Further supplementary memorandum submitted
by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (Vet 11c)
I am writing to you about the evidence which
RCVS gave before the Committee on 18 February. In question 85
Roger Williams asked why the College, which currently regulates
individual veterinary surgeons, proposed to extend regulation
to veterinary practices. The transcript records that in replying
I said:
"Something that has happened certainly during
my professional lifetime is that now we get a number of veterinary
practices that are not actually owned by veterinary surgeons.
Sometimes they have connections with the pet food industry or
with other commercial organisations. It seems crazy that we cannot
take them to task if they step out of line".
One of our Council members has suggested that
my response to question 85 was ambiguous. As you can see I said
that sometimes veterinary practices "have connections with
the pet food industry or with other commercial organisations"
and this has been interpreted by my colleague as indicating `ownership'
of veterinary practices by the pet food industry or other commercial
organisations. I do not feel that my statement was ambiguous,
but am happy to emphasise that that as far as RCVS is aware there
is no pet food company ownership of UK veterinary practices.
RCVS does not in fact have reliable information
about practices. We publish a voluntary directory to help animal
owners find a local practice, but we do not have power to ensure
that our information is comprehensive. Veterinary surgeons do
not have to tell us where they practise, and the powers in the
Veterinary Surgeons Act relate to individuals, not practice entities.
If a client feels that a practice (other than one accredited voluntarily
under the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme) has delivered unacceptable
care the College has no power to take action unless there is evidence
of serious professional misconduct on the part of a veterinary
surgeon. We think this needs to be put right, because the policies
adopted by practices and the standards which they set themselves
can have as much impact on animal welfare and the interests of
the public as the actions of individual practitioners.
Professor S M Crispin
Senior Vice President
RCVS
March 2008
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