Ask not what your veterinary society can do for you

Transcription

1 Vet Times The website for the veterinary profession Ask not what your veterinary society can do for you Author : GUDRUN RAVETZ Categories : Business Date : December 1, 2010 In times of economic difficulty it is easier to question the role of veterinary associations, says GUDRUN RAVETZ. But without the focus provided by organisations such as SPVS, the profession s outlook would be bleak. THOSE WHO have watched the Monty Python film Life of Brian will know the answer to the question, What have the Romans ever done for us? It is a list that includes many things that leave a legacy today: sanitation, medicine, education, wine, irrigation, roads and public health. In the same way, some in the profession may wonder what SPVS and other veterinary organisations have ever done for them. Well, with nearly 2,000 members and a history spanning eight decades, SPVS is run tirelessly by veterinary surgeons for UK practice staff. The society acts for the business arm of the profession and provides non-clinical support to its members in a wide variety of ways. One of the most important is SPVS campaigning. As the collective voice of the practising veterinary surgeon, it advises and supports the BVA in its efforts to represent the profession to the wider public. Important campaigns have included: 24/7 cover, pedigree dogs, extramural studies, university curricula, nurse training, medicines, personal well-being and many more. At least some, if not all, of the topics that SPVS campaigns on will affect every vet at some point in their career. You may not know it at the time, but the way you operate has been shaped by veterinary organisations such as SPVS. In a time of uncertainty and public scrutiny it is so much more important that we remain united. It is a guiding principle of the society to inspire all in veterinary practice to achieve the highest 1/7

2 standards and the greatest enjoyment throughout their working life. To this end, SPVS combines timely and relevant management information with excellent CPD and fantastic networking opportunities. Some of the CPD planned for 2011 includes: March Snowscene. A week of skiing and CPD. Roseo Hotel, Sestrière, Italy (pictured). May SPVS Congress. Durham. May 26. Communications training for nurses. Birmingham. June Scubascence. Join the crew aboard the luxurious Horizon for Project Shark. Red Sea, Egypt. Also planned for 2011 is Safe and Sound. This one-day course is designed to bring you up-todate with health and safety and other legislative requirements. The society is also proud to have key involvement with the Lancaster final-year student seminar, which is designed to help students make the step from an undergraduate to an employee. Other key benefits of SPVS membership include: The bi-monthly Journal, covering news and views, and topics that affect practitioners. Online discussion groups lively, instant advice and debate on any aspect of practice life. SPVS Yearbook including articles with an overview of current issues as well as a source of practical reference information (free to all practices). Specially negotiated rates, including discounted rates for members with specialist health and safety and employment law consultants Citation. Finally, recent graduate services, with a dedicated team for newer graduates, provides the following benefits: Helpline talk to one of the team on issues and problems relevant to new graduates. CV reading service. leaflets on such topics as looking for a job, how to talk to your boss, how to write a CV, and stress. SPVS also supports the Vet Helpline and the Veterinary Surgeon Health Support Programme 2/7

3 phoneline. Change is inevitable in any profession, but you can help guide this change by engaging with veterinary organisations such as SPVS, understanding what they do and seeing the enormous benefits of membership and participation. The Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) represents, supports and campaigns on behalf of all veterinary surgeons in practice, whether they are a partner, assistant or locum. It combines timely and relevant management information with excellent CPD, including skiing, sailing, health and safety roadshows and networking opportunities. It is one of the largest divisions of the BVA and represents the interests and views of the practising vet on a wide variety of subjects and on many committees. For more information about SPVS and any of its events, or to join the society, contact the SPVS office on or office@spvs.org.uk or log on to 3/7

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