Veterinary practice is facing exponential change, according to president of the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) Peadar Ó Scanaill.

He was launching the VCI’s new, five-year strategy for the profession.

The Council will support mental health awareness, seek to address staff retention and shortages of vets in large animal/rural practices – these were key issues raised in consultations with stakeholders.

On corporate ownership of practices, the Council will increase inspections to ensure clinical discretion rests with the certificate holder in any practice, regardless of ownership.

The Council will seek to increase transparency in its oversight of the profession, including holding Fitness to Practice Inquiries in public where appropriate. It will publish updated governance policies. Feedback from 37% of respondents said that the VCI was not transparent enough in its processes.

The strategy notes what it calls the “increasing feminisation” of the profession, alongside vets being drawn to companion animal practise, away from large animal practise.

Of the 161 new vets registered last year, 101 were female and 60 male, it said. Of the 145 veterinary nurses registered five were male and 140 female.

The strategy will promote the practise of veterinary medicine by strengthening the role played by the VCI in research and analysis of data and information available to the VCI.

Overall, feedback was obtained from 240 respondents including vets, vet nurses, farming and agri food organisations, animal welfare groups, educators, other regulators, state bodies and the Department of Agriculture.