Graduate confidence

The COVID-19 pandemic has had many effects on society, our way of life, relationships and business. Veterinary practice has been no exception. In their own way, veterinary staff have been heroic in continuing to provide a service. After an initial drastic reduction in cases seen, most clinics are now struggling to cope with the backlog of routine work on top of the normal list of summer injuries and ailments. With attempts to maintain social distancing in busy small buildings, and the extra time and work involved when clients cannot enter practices, or only in controlled circumstances, all staff are stretched.

One consequence is the difficulty that practices face in offering EMS places to veterinary students. Even more importantly, the in-practice tuition, which is such a vital part of the Nottingham and Surrey clinical years, has been hit hard. The schools have worked wonders in delivering teaching online, but there is no substitute for practical experience. The 2020 graduates have been affected, missing a good chunk of practical experience, but it may be that the years following are affected even more drastically. Many clinics have not been permitted to accept students. Even if that is now becoming technically possible in some clinics, many vets are so overwhelmed with work that they will have limited time or opportunity to teach students.