MARK Ross, chief executive of Vets Now, put it in stark terms when he outlined the threat to the UK veterinary profession if Brexit means it will no longer be able to attract much-needed skills from within the European Union.

“Ultimately, the welfare of animals will suffer if they don’t protect the supply of vets,” he said. That the veterinary profession has deep concerns about Brexit is yet another way in which the vote to leave the European Union is breeding uncertainty in the UK, which continues to fester while the Government offers little sign of what it hopes to achieve from the divorce.

Like so many sectors, the veterinary profession relies heavily on EU nationals to fill key roles, including surgeons and nurses. Around one in three vets in the UK is an EU national, with Mr Ross stating that “clearly there aren’t enough vets to meet all of our requirements”.

And the shortfall is already widening. The continuing lack of clarity around the future rights of EU nationals in the UK means applications for veterinary positions here are falling. It is little wonder that the veterinary sector is lobbying the UK Government for an immediate and practical solution to the impasse.

“I think we do have to take a pragmatic approach, especially when there is a clear shortage of health professionals,” Mr Ross said.

“We would like the Home Office to put them (vets) on the Shortage Occupation List, which would make it much easier to obtain visas for vets from countries such as Canada, South Africa, Australia, where there are comparable veterinary standards.”