Lord Trees to open BVA Congress 2012
The second veterinary surgeon to enter the House of Lords, Lord Trees, is set to open the annual congress of the British Veterinary Association on Friday 28th September. He will bring a view from inside Parliament on the role of vets and science in public policy making.
Congress officially begins on Thursday evening with a welcome reception, including the Presidential address and awards ceremony celebrating excellence in the profession and runs throughout Friday and Saturday at the Merseyside Maritime Museum at the Albert Dock in Liverpool.
Highlights of the two-day programme, under the theme ‘Delivering a healthy future’, include:
Horses for sport – Race horses are pushed to the limit but how far is too far? Equine vets Professor Tim Greet and Roly Owers debate some of the ethical and practical issues associated with veterinary care of horses in sport.
Women in the veterinary profession – Veterinary science has seen a rapid change in the gender makeup of graduates but what impact, if any, has the demographic shift had? Veterinary surgeons Lynne Hill and Jennifer Hall consider the importance of ‘occupationally relevant sex differences’ between men and women.
Responsibility and cost sharing – The new Animal Health and Welfare Board for England was introduced to bring those most affected by animal health policy into the heart of the decision-making process. One year on, Michael Seals, Chair of the AHWBE, and BVA past president Professor Bill Reilly debate whether it has achieved it goals.
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. 
