Senior vets voice alarm
Originally from: Farmtalking
Senior vets voice alarm at bullying allegations
By Robert Uhlig, Farming Correspondent
(Filed: 31/08/2002)
Sixteen former presidents of the British Veterinary Association have voiced concern about trouble at the top of the organisation after allegations of harassment, staff intimidation, bullying and possible financial mismanagement at its London headquarters.
In a letter in the Veterinary Record, the BVA's official publication, the past presidents, whose tenures date from the Fifties to the Nineties, say a lack of transparency over the findings of two independent inquiries into the allegations is tearing the profession apart and damaging its reputation.
One former president said yesterday that the crisis at the BVA's headquarters in Marylebone, London, was "turning us into a laughing stock in the eyes of the Government and the public".
Another past president of the association and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, now retired from practice, said the BVA was in "f**king chaos". He added: "This is creating a loss of public confidence in the BVA and the profession, which is even worse."
The turmoil comes as outsiders are questioning the association's role, particularly after foot and mouth. While members were under severe pressure at the height of the outbreak, their representative body was accused of failing to take a decisive stand on key issues such as vaccination.
Members have been frustrated by the association's failure to sort out conflicting advice on the 20-day standstill rule imposed on livestock farmers after foot and mouth.
After concerns over staff turnover at the headquarters, the BVA Council's Internal Audit Group set up an internal investigation, which prompted an independent inquiry last year at €1,000 a day. The association's executive refused to disclose the contents of the internal report to its council, even in secret. It cited legal advice that it said could lead to the association being brought before an industrial tribunal.
The independent report detailed concerns about the management style of James Baird, the association's chief executive, and Ailsa Edwards, the assistant chief executive.
The Report to the Executive Committee of the British Veterinary Association regarding concerns held by current and past staff regarding their employment lists a catalogue of problems, including "low morale and an atmosphere of distrust, secrecy and fear".
Andrew Scott, president of the association, said lawyers had advised him not to comment on the report's contents.
The independent report was "being actioned". He said: "In view of the necessity for the process to be conducted fairly I am not in the position to say any more."
Mr Baird was unavailable and Mrs Edwards declined to comment.
* This message has been edited by Farmtalking on 01 Sep 2002 11:34:25 *
Originally from: Bill
All the vets I have spoken to over the last 18 months have been willing to listen to alternative views and been quite alarmed by the obviously basic errors forced on them by those at the top.
Vets have been instumental in spreading FMD because of MAAF and DEFRA's half cocked ideas about bio-security. FMD is the most contagious disease on the planet and it is absolutely pointless wearing overalls if the neck, head and hair are exposed.
I am not aware of any vet immersing his head in a bucket of disinfectant after visiting infected premises but "Radostits" their own "Bible" clearly states virus can be carried in hair for up to a month.
There has never been an epidemic in France because vets wear "space suits" when dealing with the disease. As far as I am aware it was Blair himself who banned "space suits" after The Sun published a photograph of a "space suit" wearing FMD worker.
Lions led by donkeys, as it has been since time began!
Bill.
Originally from: Burkie
Well, it's about time the vet community admits .
Burkie
Originally from: Burkie
British Veterinarians are a laughing-stock for sure....at least as far as I am concerned. You over-charge your services. Mark-up vaccines by 3,000% and expect the Public to patronize you. No more. Not here. I will never pay a vet another dime.
Burkie
P.S. The British Vet community can go to hell as far as I am concerned.
Originally from: Burkie
Dear Andrew: So, if I interpret your comment correctly, you endorse her behavior last year?
Burkie
Originally from: Farmtalking
I fail to see where you get that idea Gary!
Andrew has merely stated a fact.
The RCVS is the regulatory body for the veterinary profession in the UK and the BVA it's trade union. In other words, the BVA has no power to discipline veterinary surgeons but the RCVS does. I understand complaints concerning the behaviour of Vicky Cleghorn and several other veterinary surgeons, have been laid before the RCVS. It still remains to be seen if the RCVS decides to take any action against them. Most of the trouble at the BVA would seem to be concerned with internal matters. ie: no confidence in the management and unhappy staff, nothing to do with their role during the FMD crisis.
Originally from: Farmtalking
To 'tar all vets with the same brush' is hardly fair or just.
It is true that many signed false certificates during the so called FMD epidemic, resulting in the slaughter of millions of healthy animals.
However, it is also worth remembering the we were alerted to this fact by a veterinary surgeon, namely Roger Windsor.
It is also true that the President of the RCVS at the time, Roger Eddy, also a veterinary surgeon, drew this matter to the attention of the Chief Vet, Jim Scudamore. Roger Eddy also warned vets via the Veterinary Record, of the risks associated with signing a false certificate.
The fact that many vets, including those from abroad, ignored the warning and the excuse that they were 'only doing what was instructed by their employers' has been used, does not make all vets guilty of the same crime.
Many vets, including Andrew Stephens, and others who contribute to this message board and/or read it, are appalled at what happened last year and continue striving to ensure such a disaster never happens again.
To refuse to consult or pay a vet for services ever again, seems to be based on a very weak principle and show a callous disregard for the suffering of one's animals.
If one of my animals is seriously sick, I would certainly consult a vet as soon as possible and be grateful for their help, advice and treatment and certainly pay the bill!
To be honest Gary – I guess you would too!
Originally from: coleen
I guess what it shows is that some Vets, just like ALL professions will take the money 'no questions asked'. Just because Vets are classed as professional – does not mean they are not tempted by the lure of turning a fast buck. Thankfully, there are still some good one's out there. I have written many times about the one that helped us throughout fmd.
What is sad, is that there is NO way that the Society can get rid of the bad guys. There are more vacancies then Vets to fill them. It has been that way for years. I would like to see the bad guys struck off – but it will not happen. But then we do not strike GP's or Surgeons off for gross mal practice either do we?
Sadly it is a catch 22 situation – the millions of us who own animals at some stage need a Vet. There is no way we can boycott them? These are our principals, not our animals, and we must not inflict our beliefs at the cost of letting our animals suffer. That would make us as a bad as the Vet we are writing about.
Coleen
Originally from: Farmtalking
To avoid confusion – I think most members of this board are indeed aware of Pat's reporting irregularities prior to FMD.
In my posting, I was referring to the signing of 'A' forms with regard to FMD slaughters, to which we were alerted by Roger Windsor. My spologies for not making that point specifically.
Originally from: Pat Gardiner
Author wrote:
To 'tar all vets with the same brush' is hardly fair or just.
It is true that many signed false certificates during the so called FMD epidemic, resulting in the slaughter of millions of healthy animals.
However, it is also worth remembering the we were alerted to this fact by a veterinary surgeon, namely Roger Windsor.
Actually, with respect to Mr Windsor, that is not quite accurate.
I reported MAFF vets faking tests and declarations immediately before FMD to the police, Trading Standards and MAFF including direct to Scudamore.
I also reported the matter to the Select Committee of the House of Commons. The writer’s written evidence (M3 -11 Dec 2000) to The Agriculture Committee of the House of Commons has been placed in the House of Commons Library where it may be inspected by Members.
Other copies are in the Record Office House of Lords (tel. 020 7219 3074) where they may be inspected by appointment.
You can read all about the complaints, with the dates on http://www.users.waitrose.com/~patgardiner/
Since then I have twice had to apply to The Speaker for his protection from the antics of the State Veterinary Service – once in the last month, when we threatened to go into political asylum if the harassment did not stop.
Even in the last few days, it has become apparent that FMD was not the first occasion recently that the veterinary profession has preferred cull to vaccination because of exports. I quote from the Animal welfare Symposium November 2000
(http://www.bva-awf.org.uk/default.asp?channel_id=672&editorial_id=6138 )
“Regarding vaccination against CSF, Mr Harvey believed that this would be in the best interest of the pigs but pointed out that there would be problems in trading with other countries.”
Everyone forgets now that approaching 400,000 pigs suffered horribly and died as a precursor to the FMD fiasco. I was there and saw it. It was all human greed and fraud managed by bent vets.
Sure there are honest vets, there must be, but where are they?
Originally from: Burkie
Dear Jane: I get that idea by following this group for 18 months. No vets stood up for anything they pledged to do.
They killed for money. That simple. And not a damned one of them had the gumption to say "no."
As for Vikki Cleghorn...she should be banned forever. No questions asked.
As for TVI's sent you from the States....not one of the bastards has come forward to anyone in the media here. They were simply mercenary killers.
Burkie in Kansas
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