Moray MSP Richard Lochead to ask IVC Evidensia for ‘alternative solution’ after removal of region’s emergency out of hours service
A global veterinary care provider will be urged to find an “alternative solution” to withdrawing out of hours emergency care from some of its practices at a meeting later this month amidst calls from pet owners to reverse the decision.
Moray MSP Richard Lochead has secured a meeting with IVC Evidensia’s Chief Medical Officer Gudrun Ravetz to discuss the concerns of constituents who claim that pets could suffer unnecessarily if they have to travel outwith the region to access emergency care.
The company owns the majority of veterinary practices in Moray. That includes the Wards Veterinary Centre in Elgin, Seafield Veterinary Group, which has practices in Keith and Buckie, and the Speyside Veterinary Practice which has vets in Aberlour and Fochabers.
IVC Evidensia said earlier this year that they have been left with no other option but to relocate the service to Inverness and Aberdeen due to a “severe shortage” of vets across the region.
The company claims that transferring clients to Highland Vet Referrals (Inverness) and Vets Now (Aberdeen) is the only “sustainable” option for emergency out of hours care going forward for clients in Moray.
But pet owners across the region have opposed the decision with thousands signing a petition asking for the service to be retained.
And Mr Lochhead says he will urge the company to “think again” about the decision.
He said: “Many constituents are extremely worried about the loss of emergency veterinary services in Moray and have been in touch with me to express their concern.
“So far, the company have refused to give assurances that their long-term goal is to restore out-of-hours services to Moray.
“I find it hard to believe that an alternative solution that would provide some form of service in Moray can’t be found and I will be urging the company to think again about their decision.”
Mr Lochhead’s team met with IVC Evidensia representatives in July but the company says there has been “no significant change” to recruitment challenges since that meeting.
However, the company adds that it “welcomes” the opportunity to discuss the issue further with Mr Lochhead.
A spokesperson for IVC Evidensia said: “Importantly, we are keen to explore how we can proactively work together to alleviate the pressures facing the veterinary profession when it comes to the wider veterinary workforce shortage which is the root cause of the closure.”
They added: “We understand the necessity of timely and accessible emergency care for pets and the concern that can arise from the need to travel longer distances during urgent situations.
“However, the decision to divert to emergency hubs in Aberdeen and Inverness was driven by a severe shortage of vets in the region.
“As a local provider of veterinary care for this community we of course want to fill the required demand.
“If our practices were fully staffed, we would not have had to make this decision.
“To clarify, we cannot reinstate out-of-hours care with our current staffing levels.
“However, it remains a priority and under constant review.
“Given his role as an MSP and Minister for Business, we would value Richard’s support to advance initiatives that could address policy barriers at the UK Government level, helping tackle the issue of veterinary recruitment in rural areas more broadly.”
