Is change occurring?

Mary Poppins would always announce that when the wind changed to the east it would indicate a change in events were about to occur. I'm not Mary Poppins but it does feel like the wind is changing.

The Welsh Government has just approved the use of Approved Tuberculin Testers (ATTs) in private practice in Wales starting this month (October 22), in the role of Tuberculosis testing in cattle. This move follows the decision to expand ATT capacity in England following a rigorous pilot by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Under the scheme, any lay TB tester authorised by APHA from 1 October will receive authorisation to work in both England and Wales. Existing testers in England will also be permitted to work in Wales subject to additional training.

This might seem a little irrelevant to veterinary nurses, but it has huge potential. This is an example of a role that previously only veterinary surgeons were permitted to undertake. The ATTs are now working with veterinary surgeons as part of the vet-led team. Sound familiar? The role of paraprofessionals in large animal medicine is expanding and changing — this will start filtering across to small animal practice. The British Veterinary Association's (BVA) vision for the vet-led team is a ‘hub and spoke’ model with the vet at the centre working with appropriately trained and regulated allied professionals to coordinate services for clients and patients. This includes registered veterinary nurses (RVN).