The veterinary profession in the
UK
1. It is estimated that there are over 21 million
pets in the UK,[1] and
vets are consulted by pet owners, and other animal owners, tens
of millions times each year.[2]
Animal owners place great trust in their veterinary surgeons,
and spend a great deal of money on veterinary treatment for their
animals. It is understandable that owners expect vets to be accountable
for their actions if things go wrong.
2. The veterinary profession is regulated by the
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) under the provisions
of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966. The purpose of the Act is
to protect the public and to prevent unqualified practice.[3]
The Act provides for: the registration of veterinary surgeons
and veterinary practitioners; the regulation of their professional
education and professional conduct; and cancelling or suspending
of registration in cases of misconduct. In addition to the Act,
the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct identifies the key responsibilities
of veterinary surgeons to their patients, clients, the public
and professional colleagues, as well as their responsibilities
under the law. It is not a detailed rulebook, but it sets out
fundamental principles which may be applied to all areas of veterinary
practice.[4]
3. The RCVS is governed by a Council of 40 Members
which meets three times a year. The breakdown of members is as
follows:
- 24 members are elected to Council
by the profession itself;
- Each of the six UK Veterinary Schools nominates
two members (with one of the two to be a member of the RCVS),
and
- Four members are appointed by the Privy Council.
4. Potentially, 25% of members of the Council could
be lay appointees as opposed to professional members. However,
of the current Council membership, only 15% are lay appointees.[5]
5. The Council is supported by a system of committees.
The RCVS policy issues put forward by working parties or the secretariat
go first to committees for recommendation. Then, if recommended,
on to Council for approval or rejection. The President, Senior
Vice-President, Junior Vice-President and Treasurer are elected
by the Council from its number. Together with the Registrar, they
form a team of officers and have the main responsibility for running
the RCVS.[6]
6. In 2007, there were 22,162 vets registered with
the RCVS (compared to 8,143 in 1966). Of those, 60% were in general
practice. The RCVS Annual Report 2007 showed that 53.5% of veterinary
practices were classified as small animal practices, 41.6% were
"mixed", 3.4% were equine practices and 1.5% were farm
animal practices.[7] A
survey of the profession conducted by the RCVS in 2006 found that
vets felt that time spent on cats, rabbits, horses and practice
management/administration was going up but that spent on dogs,
cattle (both beef and dairy), sheep, poultry, meat hygiene and
Local Veterinary Inspector work was estimated to be going down.[8]
The trend for practices to move away from large animal work towards
small animal work was noted by our predecessor Committee in 2003.[9]
7. In addition to governing veterinary surgeons providing
veterinary services, the Act also permits veterinary nurses to
carry out medical treatment and minor surgery (not involving entry
into a body cavity) on any species of animal. It also permits
procedures considered to be "acts of veterinary surgery"
to be delegated, by Exemption Orders, to suitably trained and
competent non-veterinarians.[10]
For example, there are Exemption Orders for rectal ultrasound
scanning and the artificial insemination of mares. Schedule 3
of the Act also specifies a range of treatments/operations that
non-veterinarians can carry out without restriction. This includes
the provision of first aid for the purpose of saving life or relieving
pain. As well as the services provided by these "para-professionals"
under the Act, and the services provided by farriers (who are
regulated separately by the Farriers Registration Act 1975), there
are increasing numbers of animals being treated with alternative
and complementary therapies by non-veterinarians, e.g. chiropractic,
osteopathy, homeopathic, aromatherapy and acupuncture.[11]
Background to the Committee's
inquiry
8. The RCVS argues that the Veterinary Surgeons Act
1966 has not kept up to date with changes in the profession. It
has proposed changes to the structure of the Council of the RCVS
and to its disciplinary procedure which it believes would bring
the regulation of the veterinary profession into line with the
modernisation of the regulatory arrangements of the human health
professions in recent years.[12]
9. We announced our inquiry on 10 July 2007. Its
terms of reference were to examine whether the provisions of the
1966 Act were out of step with developments in the veterinary
surgeon and related professions, and whether there was a need
to replace the Act. We received 42 written submissions. We took
oral evidence on two occasions from: the Royal College of Veterinary
Surgeons, Mr Chris Barker, MRCVS, the British Association of Equine
Dental Technicians, the Oxford College of Equine Physical Therapy,
the Association of McTimoney-Corley Spinal Therapists, the British
Veterinary Association, Mr Fred Landeg, Acting Chief Veterinary
Officer, and the Minister for Sustainable Food, Farming and Animal
Health, Rt. Hon Lord Rooker. A full list of witnesses can be found
on page 34. We are most grateful to all those who gave evidence
to our inquiry.
1 Information on pet animals can be found on the Defra
website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/vetsurveillance/species/petanimals/index.htm Back
2
Ev 14 Back
3
Ev 53 Back
4
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Guide to Professional
Conduct, can be found online at http://www.rcvs.org.uk Back
5
Ev 56 Back
6
http://www.rcvs.org.uk Back
7
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Annual Report 2007, p 31 Back
8
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, The UK Veterinary Profession
in 2006: the findings of a survey of the profession, June
2006, p 21 Back
9
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Sixteenth Report
of 2002-03, Vets and Veterinary Services, HC 703, para
13 Back
10
Information on the purpose of the Act can be found at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/ahws/vservices/act.htm Back
11
Ev 2, 54 Back
12
Ev 1-2 Back
