The Allied Professionals committee members play an active role in lobbying and representing the membership across a number of issues concerning allied professionals.
Equine Dental Technicians
Legislative Change
Representatives from the committee have been working hard to secure legislative change for equine dental care. In 2016 BEVA hosted meetings with the relevant dental stakeholders (BEVA, BVDA, BAEDT and WWAED) in order to suggest a legal framework for regulation. This represented a major progression in a process that has been ongoing since 2001 and which has shown very little development since talks were stalled in 2009. An update on progress is available here
BAEDT
The allied professional committee is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with equine dental technician associations (BAEDT and WWAED) and reporting to the BEVA Board and Council on dental issues likely to affect our members. Joint officers meetings have been held with both BAEDT and WWAED to discuss ongoing relationships. (See news below)
BEVA/BVDA Dental Technician Examination
Two members of our committee (Chris Johannson and Neil Townsend) sit on the Governance Committee which is responsible for maintaining standards of the BEVA/BVDA equine dental technicians examination. Work is ongoing to improve clarity and transparency of the examination process, particularly with reference to candidates with extenuating circumstances, and also clarity of the candidate guidelines. An educational sub-committee has also been set up to provide guidance on these matters. BEVA members who have previously passed this exam can also apply to become examiners. Further information on the examination is available here.
Revision of Minor Procedures Regime (RMPR)
The RPMR BEVA was instrumental in producing the RMPR reports on dental and musculoskeletal care for the RMPR board. Each report contains detail on the current situation and the views/experiences of stakeholder associations, individual stakeholders, and some 6,000 horse owners. This consultation is now closed and subsequent exemption order legislation talks have stalled post-Brexit vote.
Musculoskeletal Allied Professionals
Register of Animal Musculoskeletal Practitioners (RAMP)
The RAMP was established in September 2016 to endeavor to set a standard for musculoskeletal paraprofessional work in the veterinary sector. Initial registrations were limited to ACPAT physios and registered osteopaths and chiropractors, but the register is expected to open to new applications through a process of recognition of prior experiential learning (RPEL) later this spring. Andrew Harrison has a veterinary advisory role with this organization. Further information on RAMP is available through the Useful Links section.
In 2016 BEVA and BAEDT officers held a productive meeting to ensure that both associations would continue to work effectively together for the furtherance of veterinary dental care.
Recent events had raised concerns that all parties may not have been pulling in the same direction and the informal meeting was called to address this matter. A friendly, open, and frank discussion took place covering long term goals for equine dental care, communication, transparency, trust, common veterinary practice, transgressions of the agreed dental procedure categorisation, practical challenges of remaining compliant, and the legal issues surrounding dental care of non-equine species.
It was agreed that both parties were committed to driving forward legislative change that would allow appropriately qualified EDTs to work within a proper legal framework. It was also agreed that BEVA and BAEDT officers should strive for frequent, frank and honest communication