Government publishes White Paper on vet regulation reform
A new independent veterinary ombudsman could review regulations.
The government has officially published its White Paper for the veterinary sector, which sets out a number of reforms for the profession.
The document addresses several elements of the CMA remedy package, but has been praised for its approach to the reform of the Veterinary Surgeons Act. This follows a consultation conducted earlier this year.
A consultation into the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 sought views on proposals for the regulation of professionals and businesses, fitness to practice and governance of the regulator. The government has also today published a summary of these responses and details of its own response.
In its statement alongside the White Paper, Defra says the profession is ‘radically different’ from when the Veterinary Surgeons Act was produced and that legislation ‘has not kept pace’.
Proposals in the document include statutory regulation for veterinary businesses, protection for the veterinary nurse title and considerations for an independent veterinary ombudsman.
Christine Middlemiss, UK chief veterinary officer, said: “The veterinary profession has changed enormously over the past 60 years, but the legislation underpinning it has not kept pace.
“This new framework will build a stronger, more resilient veterinary profession fit to meet the needs of the UK’s animal sector whilst ensuring the highest standards of care for our animals.”
The White Paper has been welcomed by a number of veterinary organisations, including the British Veterinary Association (BVA), British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
The BVA has particularly praised considerations for an ‘independent veterinary ombudsman’, which is proposed to make binding decisions when resolving complaints outside of practices. The organisation says this new regulator must be trusted by both the public and the profession.
Rob Williams, BVA president, said: “We are pleased that the Government has listened to our concerns and proposed a separation of the regulatory and professional leadership functions, with an independent oversight body to review the regulator’s performance.
“We also back proposals for the ultimate decision-making power of the regulator to rest with an appointed Board that will include a mix of lay and professional members, a requirement for veterinary businesses and individual registered professionals to pay a licence fee.”
The RCVS has similarly welcomed the proposals in the government’s White Paper, which it says will ‘revolutionise’ veterinary regulation.
Tim Hutchinson, RCVS president, said: "These changes will be a step-change in how we regulate, but we remain confident in the College's capacity to do so alongside our other public interest activities; we already have experience of regulating multiple professions, and of accrediting veterinary practices under our voluntary Practice Standards Scheme.
“We look forward to working with Defra and stakeholders across the sector to help turn these recommendations into a regulatory framework fit for the 21st century."
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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. 
