The VET Festival

Re: The VET Festival

Luca Poddighe — Thu, 14 May 2015 09:32:14 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]No, but do go ahead [/quote]

I hope this is not the competition

Re: The VET Festival

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 13 May 2015 11:01:01 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]Have I ever told you how fantastic I think you are Arlo?[/quote]

No, but do go ahead

Re: The VET Festival

Anthony Dennison — Sat, 09 May 2015 09:38:58 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Actually, I hope I'm going to be there schmoozing you with free drinks! [/quote]

Have I ever told you how fantastic I think you are Arlo?

Re: The VET Festival

Simo — Fri, 08 May 2015 20:32:11 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

The CPD on CITS and Snowscene is always aimed at refresher level and if you're a skier a no-brainer.

[/quote]

I'm quite skilled at crossing my skis and tumble down from the skilift. I'm a southern islands girl (not your southern, further down on the map) and would be more at my place in a scuba diving/sunlounging/CPD event. This actually gives me an idea, I could go at the vet festival and ask NF if he fancies a paid holiday here:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J9288Be5eTM/UeG7rXJSIfI/AAAAAAAAPsI/jcdYHNdUPNI/s1600/Girovagando+%2813%29.jpg

Re: The VET Festival

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 08 May 2015 19:00:52 GMT

[quote user="Simo"]insistence on "first class consultation and not feeling bad about charging for it" [/quote]One reason I went to the 'on a budget' stream at BSAVA conference. It was quite interesting watching the speakers climb down from their ivory towers and quite enjoy themselves.

The CPD on CITS and Snowscene is always aimed at refresher level and if you're a skier a no-brainer.

Re: The VET Festival

Simo — Fri, 08 May 2015 18:51:01 GMT

NDSR seems to be hit and miss, some are very sensible, others less. I have no experience of VRCC, but some further north are a bit as you describe about NF. I admit to have no direct experience of him as a lecturer, so I can be totally wrong, but all that insistence on "first class consultation and not feeling bad about charging for it" looks like they don't really have the pulse of the reality of first opinion practice and you just confirmed that.

Re: The VET Festival

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 08 May 2015 18:27:13 GMT

[quote user="Simo"]After most referral centre's CPD I feel like all the relevant information I got was in the presentation title. [/quote]There used to be a time when all speakers were from universities. Because of the burgeoning presence of private referral practices a number will be from those and I suppose it is only natural there will be a degree of self-promotion. But CPD I've been to with NDSR and VRCC didn't give that impression.

My experience of NF was as a speaker on feline OA. He spent 10 minutes on basic stuff on that subject then the rest of the time promoting his practice and all the clever super-vet things he did. He couldn't answer the one question I asked him and he openly admitted that he probably knew less than me as a general pratitioner because we would see far more cases in first opinion practice. Someone paid him to give that talk so I considerd it most disingenuous. There is little I have heard or seen about him since that has altered my perception.

Re: The VET Festival

Simo — Fri, 08 May 2015 17:49:15 GMT

Is not only a Noel Fitzpatrick problem, mind. After most referral centre's CPD I feel like all the relevant information I got was in the presentation title. It's a personal preference but I find much more useful to attend to something only slightly above my level, or new ideas on common problems that I might actually try myself. The event can still be worthy for the networking and the exibition, if the catering is generous

Re: The VET Festival

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 08 May 2015 14:01:20 GMT

[quote user="Simo"]it looks like "WE can do this, WE can do that" How many owners will want to listen me talking about a procedure I never performed and likely will never ever perform myself? Will it not be more effective to just tell them "Let's see if Supervet can do something for you"? [/quote] I rest my case! This is exactly my experience when I've heard NF speak. At least I have a fellow sceptic Simo.

Re: The VET Festival

Luca Poddighe — Fri, 08 May 2015 13:19:18 GMT

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]They will take emergencies 24/7, give good feedback on cases, will provide advice over the phone, and clients seem happy with the service as well.[/quote]

I agree completely

Re: The VET Festival

Simo — Fri, 08 May 2015 12:44:30 GMT

I have mixed feelings on this. On a side, I like the concept of a festival kind of event and the fact that it is somewhat family friendly. On the other side I had a look at the stream titles and it looks like "WE can do this, WE can do that", while I appreciate that knowing a bit of the advanced techniques you're sending referral cases for is good, does it really change so much on how I will approach the cases? How many owners will want to listen me talking about a procedure I never performed and likely will never ever perform myself? Will it not be more effective to just tell them "Let's see if Supervet can do something for you"?

Re: The VET Festival

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 08 May 2015 11:21:42 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Don't understand. Who is being hypocritical about what?[/quote]I realised that hypocrisy wasn't the correct word which is why I added sarcasm and was going to delete the h word but my finger twitched on the post button before I made the decision!

I do not deny that NF is a skilful and innovative surgeon and has done a lot of good in promoting the veterinary profession as a whole. I would be lying if I said I wasn't even a teensy weensy bit envious of his facilities and fame. And if anything I am the hypocrite as I'm hardly one to hide my light under a bushel. But having met the man and been given the impression that promoting his own image had long overtaken his drive to be a good vet, it struck me that this new event was more aimed at self aggrandisement and vanity than a genuine attempt to organise an innovative CPD event.

Now shoot me down in flames red star man.

Re: The VET Festival

Robin Grimmer — Fri, 08 May 2015 11:12:38 GMT

I agree with Martin, I can't stand the bloke! Can't stand all the spiel and bs that he gives the owners

Re: The VET Festival

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 08 May 2015 11:06:24 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"][quote user="Arlo Guthrie"] I can think of far easier and more effective ways to self-promotion and celebrity than organising a veterinary CPD event (not least a prime time TV programme).[/quote]Amid the aroma of sour grapes do I sense a hint of sarcasm and hypocrisy?[/quote]

No, I wasn't being sarcastic. I just think that organising a CPD event would not be an easy or effective method of self-promotion, particularly when you've already got a prime time TV programme going on.

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]and hypocrisy?[/quote]

Don't understand. Who is being hypocritical about what?

Re: The VET Festival

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:53:50 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"] I can think of far easier and more effective ways to self-promotion and celebrity than organising a veterinary CPD event (not least a prime time TV programme).[/quote]Amid the aroma of sour grapes do I sense a hint of sarcasm and hypocrisy?

Re: The VET Festival

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 08 May 2015 10:00:17 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]This stinks too much of self promotion and celebrity than a genuine attempt to provide quality CPD.[/quote]

Oh c'mon. That's a cheap shot. Must say, I can think of far easier and more effective ways to self-promotion and celebrity than organising a veterinary CPD event (not least a prime time TV programme).

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]Some may call it sour grapes[/quote]

Does have a whiff of it

Anyway, I completely agree with Thomas, I wouldn't begrudge anyone for promoting his business.

[quote user="Thomas Johnson"]He has generated a public persona, which is almost inevitable with the amount of coverage he gets, and if he uses that to promote his business well done to him[/quote]

and isn't Mark right? Don't you agree that he shows the profession in a very good light?

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]I would far rather guys like him generated a persona for illustrating cutting edge veterinary medicine.[/quote]

Anyway, whatever you think of the motives, I think the festival idea sounds like a breath of fresh air; something really different to anything we've seen in this country, and I don't doubt it will be first-class CPD.

Incidentally, declaration of interest, I should add that I'm not taking any payment for helping promote the event to you (banner adverts etc) - I'm doing it purely because I think it's a good idea.

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"] hopefully there will be reps there schmoozing people with free drinks, and it's a chance to catch up with friends.[/quote]

Actually, I hope I'm going to be there schmoozing you with free drinks!

Re: The VET Festival

Mark Rowland — Thu, 07 May 2015 19:49:06 GMT

Ha can't imagine there will be many gatecrashing attempts or mind altering substance (C2H6O aside) abuse

Wow man just snuck into the cardiology stream. It was like AWESOME ! [:)]

Re: The VET Festival

Mark Rowland — Thu, 07 May 2015 18:30:21 GMT

I think he is OK. have sent a couple of cases over and been happy enough.

I would far rather guys like him generated a persona for illustrating cutting edge veterinary medicine. Its far better than the popular vets of history who generated their persona by illustrating how inept they were. My favourite quote from this era has to be "Oh yes a caesarian is a routine operation" whereupon the bitch dies on the table leaving loads of puppies to hand feed. Another example being the time when a vet tried to make DIY history by trying to paint the walls of the room with cat vaccines.

Re: The VET Festival

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 07 May 2015 18:20:03 GMT

That sounds like a perfect referral centre

Wynne

Re: The VET Festival

Thomas Johnson — Thu, 07 May 2015 18:13:44 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]

I tried to keep my hands tied behind my back but I couldn't help myself. I'm afraid I'm not the greatest fan of Knowall Noel Fitzpatrick. This stinks too much of self promotion and celebrity than a genuine attempt to provide quality CPD. Some may call it sour grapes (Mrs A does) but to say I find him somewhat insincere is a polite understatement.

[/quote]

He has generated a public persona, which is almost inevitable with the amount of coverage he gets, and if he uses that to promote his business well done to him, what he's really like behind that I don't know. What I do know is that as our local orthopaedic referral centre we are very happy with the service we get. They will take emergencies 24/7, give good feedback on cases, will provide advice over the phone, and clients seem happy with the service as well.

Re: The VET Festival

Bob Russell — Thu, 07 May 2015 16:29:23 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

[quote user="Tanya Fielding"]We should all already have a pair of willies.[/quote]

Autocorrect problem? I'm more than happy just having one of them.

[/quote]

i have stopped using Firefox because it autocorrects everything and a number of posts have ended up saying very different things to intended!

Pair of willies does make you think though!

Re: The VET Festival

Anthony Dennison — Thu, 07 May 2015 16:00:39 GMT

You don't have to go to his lectures, and hopefully there will be reps there schmoozing people with free drinks, and it's a chance to catch up with friends.

Plus if Arlo sorts you out with free tickets, why not?

Re: The VET Festival

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 07 May 2015 15:54:06 GMT

Re: The VET Festival

Arlo Guthrie — Thu, 07 May 2015 15:51:13 GMT

[quote user="Anthony Dennison"]Do I smell a special vetsurgeon competition?![/quote]

Indeed

Re: The VET Festival

Anthony Dennison — Thu, 07 May 2015 15:43:51 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]But I do have a small number to dish out later.[/quote]

Do I smell a special vetsurgeon competition?!