vice-President), and Mandisa Greene (Senior Vice-President) have committed to help tackle issues surrounding diversity, burnout, and recruitment within the profession.
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Australian Vet Passes Away After ‘Campaign Of Abuse’ By Client 

An Australian vet and fitness model has sadly taken her own life after receiving a torrent of abuse by a client. 
Sophie Putland, a 33-year old from Melbourne, had been struggling with her mental health after the city went into its sixth lockdown. 
Claire MacRae, a friend of Dr. Putland told the Daily Mail that Dr. Putland had been dealing with ‘a particularly vindictive complainant’ who had put her under a great deal of stress.
‘Having a board complaint is incredibly stressful, and so easy for a disgruntled client to lodge.’ 
Tributes have been pouring in online to commemorate the veterinarian, who inspired many through her fitness account on social media.
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‘I Was Crying On the Way To Work’ Veterinary Professionals Speak On Their Pandemic Experiences

Veterinary professionals across the US have been shedding light on their experiences during the pandemic. 
During the  American Veterinary Medical Association’s (AVMA) House of Delegates’ Veterinary Information Forum, speakers highlighted some of the main issues they had experienced over the last year and a half.
Many practices have seen drops in productivity and retention. There have also been more reports of an increase in client abuse. 
Meghan Bingham, a practice manager at West Alabama Animal Clinic in Houston told the forum that:
‘We are trying our very best to maintain our level of care, customer service, and communication, but it’s been a struggle’  
‘Customers have cried and yelled and cursed.’
Gerard Gervasi, a hospital administrator at Collierville Animal Clinic in Collierville, Tennessee, told AVMA news that the pandemic had also worsened burnout. 
‘Unfortunately, the pandemic has left our veterinary and lay staff emotionally depleted and has in some instances left us in a work-life crisis’.
‘Once we find the end of the tunnel, the industry leaders will need to address the staff concerns and find meaningful ways to bring the balance back into their lives.’
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‘Not One More Vet’ Documentary Gets Rolling 

A documentary chronicling the veterinary suicide pandemic has raised $20,000 in production costs. 
The project lead, Maria Barnas, started production after becoming close with the veterinary team at her local clinic. Horrified by their accounts of compassion fatigue and burnout, Barnas was driven to spread the word about a profession under pressure. 
‘[Not One More Vet”] started out as a short film’ Barnas told AAHA news.
‘Now we know it could be an hour long. But because this is so important and because [everyone involved] is so passionate about it, we’re trying to not make a decision on exactly what it is until we get through at least these next two big chunks of filming.’
‘My big, pie-in-the-sky dream is that, if this were funded well enough, and it was good enough, we can get this on something like Netflix and everyone would see it… but that’s [the dream]. I’ll take making something that’s really quality-driven, that’s good, that gets into big [film] festivals, that gets seen.’
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Why Further Education Is Great For Workspace Wellbeing

Learning really doesn’t ever stop- especially in the workplace. 
This is why offering further education is so great. Not only does it boost employees’ confidence, but it also develops skills that can be used in practice. 
Numerous studies have found that offering educational programs at work can engage and improve the well-being of employees. Educational programs can also be a great incentive for job seekers looking to develop both personally and professionally. 
Educational programs can also create a positive working environment whereby employees feel supported and trusted.
To read more about the benefits of further education, click here.