Moray vet and MP candidate Kathleen Robertson pledges to act on removal of emergency pet care in Moray
THE company behind the decision to move emergency out of hours care from all of its veterinary practices in Moray to Aberdeen and Inverness has been urged to reconsider the move.
Clients of the Wards Veterinary Centre, Speyside Veterinary Practice and Seafield Veterinary Group have all been advised that they will now need to travel outwith Moray in the event of an emergency.
Veterinary care provider IVC Evidensia, which owns all of the practices, says the decision has been made due to a “severe shortage” of vets in the region.
But thousands of concerned pet owners have already signed a petition urging bosses to reverse the decision.
They have now received backing from Dr Kathleen Robertson, the Scottish Conservative candidate for the newly-created Moray West constituency.
Dr Robertson, a qualified veterinary surgeon and former president of the Scottish branch of the British Veterinary Association, met with worried pet owners while campaigning in Moray.
She said: “This is a subject very close to my heart and I am keen to use my personal experience to help find a solution.
“I know from my own experience as a vet that the last thing people in my profession would want is for any animal to suffer unnecessarily.
“There are a number of situations, such as trauma caused by road accidents and life-threatening conditions such as gastric dilatation and volvulus which require urgent treatment. My worry is that some residents in my area will simply not be able to access the care they need for their pets in time.
“As a former office-holder in the British Veterinary Association I know that there is a real challenge in recruiting sufficient numbers of vets in rural areas.
“This is a longstanding problem and we need long-term solutions in terms of making remote and rural practice attractive.
“However, in the meantime we need action here to resolve this shortfall in provision.”
The petition has accumulated over 3000 signatures so far but there is currently no indication that IVC Evidensia is considering reversing the decision.