BVA appoints new president

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has announced the election of wildlife specialist vet Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux BVM&S, DVM&S, CertSHP, FRCVS as its new president.

Dr Mullineaux’s veterinary career has spanned clinical experience across small animal, farm and wildlife medicine.

Prior to her BVA role Dr Mullineaux juggled roles as a locum small animal vet in Edinburgh.

She was also an invited tutor on wildlife and conservation medicine courses at universities in England, Scotland and Italy; and scientific advisor to Secret World Wildlife Rescue.

Outgoing BVA president and GP vet Dr Anna Judson will step into the post of BVA senior vice president.

Furthermore, Dr Rob Williams MVB MBA CMgr FCMI MCIPD MRCVS has been elected as the new BVA junior vice president.

In her first speech she underlined the opportunities presented by the CMA investigation, especially the chance to secure a new Veterinary Surgeons Act that BVA has long lobbied for.

Dr Mullineaux said: I’m a bit of a glass half full person though, and the CMA investigation does present us with opportunities. One of these is an increased chance of securing a new Veterinary Surgeons Act in the next parliament. The 1966 Act is not surprisingly unfit for purpose for a modern profession. It’s about as old as I am.

“New legislation needs to include the regulation of those responsible for the veterinary industry – the businesses and the practises – as well as the professionals working within it. We also hope our colleagues who work alongside us, as part of a multidisciplinary team, will also become properly recognised, particularly important to me, our valued Registered Veterinary Nurses.”

She added: “For me, this perfectly encapsulates what being a vet is all about. We get up in the middle of the night to calve a cow; support our clients as they say goodbye to their beloved dog; and share the excitement of a family with young children when they bring in their new kitten for the first vaccination. We do all this because we really care. It’s therefore incredibly difficult to see our motivations questioned in the way we have seen as a result of the CMA’s investigation.

“In our interactions with the CMA we’re constantly reminding them that the veterinary profession puts the health and welfare of the animals we care for at the centre of everything we do. This is regardless of whether the animals are wild or domesticated, owned or unowned, or an owner’s financial position. Any recommendations coming out of the investigation must fully consider animal welfare as well as owner choice and ensuring that is understood by the CMA is a key priority for me in the year ahead.”