Profession pulls together in face of COVID-19

The veterinary profession has come together like never before to help tackle the impacts on both human and animal welfare caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Associations, regulators, charities, the vet industry, and practices large and small are now working more closely than ever before – and, just as importantly, veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses everywhere stand shoulder to shoulder in the face of unprecedented crisis.

Measures are now in place to ensure emergency veterinary medicine can still be delivered in the current situation, while at the same time everything is being done to help human health colleagues in the battle with COVID-19.

Many veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses have volunteered to help the NHS directly, while equipment – such as ventilators and anaesthetic kit – is being donated and sent to the front line thanks to an effort coordinated by the RCVS and various other veterinary associations.

‘Fantastic response’

An RCVS spokesman said: “It’s a fantastic response so far. While data processing is ongoing, this translates into thousands of items of anaesthetic equipment being available to lend and donate by the veterinary community to their medical colleagues on the frontline.

“The NHS is particularly keen to target items that have been certified for human health care, so we are prioritising those.”

The UK’s major veterinary groups – along with the RSPCA, PDSA and Blue Cross – have also agreed to support each other and independent practices in providing veterinary care where practice closures have occurred.

Practices everywhere have responded swiftly and decisively to new ways of delivering their crucial services, while UK veterinary schools are also meeting the challenge of ensuring all final-year students still graduate.

Students are being taught remotely by course tutors to ensure they are ready for practices when they complete their degrees in five weeks’ time.

• Read the full story in the 31 March issue of Veterinary Times.