Vet Futures is it just me?

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

J G Wray — Thu, 21 May 2015 16:38:29 GMT

This has just been published

http://www.bva.co.uk/News-campaigns-and-policy/Newsroom/News-releases/Vets-extremely-trusted---National-survey-finds/

Just had a look at the survey of the public and their perception of the profession.

If 94% trust the profession then, is there a problem with trust?

If 78% are satisfied with the service they get, then is there a problem with service?

If 70% believe veterinary fees are fair to excellent value then is there a problem with fees?

Surveys like this can mean anything you like. There is no hope of gaining 100% trust. There is no hope of gaining 100% satisfaction with service. There is no hope of getting a 100% excellent value score for veterinary fees. So, what's the message?

Any ideas?

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

Richard Carter — Thu, 21 May 2015 10:31:58 GMT

also the more regulations, the better it suits the corporate environment who can churn out the required paperwork by experts. The independents need to finance each piece of new regulation compliance individually (role for BVA here?). Make it more complicated, keep closing doors after you have gone through.

If the regulators are being encouraged to enforce, either by the government, our regulators or because of the secretive and never fully disclosed 'demanding public' then more and more small practices will give up the will to live, sell out or close.

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

J G Wray — Wed, 20 May 2015 16:50:47 GMT

[quote user="Francisco Gomez"] There are Corporate practices in the veterinary industry, they have a better chance than you or me on influencing our regulator(s) via encouraging their employees to vote (without having to tell them who for) or by spending some money in publishing stories in our veterinary magazines and journals.[/quote]

I think they have a better chance by getting members of their staff in to positions of influence at RCVS and SPVS for instance, where they can get RCVS/SPVS to "understand them" better. But, that never happens because they have to declare interests.

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

Francisco Gomez — Wed, 20 May 2015 16:46:15 GMT

I'm not suggesting that what I wrote is happening at this moment, I don't have any evidence of that, but your question...

[quote user="J G Wray"]

Can anyone tell me why RCVS and BVA think the profession isn't in control of its own destiny now

[/quote]

... suggest that my hypothesis is, at least, possible.

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

Francisco Gomez — Wed, 20 May 2015 16:39:17 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]

Do you really believe vets will have their voting rights influenced by some Corporate bogey?

[/quote]

Not a bogey. There are Corporate practices in the veterinary industry, they have a better chance than you or me on influencing our regulator(s) via encouraging their employees to vote (without having to tell them who for) or by spending some money in publishing stories in our veterinary magazines and journals.

[quote]

Stop watching so much TV.

[/quote]

... and that's why I should remind myself against answering your questions

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

J G Wray — Wed, 20 May 2015 16:25:17 GMT

[quote user="Francisco Gomez"]

But the moment Corporate vets are advised to vote.... if they vote the Corporate head.... then the Corporate head will have influence

Scary, innit?

[/quote]

Vote for what exactly? Do you really believe vets will have their voting rights influenced by some Corporate bogey?

Stop watching so much TV.

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

Francisco Gomez — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:27:08 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]

The law changes and we respond. The commercial scene changes and we respond. The Regulator changes and we respond.

Without any influence on these we can only be reactive.

[/quote]

But the moment Corporate vets are advised to vote.... if they vote the Corporate head.... then the Corporate head will have influence

Scary, innit?

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

J G Wray — Wed, 20 May 2015 15:17:36 GMT

[quote user="Gerry Henry"]Most clients want a good service, a vet they know and trust and premises that are clean, well equipped and professional looking. [/quote]

You can be more precise than this - Mellanby et al VR Jun 11 2011 I'll let you look it up

I'm pretty sure those who run Vet Futures think vets don't pay attention to this sort of thing

[quote user="Gerry Henry"]Don't worry about the bottom feeders, keep doing the right thing, all will be well[/quote]

Keep doing the right thing and...keep doing the thing right and all will be well, I agree.

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 20 May 2015 14:16:49 GMT

[quote user="Gerry Henry"]Most clients want a good service, a vet they know and trust and premises that are clean, well equipped and professional looking. Don't worry about the bottom feeders, keep doing the right thing, all will be well.[/quote]Well that is just what I am doing and quite frankly business had steadily declined over the last 10 years, albeit with an upward blip last year, and I begin to wonder how much longer it will be worthwhile before I've battened the hatches down so much they can't get any tighter. I'm surrounded by corporates and stack 'em high sell 'em cheap practices with marketing gimmicks. Maybe there's too high a proportion of bottom feeders around here but I'm too near to retirement to care or do anything about it.

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

Gerry Henry — Wed, 20 May 2015 13:14:04 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

The profession is progressively coming under the control of non-vets. The future of many vets will be in the hands of bean counters at Pets at Home and similar.

Not sure the RCVS will have much say in the future of vets beyond disciplining those it feels have failed to live up to the code of conduct. They gave up that control when it was decided that all and sundry could own veterinary practices.

How secure the businesses will be in the long term, I cannot tell but so much of the corporate model seems based on cheap borrowing. Do they start to fold if interest rates climb?

[/quote]

Not sure if they will fold but the joint partners will feel the pinch, that's how the system works. Good practices doing the right thing for fees that aren't p*ss takingly astronomical will do fine and will continue to do fine. Most clients want a good service, a vet they know and trust and premises that are clean, well equipped and professional looking. Don't worry about the bottom feeders, keep doing the right thing, all will be well.

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

J G Wray — Wed, 20 May 2015 12:31:00 GMT

[quote user="Mark Hedberg"]I suspect it's because for the last 100 or so years the majority of the vet profession has been reactive, rather than proactive. I for one rather like that someone's trying to offer guidance![/quote]

Eh? RCVS/BVA are "powering" this (W1A moment) and are not considering the mega forces that influence practice development, namely the commercial and legal, not to mention Regulatory (why is RCVS involved?). I would suggest, that these are outwith the influence of the functional unit which is veterinary practice, but have the greatest effect. The law changes and we respond. The commercial scene changes and we respond. The Regulator changes and we respond. Without any influence on these we can only be reactive.

The subjects being discussed at Vet futures are mini forces and are aspirational rather than essential I would suggest. These are the ones where being thoughtful about the future may be desirable, but in a hard boiled world secondary.

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

J G Wray — Wed, 20 May 2015 12:16:27 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]Strictly speaking, one might well argue, it is in the nature of destiny that one cannot take control of it[/quote]

Ah good point. RCVS is located in SW1 and I wonder sometimes whether they ever watch "W1A" on the BBC.

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

Bob Russell — Wed, 20 May 2015 11:04:06 GMT

The profession is progressively coming under the control of non-vets. The future of many vets will be in the hands of bean counters at Pets at Home and similar.

How secure the businesses will be in the long term, I cannot tell but so much of the corporate model seems based on cheap borrowing. Do they start to fold if interest rates climb?

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 20 May 2015 10:45:49 GMT

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 20 May 2015 10:18:02 GMT

I suspect it's because for the last 100 or so years the majority of the vet profession has been reactive, rather than proactive. I for one rather like that someone's trying to offer guidance!

Re: Vet Futures is it just me?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 19 May 2015 21:43:56 GMT

[quote user="J G Wray"]

Can anyone tell me why RCVS and BVA think the profession isn't in control of its own destiny now, why it never has been and on the evidence of history not demonstrated all the qualities necessary to remain sustainable and relevant?

[/quote]

Because

[quote user="J G Wray"]"..By taking control of its destiny, the veterinary profession will remain sustainable and relevant,[/quote]

is fluffy waffle that sounds good but could mean nothing, or, more significantly here, could mean anything those spouting it wish it to mean.

Strictly speaking, one might well argue, it is in the nature of destiny that one cannot take control of it.