Veterinarians in 2030: A British Report Models the Future of the Veterinary Profession 15 Years from Now

By 2030, veterinarians are expected to be key players in animal health and animal welfare, with their roles expanded and more highly valued by society. To achieve this, they will need to build cohesive, well-prepared, and well-supported teams capable of delivering exceptional leadership. A wide range of career paths will be available to them, and their practices, to thrive, will need to be innovative and client-centered. These are the ambitions for the profession outlined in a recent report* by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the result of a year’s work. All stakeholders were consulted. The six ambitions identified from this wealth of information have been translated into an action plan to be implemented. Across the Channel, tomorrow begins today.   The new report, presented at the BVA conference, is the culmination of a full year of research, consultations, and working meetings involving veterinarians, veterinary assistants, members of the broader veterinary team, key stakeholders, animal owners, and the general public. This extensive consultation, which certainly shed light on certain sensitive strategic challenges, brought together the perspectives of each stakeholder and their aspirations for the profession’s future sustainability. At each stage of the study, blogs, surveys, and events helped identify current trends and consider the challenges of tomorrow, thanks to the involvement of hundreds of veterinary students and thousands of veterinarians and non-veterinarians. Six major themes emerged, detailed in a 64-page report that presents a clear vision and set of goals through 34 recommendations for change. Although the focus was on veterinarians, veterinary technicians were not overlooked throughout the project, and many of the goals are shared by both professions. The report does, however, recommend that veterinary technicians adapt these recommendations and use this work as a foundation to develop their own specific vision for the future and their own goals. The veterinary profession as a whole is now called upon to shape its future in a coherent manner, by becoming the driving force behind upcoming changes and new trends to be taken into account. The path forward to achieve these envisioned goals involves implementing 34 recommendations, including: > exploring and conducting a consultation on a sustainable organization of the veterinary curriculum, including the feasibility of a partial degree, allowing veterinary students to tailor their studies and specialize during their program (No. 16); > revising the regulatory framework for veterinary practices to ensure a level of competition that allows for the coexistence of a range of business models, to guarantee professionalism in commercial matters, and to explore the implications of new technologies such as telemedicine (No. 23); > adopt a coordinated, evidence-based approach to ensure the mental health and well-being of the veterinary workforce (No. 10); > conduct a study on veterinary personnel to assess the benefits, forms of recognition, and working conditions of veterinary practitioners and support staff, as well as the factors contributing to low pay and pay inequality (No. 18); > develop a public awareness campaign to better inform the public about the breadth of veterinary expertise, including veterinarians’ roles in public health, research, public services, industry, education, etc. (No. 22); > strengthen veterinary leadership by exploring options for greater consistency in representing the veterinary profession (No. 30) and by developing ways to foster the next generation of veterinary leaders, including through talent identification and development, and by providing them with the skills and conditions necessary for success (No. 31); > consider developing a dedicated online platform for animal welfare to better disseminate research findings and available tools, including the critical evaluation of current practices in light of new advances (No. 3). Other recommendations call for the development and promotion of an animal protection strategy for the profession (No. 1), improved collaboration with human health professionals and environmental organizations (No. 6), the adoption of a more strategic, long-term vision for research funding (No. 9), and exploring ways to encourage diversification within the veterinary profession (No. 20), including by reforming the admissions process for veterinary schools in the United Kingdom. Over the past few years, the veterinary profession has had to adapt and tackle these changes head-on. Today, the challenge is to implement this shared strategy and take charge of the future, with a spirit that combines self-confidence and pride in being a veterinarian.   * Taking Charge of Our Future: A Vision for the Veterinary Profession for 2030, Vetfutures Project, RCVS and BVA, November 2015.  

The veterinary profession across the Channel, according to RCVS data

- 27,934 veterinary surgeons, of whom 20,571 practice in the United Kingdom - 12,670 veterinary nurses - 5,606 veterinary practices