RCVS disagrees with BVA over EMS reforms
Dr Linda Prescott-Clement, director of education at the RCVS.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RVCS) has defended the requirement for a minimum number of weeks of extra-mural studies (EMS) in veterinary training after a new policy paper from the British Veterinary Association (BVA) called for it to be scrapped.
Both organisations agree over the need to reform EMS, which has been part of veterinary education in the UK since 1932, but there is disagreement over the scale of the changes needed.
Published this week, the new policy statement from the BVA calls for the removal of a fixed-time commitment requirement, alongside other reforms such as an increase in personalised learning objectives and guidance for providers on discrimination, harassment and bullying during placements.
The policy was developed through a series of roundtable discussions with students, veterinary schools and EMS providers.
The RCVS has publicly responded to the BVA’s new policy, stating that many of the recommendations have either already been implemented or are in the process of being introduced as part of the RCVS’s EMS reforms, which will come into effect from September 2024.
However, under the changes, there will still be a fixed-time commitment requirement, although the reforms will reduce the minimum number of hours students are expected to spend on EMS placements.
Defending its decision, the RCVS argues that to scrap the requirement altogether would lead to a high risk of unintended consequences which could have a negative impact on students in terms of equality, diversity, and inclusion, as well as affecting their learning and professional development.
Launching the BVA’s new policy position, the chair of the BVA working group on EMS Liz Mossop said: “The recent changes to EMS announced by the RCVS are a positive step - however the working group very much felt, through our extensive stakeholder conversations, that these are not enough. More needs to be done to reform EMS so it aligns with modern teaching methods and is sustainable for today’s veterinary students and professionals.”
In response, Dr Linda Prescott-Clement, RCVS's director of education, said: “While our new EMS policy reduces the minimum required amount of pre-clinical and clinical EMS and allows for greater flexibility in meeting the requirement, we believe getting rid of it entirely would not create a level playing field and, instead, would unduly advantage those students with the time, means and connections to find placements.
“We look forward to working with the BVA and other representative and student groups, as well as the vet schools and placement providers to implement our EMS policy over the coming months.”
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
