Where are the vets?

Re: Where are the vets?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 16:24:17 GMT

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]

"Vet" is perfectly good as a colloquial term for "veterinary surgeon" or for "veterinarian". But if you want to write "veterinary surgeon" you have to write "veterinary surgeon" not "vet surgeon". See?

Does that mean we have to change the name of this forum then?

[/quote]

Har har Ackshly you know that the name of this forum is a brand name (probably a trademark given Arlo's business expertise )

Re: Where are the vets?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 16:10:59 GMT

Excellent result Bob!

Wynne

Re: Where are the vets?

Bob Russell — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 10:33:12 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Maybe it's the line on your website:

Our aim is to grow as far as is possible into a practice that doesn't close. Open 24 hours a day, with surgery performed at night, the clinic would be fully staffed at all times.

[/quote]Does it really say that? In that case you're not pulling his leg.

[quote user="Bob Russel"]Locums are like hens teeth. I need cover for a couple of happy days giving evidence in court next month. It is a real possibility that I will not be in a position to attend! [/quote] Is the exclamation mark the give-away? i would be using the no-locum excuse to get out of it. I've so far managed to avoid 3 calls for jury service but something somewhere inside sneakily would like to get on a juicy mass murder or corporate fraud case. However in reality I suspect I'd end up as a reserve on a boring household dispute and sit around for days not even getting in the courtroom.

[/quote]

Slightly sideways comment but I did get to the court thanks to Neil Wheadon who travelled up to help! Many thanks from everyone here!

The person in question has received a suspended prison sentence and a ban from keeping dogs!

Re: Where are the vets?

Robin Grimmer — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 09:03:07 GMT

Does that mean we have to change the name of this forum then?

Re: Where are the vets?

Braden Collins — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 03:51:42 GMT

Small typo found - when I looked under locum vet the North in North East is written Norht.

Also is it possible to add a "Home" button to each page to allow you to go back to the home page easily?

Re: Where are the vets?

Silvia Maldonado — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 01:43:06 GMT

Oh, no nit-picking at all!!! I am aware that, as English is not my mother tongue, I easily use a weird expression or not the the best words to make myself understood. At least, not the words a native would use. Thanks for the comment indeed.

Re: Where are the vets?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 23:36:08 GMT

[quote user="Silvia Maldonado"]

I have done this first step. Now I need you all to take part of it, post your vacancies, your offers, and make this tool known to other colleagues. Now, I deserve a good, strong coffee

[/quote]

By all means. Have one on me.

[quote user="Silvia Maldonado"]PS: please, let me know any mistake or failure you might find and I missed. Just bear in mind I'm just a vet, not a geek. Likewise, bringing ideas or helping with the spelling is welcome as well.[/quote]

No spelling mistakes yet ....... But! I really don't like the way you've used "vet" for "veterinary" throughout, as in "I am a vet surgeon","I am a vet nurse"...

The rest of you, please note I'm not nit-picking, I'm not being pointlessly pedantic, I'm not belittling anyone, I'm offering a serious little bit of help, even if it's only about style.

Re: Where are the vets?

Silvia Maldonado — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 15:48:38 GMT

Hi, again. Since I read your post and replies over a month ago, I've been wondering what could be done to solve this issue, or at least help with making direct contact easier. For 3 weeks I've been working on a webpage that allows everyone to post their needs, vacancies, positions, or whatever. The result might not be as great as a webpage set up by a professional IT, but it is FREE, and I do hope it works, for it has taken me tens of hours. So here it is, working from today, and hoping that we will be able to contact each other without agencies in between, once it gets more popular.

I have done this first step. Now I need you all to take part of it, post your vacancies, your offers, and make this tool known to other colleagues. Now, I deserve a good, strong coffee

http://vetjobcentre.co.uk/

PS: please, let me know any mistake or failure you might find and I missed. Just bear in mind I'm just a vet, not a geek. Likewise, bringing ideas or helping with the spelling is welcome as well.

Re: Where are the vets?

Luca Poddighe — Tue, 19 May 2015 08:50:06 GMT

It is partially true for the practice I attend it is impossible to get an appointment in reasonable time with the doctor you want to see... Minimum two weeks waiting time, usually people is fine after that amount of time or dead, in both cases doesn't require a GP.

Re: Where are the vets?

karen jones — Mon, 18 May 2015 17:20:05 GMT

a local solicitor told me that many gps only work a 3 day week as they can easily live off that and if they want more a weekend at the local out of hours centre supplements their income nicely. they can then spend the rest of the week pursuing their hobbies etc. He said that many local practices he deals with are being run by locums[quote user="Bob Russell"]

There just seems to be something odd with certain professions. Apparently 1 in 10 GP posts remain unfilled.

Shorter hours, less on call and pretty fair money (good for partners), yet GP posts remain open. Seems very bizarre as GP jobs used to be favoured. Are expectations as to performance really that high as to prevent people working in certain fields. If so then there are too many pressures and too little support.

I hear a lot of grumbles about the performance of individual GP's which was pretty unheard of in the past.

[/quote]

Re: Where are the vets?

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 18 May 2015 17:10:41 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]How many vets enjoy treating minor things and referring everything else? They don't get any complex medicine, surgery etc. I'd hate the job.[/quote] And some! I might have become a doctor if I could have been guaranteed being a consultant surgeon but GP no way. How about a dentist? Aaargh - even worse. Mind you as a total misanthropist its not likely I would have chosen any of those pathways!

Re: Where are the vets?

Silvia Maldonado — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:51:24 GMT

I guess is a little bit of everything, just as it happens in our profession. More responsibility, less time per consult, higher expectations, clients/patients more demanding... More stress and worse outcome, in the end.

Re: Where are the vets?

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 18 May 2015 15:42:51 GMT

Bob - the issue with GPs is they are not training enough to keep up with those leaving.

It takes 5+ years post graduation to become a GP, and then it's not very sexy. How many vets enjoy treating minor things and referring everything else? They don't get any complex medicine, surgery etc. I'd hate the job.

Re: Where are the vets?

Bob Russell — Mon, 18 May 2015 14:46:33 GMT

There just seems to be something odd with certain professions. Apparently 1 in 10 GP posts remain unfilled.

I hear a lot of grumbles about the performance of individual GP's which was pretty unheard of in the past.

Re: Where are the vets?

Silvia Maldonado — Sun, 17 May 2015 00:39:57 GMT

Let's not forget how scared, concern, worried, when not paralyzed we were when we started. Here comes my welcome to them all ;) https://www.ted.com/playlists/158/graduation_now_what

Re: Where are the vets?

Bob Russell — Thu, 14 May 2015 12:59:44 GMT

It has always been a tough profession. The hours alone do not explain the lack of vets.

My suspicion is that young vets are expected to take the place of experienced clinicians on the front line. I always had someone with a wealth of experience in the background to call upon when required (often!). I am the experienced one now but rarely have all the answers. The big difference is I generally know someone that does!

This practice is a bit like an extended family. There are tough days but lots of laughter despite me being a miserable git at times!

Financial pressures are always there and I would dance with joy if someone was willing to take them from me. Lottery win would be nice!

Re: Where are the vets?

ALASDAIR MATHIESON — Thu, 14 May 2015 11:05:59 GMT

Bob,

Thankyou for picking up on the point I was trying to make. Young graduates looking for that work/life balance, but work is a big part of life and if they dread going to work, there will never be a balance, nomatter how enjoyable life out of work is. The end result is not wanting to work in practice. There is something bad at the core of this profession now, the fun/enjoyment seems to have gone out of it for many, eventually resulting in the depression, and worse, that the profession is now well known for. Somehow, we have to show that being in practice can be enjoyable.

Re: Where are the vets?

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 14 May 2015 10:58:19 GMT

[quote user="ALASDAIR MATHIESON"]Have you no redeeming features? Are you mellowing with age or getting worse? [/quote]I'm getting worse!

Re: Where are the vets?

ALASDAIR MATHIESON — Thu, 14 May 2015 09:55:34 GMT

Apology accepted.

But, I've got great staff, including "Sammy", and can't see what's wrong with saying that.

I'd better edit the advert "nonweirdo preferred".

You'd be a terrible employer, perfectionist, control freak? Have you no redeeming features? Are you mellowing with age or getting worse?

Re: Where are the vets?

Bob Russell — Thu, 14 May 2015 09:28:38 GMT

The question still remains, 'Where are the vets?'.

Hundreds being trained but few applying for jobs. Are the new graduates being headhunted by the corporates so never appear on the jobs market? Are graduates not bothering to apply for jobs in practice at all?

Re: Where are the vets?

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 14 May 2015 09:20:40 GMT

[quote user="ALASDAIR MATHIESON"]"Sammy" has done very well since starting here - she is sociable, "normal" and knows her stuff, just the sort of vet I'm after - and I don't understand what's condescending about saying that.[/quote]It just seemed unnecessary almost as though you were surprised that she is 'normal' and you were expecting only weido's to apply. I've heard other vets praise their staff when they treat them like dirt and it sounds most insincere.

If I misunderstood you, once again I apologise for starting an argument in an empty room! I have to say that I am both unemployable (I got through 6 jobs within 18 months of qualifying) and would be a terrible employer because I am a perfectionist control freak which is why I have been sole charge for so long.

Re: Where are the vets?

Sarah Keir — Thu, 14 May 2015 09:19:49 GMT

There has to be a reason why you aren't getting any applications for your post advertised. I don't know what they might be but ...

- I am Scottish and though I currently live in the south east, Inverness is too way out the way for me if I was considering moving back North (and I am an outdoor/skiing, hill walking type). Easyjet have cancelled some of the Inverness routes, meaning it is more out the way.

- My best friend is a vet working in Inverness. She currently works less hours (including a 4 day week) and earns more than I do working in London commuter belt. Are you offering a good enough package?

- There are currently loads of vet jobs being advertised in the Vet Times. Competition means you need to stand out from the crowd.

Sarah

Re: Where are the vets?

ALASDAIR MATHIESON — Wed, 13 May 2015 22:33:23 GMT

[quote user="Sammy82"]I am the vet working for Alasdair now,[/quote]OK Sammy I eat my hat and humble pie and anything else I can do to be contrite. I don't doubt your hours but the expressed ambition to be open 24/7 may have been enough to put people off - I was not alone in thinking that.

The location actually is the thing that would attract me, as said close to skiing, I'm going to be retiring soon tell Alisdair to keep the job open.

[/quote][quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

The location actually is the thing that would attract me, as said close to skiing, I'm going to be retiring soon tell Alisdair to keep the job open.

Well, that's a first.

To be clear : my vets have five weekdays and two weekends off in every three week rota. To be open 24 hours was our original intention when we opened more than six years ago and our opening hours are prominent on our website. "Sammy" has done very well since starting here - she is sociable, "normal" and knows her stuff, just the sort of vet I'm after - and I don't understand what's condescending about saying that.

Of course the location is a plus, not a minus, but hopefully the post will be filled before you retire. We have a very good working atmosphere unsuited to someone who could obviously start an argument in an empty room. Thanks for registering an interest, though.

Re: Where are the vets?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Wed, 13 May 2015 18:08:44 GMT

Milliner's shops must be doing a roaring trade - replacing all the hats that have been eaten recently

Wynne

Re: Where are the vets?

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 13 May 2015 18:01:19 GMT

The location actually is the thing that would attract me, as said close to skiing, I'm going to be retiring soon tell Alisdair to keep the job open.