Veterinary Workload Challenges Raise Animal Welfare Concerns

Welsh veterinary professionals are warning that an insufficient number of veterinary surgeons could severely compromise animal health. Data from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) indicates a rise in the number of vets in Wales over the last decade, from slightly over 1,000 in 2014 to 1,488 in 2024. However, the British Veterinary Association contends that these statistics do not reflect the substantial growth in pet ownership, particularly during and following the pandemic. The association also points to an increase in administrative tasks and inspections required of vets due to Brexit, which reduces the time available for animal treatment. Illustrating this heightened demand, over three million households across the UK acquired new pets during the pandemic, frequently due to social isolation, elevating the total number to more than 17 million. Vet Elizabeth Harries, who graduated “10 years ago,” stated: “Like most people, I thought I’d be out and about doing all the fun things, but unfortunately there’s a lot of paperwork and that has increased. “We have to record all of our visits, our medications use, batch numbers. We also have to help our farmers with their farm health plans, so that can take up a lot of our time.” She explained that in her practice, she might readily dedicate “two or three hours” to administrative duties within an “eight-hour day.” Ms. Harries further commented: “Unfortunately our clinical work has to come first for obvious reasons,” adding: “It certainly contributes to the fact our job isn’t a nine-to-five job. “A lot of our paperwork is done in the evening when we’ve officially finished work.”” Ms. Harries routinely visits various locations, such as Blaenffynnon farm in Horeb near Llandysul in Ceredigion. These visits enable her to inspect the cattle, and the rapport she establishes with their owner is essential for maintaining the animals’ health. She expressed concern that a reduction in these visits would lead to animal suffering, stating: “We’re in a situation, where if we can’t provide a service 24/7, it’s going to have a real negative impact on animal health and welfare.” She continued: “Long term, if it carries on as now, then I don’t think it is sustainable. I think the consequence on the health and welfare of animals could be absolutely huge.” She stressed the critical importance of securing adequate personnel to ensure continuous “24/7” service for the agricultural community. Ffion Rees, a farmer at Blaenffynnon, concurred, remarking: “We don’t want to see animals in pain.” She elaborated: “When we call the vet, we really do need them. “We need a vet all day, and all night. So, yeah, it’s really important.” Several veterinary professionals informed BBC Wales that their workload had grown, a trend the BVA reports as prevalent throughout Wales and the UK, particularly in rural regions. The Welsh government acknowledged the necessity of continuously assessing veterinary capacity and capability, confirming its awareness of the existing difficulties. It also noted the ongoing expansion of a veterinary school in Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, which “plays an important role to encourage our vets of the future to study and practice veterinary medicine in Wales”. The UK government stated its engagement with essential stakeholders to tackle professional shortages. This involves re-establishing the UK’s relationship with Europe and pursuing a new veterinary agreement, alongside ensuring the provision of high-quality veterinary education within the UK.