The President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA) used his annual London Dinner speech (Tuesday 8th February) to call on the Government to take action on veterinary student fees and the welfare of dogs and to respond to the consultation on dangerous dogs.

BVA President Harvey Locke began by raising concerns over cuts to animal health and welfare and disease surveillance budgets. He said:

“In the Comprehensive Spending Review Defra took one of the biggest hits. The profession remains deeply concerned that cuts in research and development and disease surveillance could have catastrophic consequences…

“We understand the immense downward pressure being exerted on Departmental budgets and competing priorities, but we would also caution against the unintended consequences of cuts that will have to be paid for in the future…

“Right now the UK enjoys some of the highest animal health and welfare standards in the world and so it is in all of our interests to ensure the viability of the farming sector amidst massive competition from abroad, where those standards may not always be as high.”

On veterinary student fees, Mr Locke outlined the ‘double whammy’ of a long course and compulsory Extra Mural Studies in the holidays. He said:

“[O]ur role as the guardians of animal health and welfare faces an uncertain future following the announcement that the cap on tuition fees will be raised to between 6 and 9 thousand pounds a year. We fear this could have a huge impact on the decisions of A-level students, with fewer and fewer opting for an expensive veterinary science degree.

“The BVA has been campaigning for many years to improve the financial situation for veterinary students who suffer the double whammy of an unsubsidised long course and additional financial burden of compulsory Extra Mural Studies (or EMS).

“Although the plans are not yet finalised we are bracing ourselves for veterinary degrees, which are costly to run, to be priced at the top of the scale, meaning veterinary students of the future will graduate with at least £45,000 of debt in tuition fees alone.

“Faced with these levels of debt, our concern is that those who do make it to graduation won’t opt for the food animal practice and public health roles that attract smaller pay packages. We need to think carefully about how we can secure the future provision of large animal practitioners.”