I’d like to take a moment to share with you our perspective from within the veterinary profession and the present state of the industry. We currently face a nation-wide shortage of veterinarians. This trend has been apparent for at least the past 2 years and is rapidly worsening. As it stands, in Port Macquarie alone, there are seven advertised positions for veterinary surgeons. This shortage has come about through an unprecedented, premature exit of veterinarians from clinical practice.
Port Macquarie, and the surrounding region, is a beautiful part of the country to reside. But the allure of the big cities where veterinarians can refer to 24 hour emergency centres, and therefore no after-hours commitments is hard to compete with. This is one of the biggest challenges in recruiting and retaining veterinary staff. In addition to the demands of extended opening hours and after-hours, “on-call” commitments, our profession is amongst the most poorly paid nationally. This is a common misconception for the general public. The bottom line for East Port Veterinary Hospital…… on average, we are understaffed for most of the year!
The changes forced upon all of us as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has meant a marked increase in the demand for veterinary services. The recently published article, by SBS Insight, perfectly outlines the changes in pet ownership and companionship, and the increased challenges that has had on our profession. The demands of the job, the increased workload, the increased pet owning population and the need for increased resources on small business, has certainly taken its toll.
The comments by Dr Nadine Hamilton in the article below, probably resonate the most with the Australian veterinary community. Sadly, veterinarians are four times more likely than the national average to take their own lives. Right now we ask for your understanding and support as we best navigate these stressful, challenging and often exhausting times.
We are currently implementing a range of operational changes in order to protect the health and well-being of the entire East Port team whilst maintaining the best possible client experience. We will continue to do our best to accommodate all of your needs. That being said, availability of appointments, waiting times and preference for specific veterinarians may be affected.
Our deepest gratitude for your ongoing support.
SBS Insight Article
Shedding some light on the challenges we face in the veterinary industry
Read article here >