Urging vets to 'get off their backsides and respond to a VMD consultation' on the introduction of a new POM-EA category (Vet Times, 19th October) is premature.
Contrary to the report, the VMD has not yet launched a formal consultation.
Jo Cawthorne from the VMD said: "In fact, we've only launched an informal consultation on a concept note amongst a small group of key stakeholders from the RCVS, BVA, RPSGB, AMTRA, AHDA and NOAH, in order to decide whether this is a viable idea and merits a formal consultation."
She added: "There is no need for vets to respond to a consultation which doesn't yet exist. If there is a formal consultation, it will be announced formally on our website and everyone will be given the opportunity to respond."
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Maybe irked was a bad choice of words. I don't mean she sounded pissed off, or like she was hiding something.
She basically said to me that it was just an initial discussion to find out whether a formal consultation is called for.
Why not include everyone from the outset? Well, I don't want to put words in someone else's mouth, but I would have thought that in some cases, it's worth having a pre-consultation consultation to see whether it's worth going to all the time and expense of a full consultation (and, of course, asking people to give up their time to respond). I mean, if the small initial group all say it's a rubbish idea from the outset, then it will potentially save everyone a lot of time.
But what do I know?!