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News & Reports
News & Reports BVA
Profession must shape its own future, says BVA President BOTH animal and human health issues – from brucellosis to Ebola – were among matters discussed by the BVA President, John Blackwell, in a speech in Northern Ireland last week. Speaking at the BVA’s annual Northern Ireland dinner in Stormont, Mr Blackwell also urged the veterinary profession to actively shape its own future. Regarding Ebola, Mr Blackwell remarked that he had not expected in his first few weeks as BVA President to be giving media interviews about the potential risks posed by dogs in the transmission of Ebola virus. However, the ongoing outbreak illustrated that disease control was multifaceted, and that vets had to be able to react to changing situations and ‘rise to the occasion’. The Northern Ireland dinner is one of four that the BVA holds in each region of the UK each the year. The aim is to bring issues of importance to the veterinary profession to the attention of policymakers, the agriculture industry and others with an interest in animal health and welfare. Noting that the theme for his year as BVA President was ‘Driving change – shaping the future’, Mr Blackwell argued that, as well as being able to react to change, the veterinary profession also needed to be able to drive it: ‘If we are to continue as the guardians of animal health and welfare then together we must actively shape the future of the profession.’ Vets had a vital role in combating diseases that had devastating impacts on animal health and welfare, as well as grave economic and social consequences. Bovine TB was at the top of the list but,
Veterinary Record is published by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (BMJ), a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Medical Association, on behalf of the British Veterinary Association (BVA).
Shaping things in Northern Ireland: BVA President John Blackwell (second left) at Stormont with Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly member John McCallister (left), Pat Hart, president of the BVA’s Northern Ireland Branch, and Robert Huey, Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland
Mr Blackwell pointed out, tackling it was neither easy nor straightforward. While welcoming the ‘unique and innovative contribution’ that the ‘test, vaccinate, remove’ badger intervention project in Northern Ireland was making to TB research (VR, June 14, 2014, vol 174, p 594), he warned that there were a number challenges that had to be acknowledged. Among these were the limitations of the diagnostic tests available for TB in badgers and the role of perturbation once badger removal began in the second year of the project. Working collectively was key to driving positive change in the fight against disease, said Mr Blackwell, citing two examples in
Northern Ireland that highlighted this. First was the work being done to educate the farming and veterinary professions about bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD). There were hopes that the industry-led voluntary BVD testing initiative being overseen by Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland would become mandatory early next year. Both farmers and vets were awaiting a definite statement about this. Secondly, Northern Ireland was on track to be declared free of brucellosis in its animal population in 2015. ‘Such an achievement will be the result of a great deal of hard work,’ he said, adding that vigilance had to be maintained until the goal was achieved. To this end, although
advertisers and not authors’ institutions, BMJ, the BVA or the BMA unless otherwise specified or determined by law. Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement.
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior permission.
Veterinary Record follows guidelines on editorial independence produced by the World Association of Medical Editors and the code on good publication practice of the Committee on Publication Ethics.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, BMJ and the BVA shall not be liable for any loss, injury or damage resulting from the use of Veterinary Record or any information in it whether based on contract, tort, or otherwise. Readers are strongly advised to verify any information they choose to rely on.
Veterinary Record is intended for veterinary professionals and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Statements in the journal are the responsibility of their authors and
Copyright © 2014 British Veterinary Association All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
Veterinary Record is published by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, typeset by Techset, and printed in the UK on acid-free paper from sustainable forests by Polestar Chantry, Wakefield, UK. Veterinary Record (ISSN No: 0042-4900) is published weekly by BMJ Publishing Group and is distributed in the USA by Mercury International Ltd. Periodicals postage paid at Rahway, NJ, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Veterinary Record, Mercury International Ltd, 365 Blair Road, Avenel, NJ 07001, USA
November 1, 2014 | Veterinary Record | 413
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News & Reports the BVA had welcomed a consultation by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Northern Ireland on introducing a proportionate relaxation of the premovement testing controls for brucellosis, it believed that ‘caution and patience should be the watchwords’, and that risk-based, proportionate controls should be retained. ‘Once Officially Brucellosis Free status is obtained, then that is the time to consider further phased relaxation of premovement testing controls, moving towards possible abolition, while continuing to employ risk-based surveillance,’ said Mr Blackwell. The fight against disease was underpinned by world-class research, he added, and Northern Ireland’s excellence in research and development needed to be maintained. Continued investment in the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and, in particular, in its Veterinary Services Division, was critical in maintaining sufficient levels of disease surveillance and investigation. ‘Such work guarantees preparedness for an outbreak of epizootic/ transboundary disease – just as AFBI was able to provide in relation to influenza, bluetongue and Schmallenberg in recent years.’
One Health
Media interest in new and emerging potentially zoonotic disease threats demonstrated why the One Health agenda mattered and why it needed to be on the veterinary radar, Mr Blackwell continued. Antimicrobial resistance was an issue affecting both the human and animal sectors, and, he said, while evidence suggested that the biggest cause of antibiotic resistance in people was the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human medicine, the veterinary profession was committed to the One Health principle and the need for the medical and veterinary professions to work together to tackle it. He urged those present to show their support for the forthcoming European Antibiotic Awareness Day on November 18, and to make their pledge to be an ‘Antibiotic Guardian’ (http://antibioticguardian.com). The BVA was also working closely with other veterinarians in Europe to ensure that the European Commission’s recently published proposal for a new veterinary medicines Regulation was proportionate and that vets’ access to medicines was not limited to the detriment of animal welfare.
Compulsory microchipping
Turning to companion animal issues, Mr Blackwell welcomed evidence that indicated that the number of stray and unwanted dogs in Northern Ireland had begun to fall following the introduction of compulsory microchipping two years ago. ‘Dogs Trust 414 | Veterinary Record | November 1, 2014
figures show the numbers falling from one stray for every 184 people in 2011 to one stray for every 311 people in 2014,’ he reported. The BVA hoped that Defra and the Welsh and Scottish governments would follow DARD’s lead in this area.
New veterinary schools
Mr Blackwell noted that the University of Ulster was currently exploring options for delivering veterinary science courses and that there could be sound economic reasons for developing veterinary education in Northern Ireland. For example, there were plans to increase the size of the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland by 40 per cent by 2020, with a planned increase in stock numbers of about 65 per cent. More livestock would mean a requirement for more vets. Also, the BVA acknowledged the attraction for local school leavers of being able to attend a university closer to home. ‘But,’ he said, ‘we need to get this right from the start. If we don’t, there is potential for too many vets and not enough jobs, with downward pressure on salaries and employment conditions. Training as a vet is only the start. We also need to look ahead to the profession of the future.’ He noted that BVA members had raised serious concerns about the increasing numbers of veterinary graduates and had asked whether the profession could continue to support the practical elements of the veterinary degree course. Meanwhile, findings from the BVA’s first ‘Voice of the Veterinary Profession’ had suggested that some young veterinary surgeons quickly became disillusioned with their career choice. Alongside the well documented mental health issues among the veterinary profession, this indicated a need to work together for positive change. The provision of support and facilitation of communication were vital. ‘We must engage the next generation of young vets in veterinary politics early in their career, encouraging them to take ownership of important issues, which we face now and will continue to face in the future,’ said Mr Blackwell.
Minister’s comments
During the dinner, Robert Huey, the Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland, delivered a speech on behalf of Michelle O’Neill, the minister for agriculture in Northern Ireland, who was unable to attend. Mr Huey described the BVD seminars that practising vets had delivered to farmers in Northern Ireland as ‘a shining example of how the veterinary profession can influence animal health at the national level, encouraging farmers to adopt best practice and placing them in an informed position to help themselves’. Draft legislation was
being progressed to make it mandatory for all farmers to have all calves tested for BVD. Turning to wider animal health issues, he noted that all of the agriculture and veterinary departments across the whole of the island of Ireland worked closely together on disease surveillance and emergency preparedness. This close working relationship was due to be demonstrated in November, when an all-island exercise would be held to test north-south communications during a simulated outbreak of African swine fever. (ASF). The current spread of ASF into the European Union illustrated the increasing risk of serious animal disease entering Ireland and, he said, ‘It is vital that industry and government together, north and south, adopts a “Fortress Ireland” approach. The resulting output of this approach helps strengthen our biosecurity controls, protects our livestock, maintains our high all-island animal health status, our reputation and underpins our export trade.’ Regarding bovine TB, Mr Huey noted that the eradication programme in Northern Ireland was ‘hugely expensive’ in terms of cost to the taxpayer and the farming industry. It was therefore welcome to see a fall in herd incidence, from a peak of 7.46 per cent in October 2012 to 6.02 per cent in August 2014. ‘Having said that, I am aware that, for no apparent reason, this trend could quickly change, and that more progress needs to be made.’ An industry-government TB Strategic Partnership Group had been tasked with developing a comprehensive and practical strategy and implementation plan to secure the progressive reduction of disease levels and the associated costs. ‘Longer term, the aim is to eradicate bovine TB by as early a date as possible,’ he said. ‘ This strategy should be all embracing and address all the salient issues, including TB compensation, improving biosecurity, improving communications with farmers and vets, and the wildlife factor.’ The progress of the exercise to procure TB testing services in England and Wales, and the outcome of the tendering process, was being watched with interest in Northern Ireland, said Mr Huey. ‘We have set out along a similar path but have been delayed by the need to resolve legislative and employment status issues. TB testing costs are a very significant element in the overall eradication programme costs here in the north, so it is essential that we find the best solution going forward which delivers value for money and helps address pressures on the ongoing affordability of the programme.’ doi: 10.1136/vr.g6502
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on June 25, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Profession must shape its own future, says BVA President Veterinary Record 2014 175: 413-414
doi: 10.1136/vr.g6502 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/17/413
These include:
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News & Reports
News & Reports BVA
Profession must shape its own future, says BVA President BOTH animal and human health issues – from brucellosis to Ebola – were among matters discussed by the BVA President, John Blackwell, in a speech in Northern Ireland last week. Speaking at the BVA’s annual Northern Ireland dinner in Stormont, Mr Blackwell also urged the veterinary profession to actively shape its own future. Regarding Ebola, Mr Blackwell remarked that he had not expected in his first few weeks as BVA President to be giving media interviews about the potential risks posed by dogs in the transmission of Ebola virus. However, the ongoing outbreak illustrated that disease control was multifaceted, and that vets had to be able to react to changing situations and ‘rise to the occasion’. The Northern Ireland dinner is one of four that the BVA holds in each region of the UK each the year. The aim is to bring issues of importance to the veterinary profession to the attention of policymakers, the agriculture industry and others with an interest in animal health and welfare. Noting that the theme for his year as BVA President was ‘Driving change – shaping the future’, Mr Blackwell argued that, as well as being able to react to change, the veterinary profession also needed to be able to drive it: ‘If we are to continue as the guardians of animal health and welfare then together we must actively shape the future of the profession.’ Vets had a vital role in combating diseases that had devastating impacts on animal health and welfare, as well as grave economic and social consequences. Bovine TB was at the top of the list but,
Veterinary Record is published by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd (BMJ), a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Medical Association, on behalf of the British Veterinary Association (BVA).
Shaping things in Northern Ireland: BVA President John Blackwell (second left) at Stormont with Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly member John McCallister (left), Pat Hart, president of the BVA’s Northern Ireland Branch, and Robert Huey, Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland
Mr Blackwell pointed out, tackling it was neither easy nor straightforward. While welcoming the ‘unique and innovative contribution’ that the ‘test, vaccinate, remove’ badger intervention project in Northern Ireland was making to TB research (VR, June 14, 2014, vol 174, p 594), he warned that there were a number challenges that had to be acknowledged. Among these were the limitations of the diagnostic tests available for TB in badgers and the role of perturbation once badger removal began in the second year of the project. Working collectively was key to driving positive change in the fight against disease, said Mr Blackwell, citing two examples in
Northern Ireland that highlighted this. First was the work being done to educate the farming and veterinary professions about bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD). There were hopes that the industry-led voluntary BVD testing initiative being overseen by Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland would become mandatory early next year. Both farmers and vets were awaiting a definite statement about this. Secondly, Northern Ireland was on track to be declared free of brucellosis in its animal population in 2015. ‘Such an achievement will be the result of a great deal of hard work,’ he said, adding that vigilance had to be maintained until the goal was achieved. To this end, although
advertisers and not authors’ institutions, BMJ, the BVA or the BMA unless otherwise specified or determined by law. Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement.
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior permission.
Veterinary Record follows guidelines on editorial independence produced by the World Association of Medical Editors and the code on good publication practice of the Committee on Publication Ethics.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, BMJ and the BVA shall not be liable for any loss, injury or damage resulting from the use of Veterinary Record or any information in it whether based on contract, tort, or otherwise. Readers are strongly advised to verify any information they choose to rely on.
Veterinary Record is intended for veterinary professionals and is provided without warranty, express or implied. Statements in the journal are the responsibility of their authors and
Copyright © 2014 British Veterinary Association All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
Veterinary Record is published by BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, typeset by Techset, and printed in the UK on acid-free paper from sustainable forests by Polestar Chantry, Wakefield, UK. Veterinary Record (ISSN No: 0042-4900) is published weekly by BMJ Publishing Group and is distributed in the USA by Mercury International Ltd. Periodicals postage paid at Rahway, NJ, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Veterinary Record, Mercury International Ltd, 365 Blair Road, Avenel, NJ 07001, USA
November 1, 2014 | Veterinary Record | 413
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on June 25, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
News & Reports the BVA had welcomed a consultation by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Northern Ireland on introducing a proportionate relaxation of the premovement testing controls for brucellosis, it believed that ‘caution and patience should be the watchwords’, and that risk-based, proportionate controls should be retained. ‘Once Officially Brucellosis Free status is obtained, then that is the time to consider further phased relaxation of premovement testing controls, moving towards possible abolition, while continuing to employ risk-based surveillance,’ said Mr Blackwell. The fight against disease was underpinned by world-class research, he added, and Northern Ireland’s excellence in research and development needed to be maintained. Continued investment in the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and, in particular, in its Veterinary Services Division, was critical in maintaining sufficient levels of disease surveillance and investigation. ‘Such work guarantees preparedness for an outbreak of epizootic/ transboundary disease – just as AFBI was able to provide in relation to influenza, bluetongue and Schmallenberg in recent years.’
One Health
Media interest in new and emerging potentially zoonotic disease threats demonstrated why the One Health agenda mattered and why it needed to be on the veterinary radar, Mr Blackwell continued. Antimicrobial resistance was an issue affecting both the human and animal sectors, and, he said, while evidence suggested that the biggest cause of antibiotic resistance in people was the overuse and misuse of antibiotics in human medicine, the veterinary profession was committed to the One Health principle and the need for the medical and veterinary professions to work together to tackle it. He urged those present to show their support for the forthcoming European Antibiotic Awareness Day on November 18, and to make their pledge to be an ‘Antibiotic Guardian’ (http://antibioticguardian.com). The BVA was also working closely with other veterinarians in Europe to ensure that the European Commission’s recently published proposal for a new veterinary medicines Regulation was proportionate and that vets’ access to medicines was not limited to the detriment of animal welfare.
Compulsory microchipping
Turning to companion animal issues, Mr Blackwell welcomed evidence that indicated that the number of stray and unwanted dogs in Northern Ireland had begun to fall following the introduction of compulsory microchipping two years ago. ‘Dogs Trust 414 | Veterinary Record | November 1, 2014
figures show the numbers falling from one stray for every 184 people in 2011 to one stray for every 311 people in 2014,’ he reported. The BVA hoped that Defra and the Welsh and Scottish governments would follow DARD’s lead in this area.
New veterinary schools
Mr Blackwell noted that the University of Ulster was currently exploring options for delivering veterinary science courses and that there could be sound economic reasons for developing veterinary education in Northern Ireland. For example, there were plans to increase the size of the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland by 40 per cent by 2020, with a planned increase in stock numbers of about 65 per cent. More livestock would mean a requirement for more vets. Also, the BVA acknowledged the attraction for local school leavers of being able to attend a university closer to home. ‘But,’ he said, ‘we need to get this right from the start. If we don’t, there is potential for too many vets and not enough jobs, with downward pressure on salaries and employment conditions. Training as a vet is only the start. We also need to look ahead to the profession of the future.’ He noted that BVA members had raised serious concerns about the increasing numbers of veterinary graduates and had asked whether the profession could continue to support the practical elements of the veterinary degree course. Meanwhile, findings from the BVA’s first ‘Voice of the Veterinary Profession’ had suggested that some young veterinary surgeons quickly became disillusioned with their career choice. Alongside the well documented mental health issues among the veterinary profession, this indicated a need to work together for positive change. The provision of support and facilitation of communication were vital. ‘We must engage the next generation of young vets in veterinary politics early in their career, encouraging them to take ownership of important issues, which we face now and will continue to face in the future,’ said Mr Blackwell.
Minister’s comments
During the dinner, Robert Huey, the Chief Veterinary Officer for Northern Ireland, delivered a speech on behalf of Michelle O’Neill, the minister for agriculture in Northern Ireland, who was unable to attend. Mr Huey described the BVD seminars that practising vets had delivered to farmers in Northern Ireland as ‘a shining example of how the veterinary profession can influence animal health at the national level, encouraging farmers to adopt best practice and placing them in an informed position to help themselves’. Draft legislation was
being progressed to make it mandatory for all farmers to have all calves tested for BVD. Turning to wider animal health issues, he noted that all of the agriculture and veterinary departments across the whole of the island of Ireland worked closely together on disease surveillance and emergency preparedness. This close working relationship was due to be demonstrated in November, when an all-island exercise would be held to test north-south communications during a simulated outbreak of African swine fever. (ASF). The current spread of ASF into the European Union illustrated the increasing risk of serious animal disease entering Ireland and, he said, ‘It is vital that industry and government together, north and south, adopts a “Fortress Ireland” approach. The resulting output of this approach helps strengthen our biosecurity controls, protects our livestock, maintains our high all-island animal health status, our reputation and underpins our export trade.’ Regarding bovine TB, Mr Huey noted that the eradication programme in Northern Ireland was ‘hugely expensive’ in terms of cost to the taxpayer and the farming industry. It was therefore welcome to see a fall in herd incidence, from a peak of 7.46 per cent in October 2012 to 6.02 per cent in August 2014. ‘Having said that, I am aware that, for no apparent reason, this trend could quickly change, and that more progress needs to be made.’ An industry-government TB Strategic Partnership Group had been tasked with developing a comprehensive and practical strategy and implementation plan to secure the progressive reduction of disease levels and the associated costs. ‘Longer term, the aim is to eradicate bovine TB by as early a date as possible,’ he said. ‘ This strategy should be all embracing and address all the salient issues, including TB compensation, improving biosecurity, improving communications with farmers and vets, and the wildlife factor.’ The progress of the exercise to procure TB testing services in England and Wales, and the outcome of the tendering process, was being watched with interest in Northern Ireland, said Mr Huey. ‘We have set out along a similar path but have been delayed by the need to resolve legislative and employment status issues. TB testing costs are a very significant element in the overall eradication programme costs here in the north, so it is essential that we find the best solution going forward which delivers value for money and helps address pressures on the ongoing affordability of the programme.’ doi: 10.1136/vr.g6502
Downloaded from http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/ on June 25, 2015 - Published by group.bmj.com
Profession must shape its own future, says BVA President Veterinary Record 2014 175: 413-414
doi: 10.1136/vr.g6502 Updated information and services can be found at: http://veterinaryrecord.bmj.com/content/175/17/413
These include:
Email alerting service
Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article. Sign up in the box at the top right corner of the online article.
Notes
To request permissions go to: http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions To order reprints go to: http://journals.bmj.com/cgi/reprintform To subscribe to BMJ go to: http://group.bmj.com/subscribe/
