Vet Voices On Air

Veterinary Voices UK
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Vet Voices On Air

The team at Veterinary Voices discuss topical and controversial issues with key opinion leaders from the veterinary profession. www.vetvoices.co.uk

  1. 4 DAYS AGO

    Drinking in the Veterinary Profession: What’s the Story So Far?

    Tune in to hear Danny Chambers in conversation with Olivia Cormier, an equine vet who after completing a MSc in psychology has diversified into mental health research. We discuss what we know so far about drinking in the veterinary profession, how drinking to excess is often normalised and drinking to cope encouraged: having negative implications on our mental health. We also discuss some of the barriers to help-seeking faced by those in veterinary practice who wish to reduce their alcohol consumption. When was the last time you had an open conversation with your colleagues about concerns over drinking consumption and motives? Is it a taboo topic? A recent study published in the Veterinary Record by Olivia and Jennifer Seddon, a senior psychology lecturer at Oxford Brookes University demonstrated the significant effects alcohol can have on mental health, highlighting the importance of better understanding this subject. Barriers to help-seeking were reported to be stigma towards the self and fear of career implications. How can we support professional individuals to get the support they need? Following funding from the RCVS MMI impact grant a second study to better understand mental health, alcohol behaviours and barriers to help seeking in veterinary professions (including veterinary nurses, veterinarians and veterinary receptionists) is underway! By better understanding these factors we can start intervention development to enable help-seeking and reduce the stigma around problems with drinking within the veterinary community. If you feel you have been affected by this podcast, or that you are experiencing problems with your alcohol consumption then please contact Vetlife Helpline, available 24/7 on 0303 040 2551/ www.vetlife.org.uk To view the recent study on Alcohol-related Stigma in the UK Veterinary Profession, follow this link: https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/vetr.4532 To learn more about the MMI impact grant, follow-on study please see the following link (recruitment for participation is due to start in April 2025): https://www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/news/news-from-2025/01/oxford-brookes-research-team-awarded-grant-to-stud

    28 min

  2. JAN 19

    Creature Comforts

    From leadership, to communication to breaking down the concept of ‘gold standard’ and moving towards contextualized care aka ‘vetting’- join us for an insightful conversation that flows through a versatile journey of learning and experiences over years of vetting.  In this podcast we are joined by Vet Voices On Air’s Ami Sawran, as we talk to Simon and Sam. Simon Hayes, is a veterinary surgeon with 23 years experience in the industry and co-founding the startup Creature Comforts a company that wants to see "healthier pets and happier vets". Sam Joseph is the co-founder of StreetVet and also Clinical Director & Veterinary Surgeon of Creature Comforts' Notting Hill clinic.  During the episode the two talk about all aspects of career, leadership, happiness and team dynamics. They feel that leadership is someone you want to follow and be part of, sometimes that means leading with vulnerability and talking about your pressures too. Over the years of vetting, they have found that lack of foundations being laid without preparing teams for the current changeable veterinary landscape, meaning old habits and cultures makes it hard to change. They feel that this results in lots of firefighting going on with people trying to dig themselves out of a negative work situation - is starting your own practice the answer? To create your own culture? It's hard when you don't feel like you have control of your own destiny, and sometimes it's easier to start fresh and help build something up as sometimes it's hard to change culture and dynamics in established practices. They feel that communication is the foundation of this, not only being vulnerable as a leader but also how we talk and interact with our clients. They think If we paid as much attention to how you run a consultant but as we do clinical CPD, then a lot of issues would fall away as your confidence grows in communication and interpersonal skills. Artificial Intelligence is going to help their practices to see what communication works, and what doesn't, and how we can be more empathetic in our interactions which will help the customer and professional interactions, by analysing language.  Furthermore, they ask, is 'gold standard' a source of stress? Should we use contextualised care to ‘reset’ how we manage care? Gold standard could cause friction between client and professional - when someone wants to aim to hold standard but barriers prevent it. So, guided and balanced decision making, and ensure the best outcome for the patient. Pragmatism should be considered a useful tool, and treating the pet in the context of what is best for the pet and the client.  Simon says: What is contextualised care? It's basically vetting. We as a profession understand there are levels of care that can be offered, and that is the right care for that owner and that patient at that time.  Listen here for a journey through time, and vetting.

    40 min

  3. JAN 1

    A Year of Vet Voices On Air

    Veterinary Voices UK Special Episode: 'A Year of Vet Voices On Air. Join Veterinary Voices UK own Danny Chambers and Robyn Lowe, with Vet Voices On Air hosts Paul Horwood and Ami Sawran, as we have a 2024 roundoff. A year in the life of the Vet Voices On Air Podcast - Thank you all for being part of it, and we cannot wait for 2025! Stay tuned for more!

    37 min

  4. 12/29/2024

    The Puppy Conundrum: What is Ethical Breeding?

    As the Kennel Club's 'Assured Breeders Scheme' closes down at the end of 2024, how do we ensure that prospective puppy owners are educated on what constitutes an ‘ethical breeder’? Do you believe that there is such a thing as ‘ethical breeders’? Join Veterinary Surgeons Sean McCormack and Alison Skipper, with Veterinary Voices own Robyn Lowe,  as they delve into challenging topics around the Kennel Club, pedigree dogs, health testing, societies purchase habits (sometimes compulsive, and based on aesthetic and fashionable breeds over health) and the future of puppy breeding and purchasing.  What are the ‘green flags’ of a 'good' breeder - how do we stop the UK puppy demand supporting illegally imported puppies, or unethical and unscrupulous breeding methods and establishments or organisations?

    42 min

  5. 12/15/2024

    Can Being More Clark Kent, Less Superman Reduce Second Victim Syndrome?

    In this podcast, Luiz Santos BVSc MSc Dip. ACVAA, presents his pioneering research into Second Victim Syndrome in the veterinary profession and his extensive knowledge on the topic in the medical field. In conversation with Danny Chambers and Robyn Lowe we delve into personal experiences of Second Victim Syndrome and how it can affect any one of us at any time. Following an adverse event in practice, our focus is often on the harm done to our patient, and the negative psychological impact on the caring professionals involved are often overlooked. These psychological impacts can be severe and long lasting and can lead to long term mental ill-health and/ or leaving the profession. We call this Second Victim Syndrome.  We discuss practical ways to reduce our experiences of this and how having a superhero mentality may not always be helpful to ourselves and others around us, highlighting the importance of peer support. If you feel you have been affected by this podcast, or that you are experiencing symptoms of Second Victim Syndrome then please contact Vetlife Helpline, available 24/7 on 0303 040 2551/ www.vetlife.org.uk Please see the following links for more information on Second Victim Syndrome: ·   ForYOU website, providing useful information on Second Victim: https://www.muhealth.org/about-us/quality-care-patient-safety/office-of-clinical-effectiveness/foryou ·    A Youtube podcast, with Dr Susan Scott describing her extensive work with Second Victim Syndrome amongst medics: https://youtu.be/5MdvKUXZWS4 ·    ‘The natural history of recovery for the healthcare provider “second victim” after adverse patient events,’ by Dr Susan Scott: https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/18/5/325 ·     ‘Medical error: the second victim,’ by Albert Wu: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1117748/

    35 min

  6. 12/01/2024

    Pain Should Be Considered As One of the Leading Factors in Behaviour Issues

    Small animal vet and APBC registered behaviourist Sophie White (BVetMed MSc MRCVS) describes her perspective on the relationship between chronic pain and behaviour, giving some great tips to manage behavioural problems in a more simple way. In conversation with our very own Danny Chambers MP, they discuss this fascinating topic, and Danny reflects how this may relate to equine veterinary practice. Sophie describes how she combined her passion for working with dogs experiencing chronic pain with behavioural issues after encountering problems with her own rescue dog. This started her journey to better understand the relationship between the pain and behaviour. Now, years later in her capacity as referral behaviour specialist she reports around 50% of cases sent to her by vets are clinically unwell, with pain the untreated root cause of the behaviour issue. This includes gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal pain. We discuss why this may be, including discussions about how pain can often be masked in the consulting room.  We discuss the topic of euthanasia due to behaviour problems, and how a lot of guilt is often felt putting an otherwise healthy animal to sleep. We consider the animal welfare perspective, and how in order to put safe precautions in place for human safety animal welfare may be compromised, making euthanasia a better option for some animals.  Sophie discusses the benefit of a pain relief trial of there is even a tiny chance of pain being a factor, ideally before referral to her. Pain is a subjective personal experience and cannot be ruled out. Referral is still an important thing to do, particularly when dealing with aggressive animals for safeguarding purposes, but whilst waiting to see her, patients could be undergoing a pain relief trial so the behaviour issue can be dealt with more quickly. If referral isn’t an option within the context of this client/ patient then a pain relief trial or discussion with a veterinary behaviourist about medications such as fluoxetine, may also bring some comfort to the client that before euthanasia is considered, they have tried something for their animal.

    34 min

  7. 11/17/2024

    Navigating Conversations Around Suicide and the Impact of Social Media

    ***Trigger Warning*** It is important to note that this podcast discusses the sensitive subject of veterinary mental health and suicide. If you feel affected by any of this, please contact Vetlife Helpline on 0303 040 2551 or via email: https://helpline.vetlife.org.uk/ Rosie Allister and James Russell bring their wealth of experience alongside evidence-based information about how best to talk about suicide within the veterinary profession both broadly on social media and when engaging with vulnerable individuals. Robyn Lowe BSc(Hons), Dip AVN, Dip HE CVN, RVN talks to James Russell BVetMed FRCVS, president of Vetlife and Rosie Allister BSc(Hons) BVSc MSc PhD MRCVS. Rosie has extensive experience in veterinary mental health research and its implementation, including suicide prevention and postvention. She is also the Consulting Manager for Vetlife Helpline and has 20 years of experience working with Samaritans. We discuss the importance of talking to an individual who is experiencing mental distress about whether they want to end their life, and how by being caring and supportive in how we approach this, makes it a safe and positive thing to do. We also talk about the impact of posting comments involving suicide online, though unintentional it can be actively damaging and may be causal to additional subsequent suicidal behaviour. We explain the evidence base behind what is being shared online, and discuss how improving how and what is shared can be protective for veterinary mental health and suicide.   So, how can we talk about suicide safely? Because it is so important to talk about it! We need to be conscious of what language we use and be careful not to minimise the cause to one specific factor. Suicide is complex and nuanced. Oversimplifying it can be linked to deaths that would not otherwise have happened. We need to focus on where help can be found and that THERE IS HOPE.  Join us in this fascinating and educational podcast to learn how we can support and protect vulnerable individuals who may be affected by what we post online and by the media in ways that may not be easily foreseen.  For further support following this podcast, please see the following mental health support links: Vetlife: https://helpline.vetlife.org.uk/  Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwq_G1BhCSARIsACc7NxqOIOLmy34y3B3NcHxrJ4ff8XnjKLSYF1NDaSPsvoHe-Aq1_GC7PZcaAitZEALw_wcB

    44 min

  8. 11/03/2024

    An Introspective Discussion About EDI in the Veterinary Profession

    Navaratnam Partheeban BVM&S BSc MRCVS OBE, (known as Theeb), co-founder British Veterinary Ethnicity and Diversity Society (BVEDS) brings a varied background of clinical farm practice and industry including research and pharmaceuticals and a wealth of knowledge and fascination with equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the veterinary profession, alongside our very own Ami Sawran BVSc PgCertVPS CertAVP(CP) PhD FRCVS making this a must-listen podcast! Join us as we reflect on what EDI really means, and the importance of personal introspection to consider our individual privileges and barriers to then appreciate the privileges and barriers of those around us, and how they may affect equality, diversity and inclusivity of the veterinary profession. Though the veterinary profession and agricultural sector is improving, we are still a very un-diverse population, which needs to be recognised. We discuss simple inclusive language changes as well as easy ways to connect with clients, particularly on farm or in ambulatory practice, a technique that can help minimise the differences we may otherwise have. Sexism is still the most reported type of discrimination both across the board and in veterinary practice, despite the feminisation of the workforce. We talk about how this can be prevented through communication, self-education and allyship. Allyship can mean different things in different scenarios. It may not always be safe to speak out, but small changes with trusted peers and loved ones, conversations with clients and good leadership are some of them. Tune in to find out more! Want to know more? Check out the Agdiversity online awareness course for EDI by following this link: https://www.nuffieldscholar.org/agdiversity

    46 min
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About

The team at Veterinary Voices discuss topical and controversial issues with key opinion leaders from the veterinary profession. www.vetvoices.co.uk

Information

  • Creator
    Veterinary Voices UK
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Veterinary Voices UK
  • Show Website
    Vet Voices On Air

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