The Vet Personnel Crisis in the Country
The shortage of veterinary personnel in the United Kingdom has become an increasingly relevant issue, with alarming data highlighting a significant decrease in the number of available professionals, affecting the entire sector.
According to the most recent statistics from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), the number of newly registered veterinarians from abroad decreased by 68% between 2019 and 2021, highlighting an issue that has been ongoing for years and is having clear consequences on the very fabric upon which the entire landscape of clinics operating in the country and the health of the animals themselves rely.
An increasing number of clinics are reporting difficulties in meeting the demand for veterinary services due to the lack of qualified personnel, and this phenomenon raises serious concerns about the clinics' ability to provide adequate and timely care.
The shortage of personnel is evidently reflected in the performance of veterinary services and a general deterioration in the health conditions of animals due to the lack of proper care.
Direct Consequences on Clinics and Veterinarians
As mentioned earlier, this personnel shortage is causing significant delays, with clinics and patients facing long waiting times for appointments and procedures, compromising the timeliness of care provided to animals.
This problem obviously wreaks havoc on the entire system, leading to an enormous workload for all personnel who work tirelessly day in and day out, with a significant increase in stress and pressure, exacerbating the negative consequences on mental health and the quality of work performed.
A survey published in the Veterinary Record estimated that a full-time veterinarian in the UK works 57 hours per week, while practice partners and owners work about 71 hours per week. And unfortunately, this is just the average, with cases that reach the extreme.
It's no surprise, then, to learn that veterinarians often feel they don't have enough time for their personal lives, not to mention having to be on call during social events, being woken up in the middle of the night for an emergency, or simply worrying about a patient seen during the day.
A study of more than 200 veterinary professionals has revealed that 63% feel their mental health has worsened since taking up their career.
Research found that high stress levels, demanding workloads, and unmanageable expectations from clients were the main reasons given for the decline in mental health.
How Did We Get to This Point?
The issues in the sector have always existed, but lately, we have been under pressure from a series of factors that have accelerated the entire process.
The Brexit and Its Aftermath
Brexit has had a significant impact on the veterinary sector in the United Kingdom, particularly on the free movement of veterinary professionals from the European Union. Immigration restrictions and increased complexity in authorisation procedures have reduced the influx of veterinarians from the EU, thus contributing to the personnel shortage in the sector.
According to Dr. James Russell, Senior Vice President of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), "Losing over two-thirds of our EU-qualified members—when in previous years they made up around 40% of all new admissions—makes a big difference in the number of people we have available."
The Arrival of the Pandemic
As if this wasn't enough, we were hit by a pandemic that exacerbated the crisis, causing a whole host of additional restrictions that made crossing borders more difficult. Moreover, it disrupted the flow of education and training for new veterinary professionals.
Lockdown measures had a negative impact on the overall economy, creating additional challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel.
Increase in Pet Ownership in the UK and Its Implications
Another factor certainly relates to the increase in the percentage of households owning a pet in the United Kingdom. According to an analysis by the global statistics platform Statista (available at this link), the percentage remained relatively stable between 2012 and 2018, hovering around an estimated rate of around 45 percent.
However, pet ownership levels in the triennium from 2021 to 2023 reached an unprecedented peak of around 60%, most likely due to the coronavirus pandemic and the increase in time spent at home.
An important consideration is also the increase in families choosing to adopt a pet rather than have children, as discussed in this article.
The Cost of Living in the UK
The rising cost of living in the United Kingdom has posed a series of challenges for the veterinary industry, affecting both professionals and pet owners.
The ongoing economic pressures are straining veterinary clinics, with the possibility of cutting staff or leaving positions unfilled. The Veterinary Management Group (VMG) has reported that some services may be reduced, and in some cases, clinics are forced to turn away new clients due to the current workload of the staff.
Points to consider:
- Around 1 in 4 veterinarians in the UK are concerned or struggling to keep up.
- Almost a third of pet owners in the UK say they are “very worried and struggling to keep up”.
- In the UK, 62% of vets say that they have experienced clients looking for euthanise their sick pet for financial reasons.
- Vets say that around 1 in 3 pet owners are struggling to afford veterinary care.
According to surveys conducted, more than a third of veterinarians (34%) express concern about the possibility of cuts or limitations to the services offered by clinics. This scenario has led to a situation where many pet owners are unable to access veterinary services, with approximately 130,000 cats and 93,000 dogs not registered with a veterinarian due to the lack of veterinary practices willing to accept new clients, as presented in this Article.
These data indicate growing concern among both veterinary professionals and pet owners regarding the sustainability of veterinary services in the context of the current economic crisis.
Dr. Alison Richards, former veterinarian and Head of Clinical Services at Cats Protection, states:
Veterinarians leaving the profession due to low salaries and burnout, coupled with the fact that 60% of households in the UK now own at least one pet, have created significant challenges.
Currently, the UK is facing a very precarious situation. It is becoming increasingly difficult to access veterinary services due to the significant increase in demand, with the surge in pet ownership following the pandemic putting strain on an already undersized system.
Effects of the Crisis on Animal Health and Well-being
After highlighting the challenges and pressures facing the veterinary sector in the UK, it is crucial to consider the effects this crisis has on the health and well-being of animals.
All these challenges that the UK is facing have translated into delays in care, misdiagnoses or missed diagnoses, and inadequate or delayed treatment for animals. This leads to severe consequences for animal health, resulting in an increase in cases of neglected diseases, avoidable suffering, and an overall decrease in the well-being of pets in the country. The quality of life of animals is closely linked to the availability of high-quality veterinary care, so it is essential to address the veterinary personnel crisis to ensure the well-being of animals in the UK.
VetConsultation.online Steps In to Help
As the veterinary sector in the UK faces an unprecedented crisis due to the shortage of qualified personnel, the search for alternative solutions becomes increasingly urgent. However, traditional responses are not sufficient to meet the growing and critical demand for high-quality veterinary services.
In response to this challenge, led by our CEO Vito Priolo, we have developed VetConsultation.online, an innovative, fully remote service designed to directly address the veterinary personnel crisis. With the current difficulty in sourcing qualified staff locally, we have created a solution that harnesses remote capabilities to provide tangible support to veterinary clinics across the UK.
A Solution to Breathe Easier
What we offer are solutions that can adapt to the specific needs of any veterinary clinic:
- Resource Optimisation: With our services, existing staff can focus on tasks that require more attention, improving the overall efficiency of the clinic.
- Cost-effectiveness: VetConsultation.online offers an affordable solution that reduces the need to hire additional on-site staff, while ensuring significant savings.
- Scalable Solutions: Our services are flexible and can be tailored to the changing needs of clinics, ensuring continuous and reliable support.
- Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: We ensure that clients receive timely and professional care, enhancing the reputation of clinics and customer loyalty.
Working on the ground and constantly facing the challenges of this crisis, we have realised the urgency in finding innovative and pragmatic solutions. We believe the time has come to look beyond the current constraints and adopt a fresh and dynamic approach to ensure that animals receive the care they need and clinics operate efficiently.
Determined to be part of the solution, we offer a bridge to a future where veterinary clinics can overcome the challenges of the present, delivering high-quality services and maintaining customer satisfaction. By partnering with us, you have the opportunity to reinvent how your clinic operates, unlocking the potential of your veterinarians and regaining control.
Join us in this mission. Contact us today to begin this collaboration and together transform the future of veterinary care in the UK.
Read more about our Clinic Partnership services (click here) and contact us.
