Associations 'cautious' of new veterinary services model

The announcement of a new contractual model for veterinary services, by the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) has been met with a mixed response.

In particular, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) have voiced their concerns over the impact of the model's tuberculosis (TB) tendering plans.

The AHVLA has detailed its commitment to change the way veterinary services are supplied across England and Wales as of mid 2014.

Its model includes awarding tenders to around 10 delivery partners to supply a "flexible" package of government-funded veterinary services – such as TB testing and brucellosis testing.

Tenders will be awarded based on the ability to deliver a consistent quality-assured service, amongst other criteria. Delivery partners will then sub-contract out to small and medium businesses.

Furthermore, a single supplier will be responsible for providing comprehensive training and support for the new system, and a modular Certificate of Competence will be introduced for individual vets.

In March 2012, the BVA and BCVA presented a model for TB testing to the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England (AHWBE), as a more holistic approach to national endemic disease control.

"We have serious reservations over the introduction of tendering," said Jonathan Statham, president of BCVA.

"Although we are pleased that the [AHVLA] model does pick up on some of the key elements of the BVA and BCVA presentation – particularly the role for small and medium-sized practices in local areas and our TB Plus model – it fails to acknowledge that genuine progress on control of bovine TB requires a much more holistic approach.

"Only by successfully controlling TB and other diseases will we truly control the cost of government-funded services."

Meanwhile, BVA President Peter Jones commented that uncertainty over the future of TB testing for the last few years has put a real strain on its members, so the association is pleased that the AHVLA has come forward with plans for a new model.

"While BVA’s legal advice does not fully support the direction that AHVLA has taken in terms of procurement we are aware of the pressure on the government to deliver a new and affordable system at a time of severe financial constraints, and we have therefore continued to push for essential elements highlighted by our members and divisions," he explained.