The British Veterinary Association has expressed concern following the announcement by the University of Surrey that it is launching a new school of veterinary medicine, with the first cohort of students due to start in 2014.
Peter Jones, President of the BVA, said: "Reports of a new veterinary course at the University of Surrey will be of significant concern to our members, particularly veterinary students and recent graduates.
"We are already seeing an increasing intake of students at the existing veterinary schools. Another veterinary course will place even more graduates onto the veterinary employment market putting significant pressure on the employment prospects of individual graduates.
"It could also impact on the ability of the profession to accommodate the increasing demand for extra mural studies (EMS) placements and the ability of all schools to continue to provide high quality education and high quality teaching staff.
"The end result could be an oversupply of highly qualified veterinary surgeons carrying significant amounts of debt unable to find employment within the profession.
"New graduates are already reporting difficulties in finding their first jobs with some saying that it takes 6 to 9 months.
"Last year the veterinary profession was removed from the Home Office's shortage occupation list because it became apparent that we currently have sufficient veterinary surgeons to meet demand. Another veterinary course could tip the balance too far the other way.
"The news from the University of Surrey also illustrates that a greater oversight of the number of veterinary graduates coming onto the market is badly needed to properly plan future requirements of the veterinary profession in the UK."
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I wonder if the BVA is expressing valid concerns. Are the numbers the are reviewing including the international students who come to the uk to train and return home? My understanding is that the UK is still a net importer of practicing veterinary surgeons. It also represents a slightly limited view that a qualified veterinary graduate will only aim to go into general practice whereas the number of potential different jobs they may want to do is huge.
Removal from the home office shortage list does not mean we are safe, we are just no longer on a shortage list. If the government (the funders of the venture) did not wish for it to happen then the funding would not be available.
I am in favour of this (to a degree) and am surprised the BVA is not. After all with greater competition out there amongst veterinary surgeons it means practices can choose the highest graduates and thus push the profession forward. Surely that is a good thing?
We don't want a profession who is protectionist for its existing members, rather a profession who is always driving forward for the best vets to serve animal welfare to the highest degree.