Onward we go

In the latest blog from our Officer Team, soon-to-be RCVS President Melissa Donald reflects on her feelings ahead of the 'big day' and lays out some key themes for the year. 

It’s the changing of the guard at RCVS day in a few days, the end of the College year and the start of the new one. For some it’s a goodbye and others it’s a bright new dawn.

Many people are asking how I’m feeling just ahead of becoming President. It feels like the period between the end of teaching and the start of exams, never ending, terrifying that I haven’t done the work, won’t perform well when tested and all the wrong topics will come up.

But the truth is there is a fabulous team behind me, with a fantastic crib sheet and a proven record of support.

This year ahead though still has many challenges. The leaky bucket is still causing us issues with the workforce and even an extra large packet of BluTac with every graduation certificate will not be enough. We are not alone in this issue. Engineers have also been selling its degree as a passport to greater things, so much so that they too have many diversifying early on. There are many skill shortages across a range of professions across many continents. There is no easy fix, no one solution. It will take all of us to think innovatively to help.

The cost of living is also soaring and affects everyone from students onwards. The cost of travel to EMS and placements, of heating and eating. It affects our clients too; on the treatment options they can afford. The discussions happening in practice will be heart-breaking.

However, I’m not long back from a vet conference in Birmingham, my first one since 2019, and the positivity was amazing. Never underestimate how invigorating it is to meet up with old friends, the opportunity to meet virtual ones in real life as well as making new connections.

No one was denying the issues, but there is still such a love for the profession, that we just don’t shout out about enough. We will find solutions, new ways of working and continue our commitment to animal health and welfare as we have always done.

To me, it’s important to be seen out and about. My background is so ‘normal’; first opinion general practice in a small town, feet firmly grounded. I hope to be able to meet many of you, be it at a formal event or a parkrun one Saturday near you. I didn’t realise until after I left clinical practice a few years ago how much I needed the veterinary people contact.

At home a few weeks ago, I was walking my two dogs up our lane and saw a neighbour and his wife trying to get the Highland cow into the pens as she was stuck calving. As neighbours do, I went to help, tied the dogs to the gate and got Morag (the cow!) into the crush. I couldn’t help myself and (with their permission) started to straighten out the front legs. I didn’t realise how much I’d missed the banter with the farmer while I was doing this. I had no calving ropes or bar to help pull it out and the local ‘proper’ vet was on their way to finish off the job. I went home buzzing.

After this and the conference, I’m in a great positive mindset, revitalised to shout to the world what a great profession I represent, full of dedicated and caring people who go above and beyond every single day.

And who knows what other surprises this year will bring. It’s a bit like tempting fate in practice with the ‘Q’ word, we just need to be ready. It’s time for me to become an adulty adult!