Thank you for the opportunity to comment on two consultations relating to amendments to the Veterinary Surgeons Act: amendments to legislation governing dental procedures on equines and amendments to legislation governing veterinary nursing.

FAWC is broadly content with both of the proposals set out provided that the necessary mechanisms are in place to ensure control and supervision of activity and that training is closely monitored to ensure technicians and nurses are fully able to carry out the tasks required of them.

Dental procedures on equines

There must be a register of trained Equine Dental Technicians. Insurance companies might require that only people on such a list carry out work delegated by veterinary surgeons. Power rasping must remain a technique carried out only by suitably trained people under veterinary supervision.

It needs to be made clear who is to enforce this legislation. Where does the equine's owner go if he/she feels that the technician has caused a welfare problem: the delegating veterinarian, the RCVS, Defra or the local authority?

Veterinary nursing

The proposals seem reasonable and FAWC would answer yes to the three questions posed in the consultation (subject to the provisos above of course).

In a practical farm scenario, clear guidance should be provided as to when veterinary supervision or veterinary direction would be most appropriate. It may be that the veterinarian should be present on farm during a surgical procedure but it might be appropriate to leave a veterinary nurse on farm to finish a job, e.g. suturing of animals subject to minor injuries.