Caring through coronavirus

There can't be a person around who isn't glad to see the back of 2020. And, while we have started this year in lockdown, there does seem to be light at the end of the tunnel with the rollout of vaccinations going well.

Throughout the pandemic the RCVS has monitored the impact of COVID-19 on veterinary practice, and at the end of December they published the findings of their fifth survey. The document Coronavirus: economic impact on veterinary practice indicated that 63% were now able to maintain ‘business as usual’, up from 58% in the previous survey. The survey, however, showed that while fewer veterinary staff were furloughed, there was an increased impact on the mental wellbeing of the staff continuing to work (75% compared with 56% in September). The survey period was before lockdown 2, and I hope you are all well and looking after yourselves now.

One thing I really dislike reading about on Twitter is the rudeness of the general public to veterinary staff, especially at this time when we all need to be kind to each other. It's something I don't understand, and that can't be excused. To help stay strong veterinary professionals need to support each other, and I'm sure that's exactly what many of you are doing.