Sir, – I write regarding the European Directive on Continuing Veterinary Education (CVE) and the effect that this has had on some veterinary services in the more remote areas of the country.
I have been semi-retired for several years and have provide an albeit limited service in my locality. I also assist a veterinary practitioner 20 miles from here with routine TB testing as he has great difficulty finding a part-time assistant. Like many others I can no longer carry out any “veterinary acts”, not even on my own animals, as I have not fulfilled the requirements under this Directive.
The local farming community no longer have access to a convenient veterinary service with modest fees. The welfare issues which I have been promoting will come to an end. The local community will, in effect, be somewhat disadvantaged by more, in my opinion unnecessary, European legislation.
The Bantry animal welfare group are running a neutering scheme for dogs and cats, and although I have just returned from operating a similar scheme in India, it would illegal for me to offer services to this group.
It is possible to conform to the CVE requirements. Many of the courses are not only expensive and held at venues some distance from here, but are often on subjects of no relevance to the average rural practitioner.
There must be a better system than this. – Yours, etc,