Pete the Vet: Exciting news as a second vet school planned for Ireland

This is an ideal time to carefully reflect on the role and responsibilities of the profession over the next ten years

Pete the vet: Is it time to consider a type of Health Professions Admission Test (HPAT) similar to that used for medical school entry, to try to select students who may have less academic qualifications but who may be more suited to long-term work in veterinary general practice?

There is an interesting global issue within the veterinary profession, with serious challenges in recruitment and retention of vets. In Ireland, Covid resulted in a dramatic increase in pet ownership and veterinary services reported a significant boom in business as practices learned to manage the restricted access yet increased workload. Despite the increase in demand for veterinary services, the country is currently struggling to find vets to fill the current list of vacancies listed. This crisis is affecting urban and rural vet practices alike.

The veterinary profession offers an interesting and rewarding career. Around half of Irish households own pets, and our pets need vets. We trust vets and expect them to be well-educated, and able to offer our pets the best available health care. But vets play a far bigger role in society, taking care of animal health and welfare when it comes to our food sources as well. Vets strive to be the both guardians of animal health and protectors of human health, as the latter depends upon animals as a safe and wholesome source of food. The concept of ‘One Health’ is increasingly discussed, stressing the fact that animals and humans are closely intertwined, sharing many of the same health and disease factors and issues.