Memorandum submitted by the British Association
of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) (Vet 42)
1. BAEDT does consider that the provisions
of the 1966 Act are out of step with developments in the Veterinary
Surgery and related professions. Therefore new legislation, preferably
a new VSA is required.
2. BAEDT strongly believes that there should
be regulation of providers of veterinary care other than Veterinary
Surgeons. This regulation must be fully part of any new legislation
in order to protect the welfare of equines, to protect horse owners
and to safeguard the professionalism of the service providers.
(In this instance qualified Equine Dental Technicians.)
3. BAEDT feels that the delivery of veterinary
services should be regulated through a mandatory practice standards
scheme with a professional code of ethics. This has been BAEDT
practice since its inception over six years ago.
4. The BAEDT practises mandatory CPD and
supports the proposal for the RCVs and Veterinary Nurse's Council
(VCN) to do likewise.
5. BAEDT strongly believes that the governing
body of the RCVs and VNC should include appointed independent
lay persons as well as veterinary professionals.
6. BAEDT believes it is of paramount importance
that the RCVs and VNC have a separate conduct committee with the
powers to investigate complaints and give warnings. It is also
of equal importance that such a committee involved in disciplinary
matters be totally independent and separate from the RCVs Council
and contain independent expertise in the appropriate field, ie
in our case Equine Dentistry.
7. BAEDT supports the power to delegate
specified procedures to people holding qualifications recognised
by the RCVs Council. All members of the BAEDT having passed the
British equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) and British veterinary
Dental Association (BVDA) Equine Dentistry examinations are already
carrying out dental procedures delegated by RCVs members an a
daily basis.
SUMMARY
The BAEDT feels strongly that the replacement
of the VSA should reflect the changing fields of veterinary services
and paraprofessionals in today's climate.
All members of the BAEDT, (Britain's largest
Association of Equine Dental Technicians working closely with
and Supported by BEVA Britain's largest Veterinary Association)
have voluntarily undertaken to operate under a strict code of
ethics/practice standards. With compulsory CPD in order to maintain
high welfare standards, accountability for the protection of the
horse owning public and the improvement of Equine Dentistry standards
overall, all members of the BAEDT will welcome any change to the
present VSA, not only to maintain these standards already in practice
but to allow them to develop to match the changing field of Equine
Dentistry in the future.
September 2007
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