Vets refusing new pets amid staffing crisis
The Wolverhampton branch of a national pet charity has been forced to stop taking on new cases because of a "severe shortage" of veterinary staff.
The PDSA pet hospital said the difficult decision had been prompted by an industry-wide recruitment gap and the branch wanted to prioritise pets currently registered.
The charity said it was doing all it could to resolve the problem at its site on Tuxford Close.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) - which relies on vets to monitor animal welfare - has called on the government address the problem while a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) committee has discussed it.
Vets are "the backbone" in protecting animal health and welfare and trade as well as assuring food safety standards in the UK, the FSA said, and the shortage was putting industry standards at risk.
'Precarious situation'
The body said the entire profession faced resourcing problems and called for a joined-up approach across government and the veterinary profession to end the current "precarious situation".
Dr Elizabeth Mullineaux, junior vice president of the British Veterinary Association, cited a combination of the pandemic, soaring pet ownership, the fallout from Brexit, and an increase in vets leaving the profession, as factors in the shortage.
"Overseas graduates have been critical in meeting the shortfall, however recent changes to the skilled worker visa rules requiring veterinary surgeons coming to the UK to meet a salary threshold is likely to exacerbate the situation further," she said.
"The British Veterinary Association is pressing the UK government to reconsider the rules in relation to vets, who not only play a critical role in the welfare of the nation’s pets, but are essential to disease control, UK food security and international trade."
A spokesperson for the PDSA charity said it had been unable to take on new clients since 8 April, but the decision would be temporary.
“This decision has not been made lightly and is a result of the ongoing vet recruitment crisis that is affecting the vet sector as a whole, " area veterinary manager, Florine Morrison, said.
"Our priority is to ensure we can continue to provide treatment and emergency care to the pet patients currently registered with us, while also protecting the wellbeing of our staff.
"However, we’re working hard to try and resolve the staff shortage issues as quickly as possible so that we can return to normal services."
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