New VSA Working Party

RE: New VSA Working Party

Iain Richards — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 19:41:20 GMT

There's nothing on the college website so where did you get the information Arlo?

RE: New VSA Working Party

George Cooper — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 19:08:23 GMT

Those examples are fatuous and irrelevant to this discussion. No amount of new legislation would prevent things like this happening, as within any population there will, unfortunately, be the mavericks, the unwell, the downright dangerous characters.

No - this smacks yet again of the pursuit of personal obsessions, and given the power available to influence others at RCVS, will sadly this time probably result in their achieving their goals to the detriment of all. I expect to read of "defending the public interest" in what the profession does when carrying out its activities, and precious little about our sole reason for existence - the animals entrusted to us. And on a rather more sobering point, I feel that it will do nothing more than diminish our standing in society.

As a matter of interest - who selected the members of the WP?

RE: New VSA Working Party

J G Wray — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 18:08:22 GMT

[quote user="Richard Stephenson"]

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

How many practices are really doing things that badly thereby requiring these powers?

[/quote]

Suggest you try

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-35384848

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3411703/Pictured-Shocking-squalor-secret-cellar-hidden-carpet-vet-girlfriend-caged-TWELVE-neglected-husky-dogs.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2160220/Vet-Aquah-Ohene-Gyan-refused-treat-pets-suffering-terrible-pain-squalid-surgery.html

[/quote]

Do these reports mean we need a new VSA? n=3

RCVS is only capable of accumulating control, particularly through legislation or quasi legislation. This enhances RCVS. There is nothing about RCVS which cedes control, because it means diminishing RCVS, in their eyes.

Those at RCVS believe that advancing the profession is only possible through legislative power and that power and the control it offers can only be vested in RCVS.

They are a very strange bunch at RCVS

RE: New VSA Working Party

grumpyoldman — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:23:20 GMT

A new VSA is needed to control corporate activity, but I suspect it will be hijacked and redirected by the thought police.

An inspectorate of some kind is probably a good idea, as are spot checks, from those who know what they are looking at.

The pendulum has swung in recent years from masters of masterly inactivity to pedantic meddling fish wife-ary. Where it eventually stops will be interesting.

RE: New VSA Working Party

Bob Russell — Sat, 08 Apr 2017 10:28:14 GMT

From what I understand (from reading the articles) these were not related to a veterinary surgeon carrying out his duties but were 'owned' and neglected possessions.

Therefore the RSPCA and the usual animal welfare authorities are the correct people to be investigating. Local authority if commercially breeding.

This comes under the domain of the RCVS really once evidence has been collected and actioned by the proper authorities.

I do accept that this neglect happening in premises attached to a practice might be seen to complicate matters somewhat.

RE: New VSA Working Party

David Mills — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 22:44:09 GMT

[quote user="Richard Stephenson"]

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

How many practices are really doing things that badly thereby requiring these powers?

[/quote]

Suggest you try

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-35384848

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3411703/Pictured-Shocking-squalor-secret-cellar-hidden-carpet-vet-girlfriend-caged-TWELVE-neglected-husky-dogs.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2160220/Vet-Aquah-Ohene-Gyan-refused-treat-pets-suffering-terrible-pain-squalid-surgery.html

[/quote]

Daily Mail - no.longer accepted on Wikipedia as a reliable source.

RE: New VSA Working Party

Richard Stephenson — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 22:32:53 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]

How many practices are really doing things that badly thereby requiring these powers?

[/quote]

Suggest you try

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-35384848

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3411703/Pictured-Shocking-squalor-secret-cellar-hidden-carpet-vet-girlfriend-caged-TWELVE-neglected-husky-dogs.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2160220/Vet-Aquah-Ohene-Gyan-refused-treat-pets-suffering-terrible-pain-squalid-surgery.html

RE: New VSA Working Party

Iain Richards — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 13:42:12 GMT

Reflecting on the composition of the WP, the only member in practice is Liz Cox, representing the nurses (I'm basing this on the on-line C-Vs). There's good, capable people on the group, but it doesn't look balanced.

RE: New VSA Working Party

Bob Russell — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 12:33:52 GMT

Why would the college require power of entry? Clearly if there is suspected criminal activity the Police can apply for a warrant!

How many practices are really doing things that badly thereby requiring these powers?

Really seem to be delusions of grandeur, jobsworth and empire building!

Why not put more effort into finding out why new graduates are having such a shit+y time and why their incomes are all too often pitiful? The profession has some real problems, not least poor pay and conditions - far more important than playing with the VSA (which predates entering the EU by quite a few years!).

RE: New VSA Working Party

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 12:14:53 GMT

It certainly bothers me that one of the examples that sprang to Prof. Mays' mind of the supposed deficiencies of the VSA was: "the College lacks the power of entry or similar power needed for compulsory practice inspection."

There is empire-building going on and Mr. Stace is its Bismarck.

[quote user="Bob Russell"]Mr Stace is not a veterinary surgeon, he is not there to run the profession so should, perhaps go back to running the organisation he is paid to run.[/quote]

Nutshell.

RE: New VSA Working Party

Bob Russell — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 10:44:50 GMT

Probably looks good on his CV!

I tend to agree that this should involve a legal advisor, lay observer and the rest made up with vets preferably reflecting the profession as a whole!

Mr Stace is not a veterinary surgeon, he is not there to run the profession so should, perhaps go back to running the organisation he is paid to run.

At present I feel a little more care needs to be taken to stop the RCVS behaving as Eurocrats are!