Through adversity, comes a new future

The Covid-19 global pandemic is an event which has struck deep into all aspects of our society, but how might it impact our future?

Echoing through the long history of our profession are many big challenges that have been thrown into our path.

Our colleagues before us have faced animal disease epidemics, from the Cattle Plague disaster of 1865 to the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in 2001; many terrible events affecting the population at large, such as the two World Wars and the flu pandemics of 1889 and 1918-19. Now, we face this grim Covid-19 menace.

The veterinary profession has always weathered these storms, risen magnificently to challenges and made such incredible contributions to animal health and welfare and public health, while supporting each other closely.

Rapidity and responsiveness

Like everyone, the RCVS had to respond to a rapidly-developing situation, and so we’ve had to make decisions, change policies (temporarily) and be aware of and responsive to the needs of the professions. We have had to continue effective regulation whilst making changes to mitigate some of the adverse effects which were taking place.

The College quickly postponed or cancelled a multitude of events and meetings along with everyone else. The events that were in my diary disappeared like tears in rain and, on a personal level, I deeply regret missing the opportunities to meet so many members of our fantastic professions.

Our initial interpretation was to strictly adhere to the ‘stay at home’ advice from government in order to maximise the potential impact of the lock down on flattening the peak of the outbreak. Hence the guidance was produced to focus on maintaining the food supply chain and providing emergency or urgent treatment only. The RCVS has always been clear in supporting veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses to use their professional judgement in each situation, and do what is best for each animal under their care, while being very aware of personal safety.

On 24 March, Council agreed to temporarily permit the remote prescribing of veterinary medicines where appropriate and where complying with government advice leaves no options. We also changed the payment process for registration fees by spreading them out to assist people’s finances.

Agile decision-making

It became clear that events were unfolding rapidly and an RCVS Covid-19 Taskforce was formed on a temporary basis on 26 March to speed up decision making. If you’d told me at the start of this year we’d be issuing updates to guidance and policies, albeit on a temporary basis, about remote prescribing and supply of veterinary medicines, I’d have thought you were day-dreaming, but here we are. It’s what we’ve done to ensure that the professions can work in the new context of the pandemic.

I chair the Taskforce, which comprises the Senior and Junior Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, VNC Chair, all Standing Committee Chairs,and a further vet member and a lay member of Council. Non-voting members include our CEO Lizzie Lockett, Registrar Eleanor Ferguson and our Director of Operations, Corrie McCann. The aim was to support more agile decision-making on temporary policy changes pertaining to the pandemic, whilst continuing to maintain a robust process.

We changed the EMS requirements on a temporary basis for veterinary students, recognising that the lockdown restrictions make it impossible for students to achieve the full requirement. We reduced the number of weeks of EMS final-year students required to complete their veterinary degree to 30 weeks.

We reviewed the EMS requirements further with respect to students in fourth year and below. We agreed with the Veterinary Schools Council (VSC) that current fourth-year students should not be prevented from graduating, providing they have completed their 12 weeks preclinical EMS and at least 50% (13 weeks) of clinical EMS, in addition to demonstrating they have achieved all the RCVS Day-One Competencies. And we continue to actively work with VSC to explore ways to support students in their earlier years, who will also be impacted.

We reduced by 25% the amount of annual CPD vets and nurses will need to undertake this year.

We published guidance on how the professions could help in the national effort against coronavirus by returning to OV roles in red and white meat, by contributing ventilators, PPE and other materials, and in undertaking certain other roles. We temporarily suspended Practice Standards Scheme assessments.

VN Council made decisions on VN training by asking all VN educators to defer all forms of practical training for at least three months. Under the strict lockdown conditions, the SVN OSCEs required for SVNs would not be immediately possible, although this has continued to be reviewed and examined further. VN Council also formed a special solution-focused Taskforce on 17 April to look at possible alternative routes for student veterinary nurses to complete their veterinary nursing qualifications and join the register.

It became clear that the current lockdown would not end at Easter and so we produced updated guidance which included a flowchart on a rolling two-month period that would allow practices to do more, only if they can do it safely. This is in order to mitigate longer-term animal health and welfare risks (and also additional public health risks, where zoonotic disease may occur), while still working hard to ensure social distance measures with regard to the public and veterinary teams.

Veterinary professionals and their teams must continue to consider closely what they can do, while paying close attention to risk assessment, biosecurity and HSE guidelines. The Flowchart is designed to be reasonably future-proofed and it still being used just now, with some very minor potential revisions in light of more recent government guidance.

Reassurance and engagement

I have reassured our veterinary professionals on several occasions that making their best judgments in such difficult situations would be supported and looked upon favourably. Our guidance is clear in that it prioritises human health – practice teams, their families and animal owners – over that of animal health. That’s not an easy message for professionals who are driven to look after animals but of course that’s how it must be.

The Senior Team, Officer Team and also the Taskforce meets in frequent, weekly  (or more) conversations by Zoom or Microsoft Teams. With the CEO and other senior officers, I have been in frequent meetings with BVA and BVA president Daniella Dos Santos and all the BVA associations, the UK Chief Vet and CVOs of Scotland, Wales and NI; with Defra, APHA, FSA and FSS. We meet regularly with Vet Schools Council and are in contact with FVE and other European veterinary organisations. Collaboration with all stakeholders is incredibly important and we strive to maintain a united message for the benefit of animal welfare.

The RCVS staff at Belgravia House have been working remotely since 20 March and are doing a fantastic job keeping the ship afloat while dealing with these huge numbers of changes. The communications team do great work updating our professions with emails, press releases, social media updates and guidance. They often work late into the night to get this done. Much excellent material has been produced to support the profession and guide the public, and our Advice Team has been working very hard to respond to the huge increase in enquiries that have been coming in over the past couple of months. RCVS Knowledge, our charity partner produces excellent support with lots of online information and resources about coronavirus.

As President, I have taken part in various different events around the country, from my office at home. The BVA webinar with Daniella and me on 12 April following our joint statement to the professions attracted over 3,000 listeners and over 500 questions. I’ve done radio interviews and podcasts, and update my social media channels and frequently as I can, as well as answering loads of other communications. I’ve been contacted by many folk, including communication at the highest level.

The RCVS has also surveyed practices, with two surveys so far to look at the impact of the pandemic on veterinary businesses, and a third imminent. This will inform and guide our work in the coming months, so do please ensure your practice responds.

Outstanding

Where will all this lead? We will continue to regulate appropriately in the circumstances, with understanding, reassurance and compassion, whilst knowing there will be light at the end of the tunnel for all of us. The most important aspect of all this work is that, although a lot has been changed on a temporary basis, our focus is ensuring standards remain high, particularly on the education front. This is embedded in every decision that has been made. I’m confident that the new veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses entering our world this year are amongst the best we’ve ever had.

Our veterinary and nursing professions are doing an outstanding job looking after animal welfare, protecting their teams and the public. They have a superb relationship with the public and their reputation is excellent. Currently we are watching, adjusting and horizon scanning. The UK government guidance has continue to change regularly, and will no doubt change again. The devolved governments have issued their own versions. We must negotiate our way safely forward. 

Veterinary surgeons are working hard in a vast spectrum of activities such as general practice, specialist practice, government work, laboratories, fish farms, education and everything you might imagine. Our new graduates will be closely supported and should expect that support. Out of this extreme adversity, I believe we can learn lessons, innovate and consider new ways of working for the future.

It is a privilege for me as RCVS President to be a small part of this. As others have noted, we’re entering a ‘new normal’ now and we don’t know yet how long this will last, so we’re mindful that we will need to review our guidance and how the professions are working to make sure we carry on supporting them as best we can.

For the time being, though, there is never a dull day!