Massive changes to veterinary legislation will affect all who treat horses
Most vets are welcoming the “biggest reforms to the veterinary sector” in 60 years after the Government shared plans to overhaul the Veterinary Surgeons Act (1966).
The Defra white paper, published on 9 July, outlines major reforms to the veterinary sector and paves the way for regulating others working in animal care under one overarching system. This includes farriers, barefoot trimmers, chiropractors, equine dental technicians and more.
It includes proposals to regulate veterinary and animal healthcare businesses – not just individual vets – and protect the title “veterinary nurse” so it is only used by qualified professionals. Other titles could be added to the protected list in future.
It also sets out plans for a new licence-to-practise system for vets, vet nurses and allied veterinary professionals, a veterinary ombudsman for a clearer complaints process and a fitness-to-practise system focused on current risk and competence rather than only past misconduct. It proposes to abolish the Farriers Registration Council (FRC), as farriers would be regulated by the new system.
The white paper also considers the Competition and Marketing Authority (CMA) recommendations into pricing and transparency, following the CMA report (news, 2 April). It states that time to discuss it will be secured “as soon as parliamentary time allows”.
Tim Hutchinson, president of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the regulatory body for veterinary surgeons in the UK, said these proposed reforms “are even more significant for the public interest and animal health and welfare” than the CMA recommendations.
“These changes are essential for protecting animal health and welfare and for maintaining public confidence in the veterinary professions,” he said.
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H&H vet Karen Coumbe said she is “very positive” about the reforms, adding that this is a “crucially important topic for the wider veterinary world, not just equine vets”.
“Defra’s proposals are significant for the public interest and animal health and welfare, however as with everything, the devil will be in the detail,” she said.
“In recent years, many veterinary practices have changed from small mixed practice ‘James Herriot’ style surgeries to large, often single-species businesses, not necessarily owned by vets.
“Currently individual vets themselves and registered vet nurses are held accountable for their actions, but the veterinary practices where they work are not fully regulated, when they should be. This applies to every single veterinary business, all of which need to focus on their responsibilities to their staff and most importantly the animals under their care.
“This should apply for all animals, be they farm animals, domestic pets or horses or any other animal undergoing any form of care or treatment.”
She added that currently, the qualification of a veterinary nurse is not properly recognised and, and welcomed the proposal that this title be protected and reserved for those who “are properly trained and appropriately responsible for animals under their care”.
Dr Coumbe also said that anyone involved in looking after and treating any animal ought to be fully regulated.
The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has set out an explainer on its website, breaking down what the proposed reforms mean for equine vets, nurses, students and allied professionals.
“For BEVA members, the key message is this: the white paper supports long-overdue reform, but the equine detail now matters enormously. BEVA will be working to make sure the final legislation and the rules that follow it are safe, proportionate and workable for equine practice,” said a BEVA spokesperson.
The FRC responded to the Defra consultation this year, saying that it disagrees with the reform as proposed in the consultation, but is “open to reform where it delivers better regulation for the benefit of animals and the public”. It stated that “what is proposed appears to fly in the face of Government’s own desire for better targeted, agile and proportionate regulation”.
On 17 July, a FRC spokesperson told H&H: “The observations made by the council in response to the Government consultation were valid and relevant to the issue of new veterinary legislation. That they have not been adopted in the white paper – for which no explanation has yet been offered – makes them no less valid and relevant now.”
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.