Large animal rescue: the Fire and Rescue Service and veterinary profession working together

1. Large animal rescue: the Fire and Rescue Service and veterinary profession working together Josh Slater and Andrew Harrison

2. Large animal rescue: the Fire and Rescue Service and veterinary profession working together Josh Slater Senior Vice President, British Equine Veterinary Association

3. Why are we here? • to tell you about the veterinary profession • organisation and structure • to tell you about the importance of involving vets in rescue planning and the key role of sedation and anaesthesia • to tell you about the BEVA Directory of Equine Practices • to share our vision for the future of large animal rescue

4. The veterinary profession

5. The UK veterinary profession • statutory regulation by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons • Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 • maintains Register of vets licensed to practise • 15,000 vets on the Register • increasing proportion of women • overall 65% male, 35% female • in vet schools >80% of students are female • changing the way practices are structured and operated: part time working and career breaks

6. What do vets do? RCVS Manpower Survey 2002

7. Veterinary practice • veterinary practices are private businesses • ‘small-medium enterprises’ • owned by a partnership employing assistants • there is no animal NHS • owners pay for treatment • many small animals and horses are insured • horse insurance may just cover death (cheaper premiums) or may cover veterinary fees as well (more expensive premiums) • practices are not ‘joined-up’ like GP surgeries within the NHS

8. How are vets connected? • the RCVS sets the standards of training, accreditation and conduct required of vets • like the GMC and GDC for doctors and dentists • can remove vets from the Register • professional associations (e.g. BEVA, BSAVA, BCVA) represent the interests of vets in practice • organise education and training • disseminate and gather information • political lobbying

9. What do vets in practice do? RCVS Manpower Survey 2002

10. The veterinary profession

11. What this means to you • most vets are not equine or farm animal vets • most vets are small animal vets • they have little or no experience of equine or farm animal veterinary practice • they are not familiar with large animals • they have no equine/farm equipment or drugs • they are likely to refuse to attend large animal rescues if called • they are unlikely to be much use to you if they do attend a large animal rescues

12. BEVA Directory of Equine Veterinary Surgeons • emergency contact list • nationwide directory of 186 equine practices • nationwide directory of horse ambulances, transporters, welfare organisations, slaughterers, rescue centres • vital resource for F&RS control room staff

13. The Emergency Services Protocol • launched in May 2007, a milestone in equine welfare • a first step setting out general operating procedures for emergency incidents involving horses • prepared by consortium of equine welfare groups • purpose of the protocol • ensure the safety of those assisting with the rescue • minimise further injury, distress, suffering of horses involved • a first step in setting standards • Animal Rescue Practitioners Group

14. The Equine Rescue Fund • underpins the operations of this initiative • donations from all areas of the equine industry • major donations from the Horse Trust and BHS • provides funds for • payment of veterinary fees if the owner not present • production of an awareness-raising DVD • training for UK vet school final year students • in the future may possibly assist with training costs and purchase of bespoke rescue equipment

15. Large animal rescue: the future • our vision is for nation-wide provision for large animal rescue by the F&RS • shared best practice • nationally-agreed standards • established accreditation • awareness of the importance of veterinary involvement in large animal rescues • network of training centres • benefit is maximising successful outcomes • F&RS officer safety and animal welfare • efficient use of resources

16. Training vets to work with the F&RS in equine rescues • historically there has been no rescue training available for vet students or vets in practice • vets generally ill-prepared to assist the F&RS in large animal rescues • unfamiliar with F&RS procedures • generally unaware of their role in the rescue • competence of vets at large animal rescues has been of variable standard • most vets are not large animal vets • remember the importance of the BEVA Directory

17. What are we doing about this? • the BEVA Directory of Equine Vets • training courses for vets in practice • first course in March 08 run in partnership with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service • 20 vets attended • class room and practical sessions • focus on understanding F&RS procedures, safe working practices, rescue techniques • training courses for veterinary students • rescue awareness DVD

18. BEVA and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service Equine Trauma course for Vets

19. BEVA Directory of Equine Veterinary Surgeons • emergency contact list • vital resource for F&RS control room staff • collect a copy before the end of the conference • we look forward to working with you

20. BEVA Directory of Equine Vetsand theEquine Rescue Fund www.beva.org.uk