New survey shows that 79% of veterinary graduates go straight into full-time employment following their degree programme – well ahead of medicine, dentistry and teaching.
Competition and Markets Authority finds that, out of 2,831 postcode districts across the UK, 1,134 – or 40.06% of the total – could have competition issues.
Several organisations and companies have raised concerns about the potential impact of the proposed investigation, though one senior figure argued it could eventually help to stem the tide of departures.
Plans to assess the veterinary sector’s current legislation as part of the investigation of household pet services have been widely supported within the professions.
Despite inflationary pressures likely continuing for the foreseeable future, plus regulatory scrutiny of the wider sector, deputy chief executive Ben Jacklin remains confident of further growth.
American firm Theradaptive claims its implants can help to repair bones in both humans and animals and plans to launch a new system for veterinary use later this year.
Although revenues and earnings before deductions were both up, latest results show a fall in both pre-tax and operating profits amid ongoing investment and inflationary pressures.
SPVS Congress told 3,000 vets registered as non-practising with RCVS and encouraging them back to clinical work key to addressing retention and recruitment challenges.
Discussion, held as part of the annual SPVS Congress in Birmingham, also heard calls for the development of a framework to aid appropriate deployment of the technology.
Duncan Phillips said regulation of the professions, together with ministerial attitudes towards it, have “simply not kept pace” with the rate of their transformation.
