A report from KOAA News 5 has highlighted the mental health problems many practitioners are experiencing as a result of the pandemic. According to the American outlet, a large proportion of professionals who left the profession during this period have not returned – and seem unlikely to. They say this is due to the compounded stress accumulated during this time.
Dr. Carrie Jurney is the president of Not One More Vet (NOMV), an organization dedicated to preventing veterinary suicide. She told KOAA News 5 that whilst she loves her profession, there needs to be more awareness around the issues vets face.
‘I’ve worked in veterinary medicine for 20 years, and the last two years have been the hardest that I’ve ever seen,’ she said.
‘We were never well-staffed, and then the pandemic hit, and people lost child care. People had to take care of at-risk family members… And let me tell you, no one goes into veterinary medicine to make money. So, we literally do everything we can to make it as cheap as possible, and that includes underpaying ourselves and our staff.’
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Telemedicine Restrictions Return to California
The state of California has reinstituted telemedicine restrictions amidst concerns that it could put patients at risk. This move follows policy changes in the UK, where remote prescriptions are now being phased out.
Although telemedicine helped veterinary clinics stay open amid social distancing restrictions, the need for it has lessened as clinics have returned to normalcy. Other states, such as Massachusetts and Pennsylvania are also expected to remove waivers over the coming weeks.
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BVA Calls For RCVS to Clear Up Displicanary Process Confusion
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has called for the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to clear up confusion surrounding their new disciplinary processes.
The organization has expressed concerns around ‘publicly naming and shaming veterinary professionals’ for ‘minor transgressions’ as part of new Charter Case Committee (CCC) powers. These powers include issuing confidential warnings, or public warnings published on the RCVS website for up to two years and on a clinician’s record for up to five years.
In response, RCVS registrar Eleanor Ferguson said:
‘I think one of the views expressed [by the BVA] when this was put through the consultation process was around the kind of naming and shaming, and I think there was a misconception that it would be for somehow trivial cases.’
‘It is not for trivial cases, it is [for] ones that have crossed the threshold for a disciplinary hearing, and if they don’t go to the charter case committee, they are going to disciplinary.’
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CVS Group Makes Gains Albeit Vet Shortages
CVS, the UK’s largest integrated veterinary services provider has made significant gains albeit veterinary shortages across the country.
The group, which owns 506 veterinary practices across the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, reported a strong start to the financial year, with sales up 13.8% over the last three months.
Although the demand for veterinarians has driven up wages and hence hit profit margins, it seems that the UK’s pet boom is continuing to keep pace with these costs.
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Victoria Vet Clinics Given Government Boost to Treat Pets
Veterinary clinics in Victoria, Australia, have been offered government funding to make pet care more affordable for low-income owners.
The Animal Welfare Fund (AWF) Grants Program provides funding for animal shelters, foster carers, and not-for-profit and community vet clinics to help expand their services.
Since the program launched, 169 grants have been awarded to organizations all across the state – helping clinics across the region assist pet owners, no matter their financial situation.
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How to Look After Your Mental Health During the Christmas Season
Although Christmas is an exciting time of year, as veterinary professionals, it can be especially difficult. With many people having to work through celebrations or do overtime to cover teammates, it can be more stressful than it is festive at times.
So it’s important to prioritize your wellbeing. Remember to be kind to yourself – as well as to others. Alongside work stressors, many people are very busy at this time of year, and therefore may be a bit more short-tempered than usual. So take time for yourself, and be empathetic to your clients and colleagues who may be going through tough times.
It’s also important to be flexible with your teammates during this period. For many people, this will be the first Christmas over the last two years that they will be able to spend with loved ones without restrictions. So be considerate, and allow yourself and others to step away from the work for a bit.
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