VETERINARY PRACTICE BILL 2004 REGIONAL INFORMATION/CONSULTATION MEETINGS

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1 13 The Courtyard, Kilcarbery Park, Nangor Road, Dublin 22 Tel / Fax vetireland@eircom.net Web-page VETERINARY PRACTICE BILL 2004 REGIONAL INFORMATION/CONSULTATION MEETINGS Last month we circulated a VetView Special (October 2004) dealing with the recently published Veterinary Practice Bill The full text of the Bill can be viewed on In order to give members an opportunity to discuss this vitally important piece of proposed legislation, which will affect the profession for decades to come, a series of Regional Information/Consultation Meetings will be held in coming weeks. Our first annual Surveys of Fees and Salaries have just been completed and the results, and a report on Veterinary Ireland activities generally will be presented at these meetings also. You are invited to attend one of these Meetings all of which start at 8.00 pm. Tuesday 30 th November 2004 Ardboyne Hotel, Navan Tel Wednesday 1 st December 2004 Springfort Hall Hotel, Mallow Tel Thursday 2 nd November 2004 Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix Tel Tuesday 7 th December 2004 Sligo Park Hotel, Sligo Tel Wednesday 8 th December 2004 Clarenbridge Court Hotel Tel DAIRY HYGIENE CERTIFICATION The last two issues of the Irish Farmers Journal have carried short items on Dairy Certs under the headings - Milk Collection Threat Over Dairy Certs - ICOS Warn on Dairy Cert ICOS is saying that it is concerned that only 30% of dairy farmers had yet returned Dairy Herd Health Certs to their Co-Ops ahead of the deadline of 31 st December 2004 following which the milk purchaser will not be in a position to collect milk from that holding. We have made it absolutely clear to ICOS that veterinary practitioners have been carrying out inspections and providing the necessary certification for their clients whenever they are asked. Whatever the reasons for the slow uptake, it must be made clear that the veterinary profession has done its bit in this regard, and should not be scapegoated in any way. HERD HEALTH PLANNING TRAINING UNIT 2 (LAMENESS AND MASTITIS) - 2 ND DECEMBER On 2 nd December 2004, Veterinary Ireland will hold the Second Training Unit of a four-part training course on Herd Health management. By the end of the training course, and through the use of organised mentoring and discussion groups, attending vets should have the skills and knowledge necessary to implement Herd Health programmes for their clients. The 2 nd December Second Training Unit will concentrate on Lameness and Mastitis and will be again held at the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois on Thursday 2 nd December Lunch will be served from pm, and the Training Unit will begin at 2.00 pm, with 6 CVE Credits for full attendance. The cost will again be 100 per attending vet, and will include the fee for the Unit, additional papers for the HHMP Manual and refreshments, including a light lunch and dinner. A Programme and Registration Form for the second training day is attached to this VetView. Please complete and return, with payment to Veterinary Ireland HQ. Places are limited to 100 delegates, so be sure to book early to ensure a place. 1

2 AHCS EXTENSTION OF DEADLINES The deadline for claims for the AHCS Capital Grant (hardware handhelds etc) had previously been extended from the initial October date to 12 th November We have received confirmation now from the Department of Agriculture that the 12 th November 2004 deadline no longer applies. The Department of Finance has extended the Capital Grant scheme into 2005 DVOs were requesting that vets submit their Capital Grants claims by 12 th November. This was only done as an administrative request, as claims received after this date could not guarantee payment before 31 st December All claims submitted after 12 th November will be paid in the New Year. With regard to Top-Up payments for 2004, members will find themselves in one of either two groups: The first are those PVPs resident in DVO areas where the AHCS was introduced before 30 th June Payment for the 2004 Top-Up (minimum of 1700) will be made provided that the Department is shown that the PVP is operating the AHCS electronically by 31 st December PVPs resident in a DVO area where AHCS has been introduced after 30 th June 2004 will qualify for the 2004 Top-Up payment provided that the Department is shown that the PVP is operating the AHCS electronically within six months of the relevant DVO going live on the AHCS system. Details on the AHCS, payments, grants and suppliers can be obtained from Veterinary Ireland HQ on AHCS KINGSWOOD COMPUTING Gerry Lynskey, Managing Director of Kingswood Computing has contacted Veterinary Ireland HQ requesting an opportunity to clear up some misapprehensions about Kingswood Computing, its VMS product and its agents. We print here the text of this communication. I believe there was a reference at the recent Veterinary Ireland AGM to problems one of our customers had with Kingswood VMS. The claim was made that one of our customers had lost VMS data due to a virus attack. We have checked with our customers and found no evidence of this. In fact one of the first steps we took after acquiring VMS was to implement an easy-to-use backup facility, which all our customers now have access to. There may well have been a problem with a VMS USER, who is not a Kingswood CUSTOMER. If so, the speaker should have checked his facts and made this distinction clear. I trust that Veterinary Ireland will do this for him. In my view there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty among members of the profession about IT matters generally, arising to some extent from misinformation, rumour and innuendo. While some of this is to be expected in any commercial situation, the pressures resulting from the AHCS deadlines and the effective monopoly to date held by our main competitor have exacerbated this. We are unique in offering a modern, Windows-based AHCS solution, capable of being integrated with VMS and backed up by an experienced network of agri-oriented IT consultants. I believe that Veterinary Ireland have performed a valuable service in ensuring that members of the profession have a choice when it comes to acquiring their IT solution. We would like to assist Veterinary Ireland and/or their subsidiary societies by increasing the flow of information and reducing the uncertainty through the medium of information meetings, which could be attended by all Veterinary IT suppliers. TROYTOWN EQUINE CVE EVENT Troytown Equine Hospital will be hosting a CVE Event on Stem Cells in the Treatment of Tendon/Ligament Injury An Introduction and Practical Training on 10 th December Professor Roger Smith and the Royal Veterinary College, in partnership with VetCell Bioscience Ltd, have developed a practical clinical application for stem cells aimed at equine tendon and ligament injuries. Registration of 120 per delegate is available from VetCell Bioscience Ltd on (Fax CVE Credits are available for this event. EQUINE ACP FOR HORSES We have been informed by the Equine Group of Veterinary Ireland that ACP injection 10mg/ml for horses is now available in the Republic of Ireland. It is manufactured by Novartis Animal Health and can be obtained through normal veterinary wholesalers. There may be slight supply problems encountered until early 2005, depending on demand. 2

3 EQUINE USE OF PHENYLBUTAZONE We have received the following advice from a Veterinary Ireland member and pass it on for the benefit of all members Over recent months quite a few members have been receiving visits from officers of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). It would appear that the main focus of interest is checking on stocks of, and the use of, Phenylbutazone. It may not be generally realised that this drug is licensed for use only in horses in the large animal category. It is strictly forbidden and it is illegal to use in any form, powder or injection in cattle, sheep or pigs. It may have slipped some member s notice that this is the present situation, but they will be in for a rude awakening if they are asked to account for every cc of phenylbutazone used since they last purchased the drug. The use in horses must be recorded on their identity document since 1 st July 2004, and these records are liable to be checked. No exception will be made under the cascade system, as the drug cannot be used in food producing animals. The Veterinary Day Book or book recording the veterinary surgeons calls will be checked by the SIU officers and an audit of the amount of drugs used or dispensed may be balanced against drug purchases. A hardbound book recording purchases should be used for recording these transactions. Members are reminded that the identity of the animal(s) must be recorded in the daybook, along with the drugs used. It may sound trite but is only when confronted by an officer of the SIU that the advice given above will, in retrospect, be seen as good advice. It is also worth bearing in mind the advice from the Veterinary Defence Society when approached by such a person: - 1. Be courteous and helpful, but avoid informal discussion, even over the phone. 2. Ask about the purpose of interrogation and to what it refers. When you know, reserve discussion until interview. 3. Ask to receive queries in writing, prior to appointment. 4. If pressed for an early date ask for a delay. You wish to be helpful, but need time to obtain documents. 5. Contact the VDS by phone. They will have further advice. IMPORTANT NOTICE VICAS AGM 2005 The Annual General Meeting of the Veterinary Ireland Companion Animal Society will take place at 1.30pm on Saturday 22 nd January 2005 at the New Park Hotel in Kilkenny. The AGM will be run in conjunction with the VICAS Winter Conference. All Veterinary Ireland members who have selected VICAS as an Interest Group are encouraged to attend. VICAS/BSAVA ORTHOPAEDICS SKILLS V VICAS/BSAVA will be holding a three-day CVE Event Internal Fixation on 3 rd, 4 th and 5 th December 2004 at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4. The course is a refresher level course aimed at practitioners wishing to develop or refine their skills in internal fixation. The course combines interactive case-based lecture, wet-lab practical sessions, film reading practicals and case study sessions. This is described as a very hands-on course with emphasis on providing a practical understanding of the essentials of bone plating and developing skills and experience in internal fixation in the practical sessions. Cost for Veterinary Ireland/BSAVA members is 685 ( 1000 for non-members). The full course qualifies for 24 CVE Credits. To book a place on this course, please contact Veterinary Ireland HQ on Spaces are limited so book early. VICAS/BSAVA EMERGENCY MEDICINE VICAS/BSAVA will be holding a CVE Event on ER (Not making a drama out of a crisis) on Saturday 27 th November 2004, at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UCD. This interactive course aims to provide instruction on a rational and practical approach to ER medicine, promoting the rapid assessment of the critically ill patient, along with accurate diagnosis and decisive action. The speakers will be Lesley G. King, University of Pennsylvania; and Hester Mc Allister, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UCD. 7 CVE Credits are available and cost is 180 for VICAS/BSAVA members ( 270 for nonmembers). Please contact Siobhan at Veterinary Ireland HQ ( ) for registration. 3

4 VICAS WINTER CONFERENCE. The Veterinary Ireland Companion Animal Society Winter Conference 2004 will take place in the New Park Hotel, Kilkenny from 21 st to 23 rd January The theme of the conference will be Exploring the Abdomen and a panel of excellent speakers in the field has been assembled, including Andrew Mackin, Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, USA; Jonathan Bray, Davies White Veterinary Specialists, UK; and Emma Tobin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, UCD. As well as a lecture based approach, the conference will again include interactive sessions with speakers. For the first time this year, a Veterinary Nurses programme is being included, and VICAS members are encouraged to promote and support staff attendance. There will also be a one and a half day trade exhibition at the conference. Attendees to this event are eligible for 16 CVE Credits for the full event. For further details or a registration form please contact the event managers: VICAS 2005, C/o the Ovation Group, 1 Clarinda Park North, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. Tel: Fax: vicas2005@ovation.ie Or book online at WORLD ANIMAL WEEK (WAW) World Animal Week 2004 was held from 1 st October 2004 to 8 h October 2004 and many members of Veterinary Ireland were actively engaged in presenting during school visits and conducting media interviews, and we would like to extend a very big thanks to all those involved, especially on behalf of all the schools around the country which so avidly received the arrival of a veterinary surgeon. Veterinary Ireland staff and VICAS members have now begun discussions with Masterfoods to best facilitate the Irish veterinary profession s promotion of its own essential work in ensuring the health and well-being of the nation s companion animals during WAW 2005, and we look forward to being able to call on the assistance of veteran and new recruit veterinary surgeons in promoting our profession during this important international week. SPAYWEEK ,000 worth of Spayweek Vouchers were issued to registered VICAS Members to assist less well off clients to have their dogs and bitches neutered. Two vouchers, worth 40 each, were issued to 125 named veterinary surgeons for use in the month of October. The response to this initiative was excellent, and payments for completed vouchers received in Veterinary Ireland HQ are now being made. Members who registered for the Spayweek Voucher Initiative 2004 are reminded that the deadline of 11 th November 2004 for the return of completed vouchers has now passed. Members still possessing completed vouchers should contact Veterinary Ireland HQ immediately as any unclaimed vouchers are about to be cancelled. Veterinary Ireland would like to extend its most grateful appreciation to Dogs Trust (formerly the NCDL) for the significant donation, which made this initiative possible. PRSAs PENSION BOARD LETTERS The Pensions Board have recently issued a letter to 64,000 employers asking them to confirm that they are compliant with their PRSA obligations, as set out in the Pensions Act Amongst recipients have been named Veterinary Surgeons, as well as various practices. Under the Pensions Act 2002, it is now the obligation of all employers to enter into a contractual relationship with a PRSA provider to provide PRSAs to any member of staff who require one, and to advise all staff of the availability of this PRSA facility. It should be noted that this PRSA facility must exist, whether or not any employees avail of the facility. Failure to Comply constitutes a breach of the Pensions Acts, punishable by imprisonment and/or heavy fines. Veterinary Ireland is anxious to ensure that all of its members comply with the requirements of the Pensions Act The assumption from the Pensions Board letter is that action to enforce the obligations of all employers under the Pensions Act 2002 is the next step. Members should therefore again examine their own status of compliance under this Act, and take steps to rectify any shortcomings, before Pensions Board enforcement begins. Members may recall the offer made by Veterinary Ireland in the August 2003 VetView, where we organised a standard facility through PricewaterhouseCoopers allowing members to 4

5 avail of a PRSA Operations Manual for a set fee of 121 (incl VAT). This facility is again being offered by Pricewaterhousecooper at the same price of 121 inclusive of VAT. Each manual is drafted specifically for each employer and contains all of the documentation necessary to satisfy your obligations including certification of your contractual relationship with a PRSA Provider. Please note that it is possible to satisfy your obligations without incurring a fee by dealing direct with a provider of your choice. The purpose of this manual however is to provide members with a convenient solution to the issue without the necessity of having to spend their own valuable time researching the options available and meeting PRSA sales people. To avail of the manual you should send a cheque for 121 (made payable to Veterinary Ireland) to Peter Bishton, Veterinary Ireland, 13 the Courtyard, Kilcarberry Park, Nangor Rd, Dublin 22. Queries on PRSA s should be directed to the Vets Pension Help-Line MEMBERSHIP 2005 Veterinary Ireland membership subscriptions are due for renewal from 1 st January Subscriptions for 2004 are: PRIMARY INTEREST GROUP 390 Each Additional Interest Group 70 VOA/IMPACT/IFUT Members 195* YEAR 1,2 & 3 GRADUATES 180* RETIRED MEMBER 130 STUDENTS (3 Interest Groups) 10 Cap for *Direct Debit mandate must be signed to avail of this rate Membership includes a free 12-month subscription to the Irish Veterinary Journal. For non-members an IVJ Subscription will be 170. For the majority of members - those who have completed a Direct Debit Mandate - no further action is required. Direct Debits will be processed in the normal way and deducted from your account on 31 st January Although this is the preferred method of payment, cheques made payable to Veterinary Ireland are accepted. Members who pay by cheque will receive payment requests in early ICVS AND CVE CREDITS The Irish College of Veterinary Surgeons Database for CVE Credits for the year is soon to be closed. Data from the database was included by the Veterinary Council in the first year records of their Continuing Education Accreditation System (CEAS), and published in the 2004 Veterinary Register. In early 2005, ICVS will be making a return to the Veterinary Council on behalf of Veterinary Ireland members, detailing all CVE Credits earned by them between 1 st September 2003 and 31 st August The requirement for accreditation is 20 CVE Credits annually, although the system does take into account a rolling three-year average, and this is being recorded in the ICVS Database in calculating accreditation for Veterinary Ireland members in the 2005 Veterinary Register. While the majority of CVE Events registered by the ICVS/Veterinary Ireland with the Veterinary Council will already be logged on the ICVS database, attendance by members at many UK, European and International events, will not have been acknowledged. Nor will much of the work involving Peer Reviewed Papers, Projects, Supervision of Undergraduates, Professional Discussion Groups or Home Study of individual members be recorded. The Veterinary Council have already sent out self-recording sheets to be completed and returned to the Veterinary Council, but very few have yet been received. In order to facilitate members to ensure that they are accredited for the correct CVE Credits in the 2005 Veterinary Register, enclosed with this VetView is an ICVS Returns Form for All members are encouraged to complete this form and return it as soon as possible to Veterinary Ireland HQ. Veterinary Ireland would encourage all members to participate in this voluntary system to promote our profession as one which is adept at keeping abreast with the changes, which are taking place in all aspects of veterinary work. This voluntary system of CPD will in due course probably be replaced by a mandatory one under the provisions of the new Veterinary Practice Legislation. 5

6 CONTACT DETAILS ARE YOU UP TO DATE? Every year members details change through moving home, taking up new positions or changing mobile or landline phone numbers. Veterinary Ireland provides a free information service to its members to ensure they are up to date with recent developments and forthcoming events, whether it be to do with TVI work, ICVS CVE Credit reports, or details of forthcoming Veterinary Ireland events. Veterinary Ireland records can only remain reliable so long as we have your correct details, so if you change address or telephone numbers, change bank or wish to add or amend your Interest Groups please contact Audrey, Siobhan or Nikki on , (or by Fax to ), as soon as possible 2005 VETERINARY REGISTER DETAILS Recent years have seen changes to a number of Eircom landline telephone numbers, in order to facilitate an increase in demand. While Eircom placed messages on their systems giving the correct details when dialling a number, many of the records held by both Veterinary Ireland and the Veterinary Council are now out of date. Most importantly, many of the telephone numbers contained in the Veterinary Register are incorrect. Veterinary surgeons are individually responsible for ensuring that their entry in the Veterinary Register publication is correct. In light of the recent changes, we would encourage all Veterinary Ireland members to check their own entry in the 2004 Veterinary Register, and communicate any changes TO THE VETERINARY COUNCIL DIRECT, using the form contained on page 153 of the 2004 Veterinary Register. WHITE HORSE VETERINARY TRAVEL BURSARY Applications are invited from currently registered UCD veterinary students and from MVB graduates who graduated in 2000 or later. The Bursary will be awarded in two tranches. Applications for the first and second tranches must be received by Monday, 7th February and Monday, 21st March, 2005 respectively. Applicants that are unsuccessful in the first tranche will be automatically reconsidered with the second tranche applications, unless previously withdrawn by the applicant. Applicants must be prepared to spend a minimum of 6 weeks working on a research project in one academic institution outside Ireland. The bursary will not be awarded for study tours or attendance at international conferences. The bursary will cover return travel costs, modest subsistence and reasonable miscellaneous receipted expenses. Only applications received before the closing dates will be accepted. Applications, in the form of an attachment to an must be sent directly to the White Horse Foundation ( YTRS@eircom.net) Further information is on the UCD Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Office, Belfield, Dublin, 4 website: CVE COURSE - AQUAVET AQUAVET has sent in details of two courses being run at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole Massachusetts, USA, in The first, An Introduction to Aquatic Veterinary Medicine will run from 15 th May to 11 th June Combined tuition, room and board is US$2,800 for veterinarians and US$1,600 for full time veterinary students. The second course is Comparative Pathology for Aquatic Animals and will run from 15 th 28 th May This course is designed for those having already taken the above introductory course, with combined tuition, room and board at US$1,500 for veterinarians and US$900 for full time veterinary students. Applications are due by 15 th January 2005, direct to Aquavet. See for further details. FUTURE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 27 Nov 04 - VICAS/BSAVA ER Medicine 2 Dec 04 - HHP Training Unit Dec 04 - VICAS/BSAVA Orthop Dec 04 - Troytown Equine CVE 22 Jan 05 - VICAS AGM Jan 05 - VICAS Winter Conference 27 Jan 05 - HHP Training Unit Mar 05 - VICAS/BSAVA Orthop Jun 05 - VICAS/BSAVA Internal Med. 7-9 Oct 05 - CAVI Conference Nov 05 - Equine Conference Aug 08 - WSAVA 2008 Dublin 6