Working as a vet in the UK/Trabajando de veterinaria en el Reino Unido

 TEXTO EN ESPAÑOL al final del artículo 
Nobody prepares you to work in a UK vet practice. Pets get about the same problems than anywhere else. If anything, I'm missing quite a few parasites from my sunny Spain, I learnt to perform flank spays, and got used to seeying more rabbits and exotics.
The key to succeed in the UK lies in understanding the British system. Basically you need to learn that: 

• You must be registered to the UK vet college, or RCVS, and pay their annual fee. 
• The RCVS will not work to protect you, but to ensure that you fulfil their professional standards, understand the Code of Professional Conduct, follow their advice and are fit to work as a vet. 
• It is compulsory for all vets to have a professional insurance to practice in the UK, such as VDS. (read more)This is the company who will protect your interest against any complaint you will face throughout your professional career. In other words, if you are sued, VDS will work with you, whereas the RCVS will work against you. The good news is that most employers will agree with paying both the RCVS and the VDS fees on your behalf. 
• You have to keep your veterinary training updated by fulfiling a minimum of 35h of Continuing Professional Development per year, or CPD. You can achieve it by going to vet congresses, doing on-line courses, research, workshops, or anything that counts as CPD for the RCVS. 
• A good cover letter is as important as a CV. Never attach a photo on your CV, and don't forget to include a couple of "references" (that is, any colleague you have been working with, your previous employer, or any vet nurse that will verify you are a good professional, who fit easily in a team, etc). 
• Job interviews are longer, more complete, and more serious than in most of EU countries. It normaly requires several meetings. 
• You must make yourself understood. No one will ask you to use jargon fluently. However, most clients will be too "polite"  to tell you they don't know what you mean. Of course, if you don't speak English you may not register with the RCVS. 
• You cannot sign and stamp pets passports unless you are an OV vet. 

A ROUTINE DAY IN AN AVERAGE UK PRACTICE

As a vet surgeon in a small animal practice, or SA practice, you are expected to:

• perform a bitch spay in 30-45 minutes, and flank spay in female cats or "queens", any of them on your own.
• spend about 10-15 minutes per consult at maximum.
• you may be a "sole charge" vet, do some out of hours, or OOH, be on call, or rota weekends.
• Strictly follow the cascade, according to the VMR or Veterinary Medicine Regulation.
• Request the history, from a previous vet, for any new client who is transfered to your practice.
• Get used to acronyms, you will find loads in any pet's history: TRA (traffic road accident), IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), GDV (gastric dilation volvulus, or gastric torsion), C-section (caesarian), CKD (chronic kidney disease), etc. British love acronyms, try to learn most of then asap. Sorry, as soon as possible ;)
• Learn and follow the "Good practice guide" that your employer will provide.

  

  Example of letter from a referral centre

• Recognise when a pet need a specialist, find a referral, and write a referral letter. Most referral centers will provide a referral form or their application form can be completed on-line. You will not loose a client by referring his/her case to a specialist. On the contrary, your client will appreciate your professionality, and the referral centre will keep you informed with their progress in the case.
• Have a look at "Guide for New Members" from the RCVS.

LINKS OF INTEREST TO FIND A JOB

http://vruk.biz/ (once you register, you can create your own profile, and have free access to all the vacancies, with interactive map)

http://www.synergyvets.com/

http://www.vetsurgeon.org/jobs/

http://www.vetrecordjobs.com/

http://www.vetclick.com/jobs/

On facebook groups: Veterinary Employment and Locum Network UK

Nadie te prepara para trabajar en una clínica británica. Las mascotas tienen los mismos problemas que en cualquier otra parte. Si acaso, echo en falta unos cuantos parásitos de mi soleada España, aprendí a esterilizar gatas por el flanco, y me acostumbré a ver más conejos y exóticos.

La clave del éxito en el Reino Unido está en entender su sistema. En esencia, tienes que saber que:

• Debes estar registrao en el colegio de veterinarios, o RCVS, y pagar su cuota anual.
• El RCVS no trabaja para protegerte, sino para asegurarse de que cumples con los estándares profesionales, entiendes el Código de conducta profesional, sigues sus consejos y estás capacitado para ejercer de veterinario.
• Es obligatorio tener un seguro profesional para ejercer en GB, como el VDS. Esta es la compañía que protegerá tus intereses frente a cualquier reclamación que tengas durante tu carrera profesional. La buena noticia es que la mayoría de los empresarios pagarán tus cuotas por el RCVS y el DVS.
• Debes mantener tu preparación veterinaria al día, realizando un mínimo de 35h anuales de desarrollo profesional veterinario o CPD. Los puedes conseguir asistiendo a congresos, haciendo cursos on-line, investigación, trabajos, o cualquier cosa que cuente como CPD para el RCVS.
• Una buena carta de presentación es tan importante como un CV. Nunca incluyas una foto en el CV, y no olvides añadir un par de "referencias" (es decir,algún compañero con el que hayas trabajado, tu anterior jefe, un auxiliar que pueda dar fe de tu profesionalidad, que sabes trabajar en equipo, etc)
• Las entrevistas de trabajo son más largas, más completas, y más serias que en la mayoría de los países de la UE. Por lo general conllevn varios encuentros.
• Tienes que hacerte entender. Nadie te pedirá que hables una jerga fluida, pero sí un nivel mínimo de inglés. Muchos clientes se mostrarán demasiado "educados" para decirte que no entendieron lo que les querías decir. Por supuesto, si no hablas inglés es posible que no te puedas registrar en el RCVS.
• No puedes rellenar, firmar ni sellar pasaportes a no ser que seas un veterinario oficial u OV vet.
• Echa un vistazo a "Guide for New Members" del RCVS.

UN DÍA NORMAL EN CUALQUIER CLÍNICA DE GB

Como veterinario e una clínica de pequeños animales, o SA practice, se espera de ti que:

• esterilices una perra en 30-45 minutos, y una gata por el flanco izquierdo, sin ayudante.
• que dediques unos 10-15 minutos por consulta a lo sumo.
• es posible que seas el único veterinario o "sole charge", tengas que hacer horas extras, permanecer de guardia, o trabajar los fines de semana.
• seguir a rajatabla la cascada en los medicamentos, según el VMR, o Regulación de Medicina Veterinaria.
• Solicitar el historial médico, del veterinario anterior, de cualquier cliente nuevo que se cambie a tu clínica.
• acostúmbrate a las siglas, encontrarás muchas en los historiales: TRA (traffic road accident), IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), GDV (gastric dilation volvulus, or gastric torsion), C-section (caesarian), CKD (chronic kidney disease), etc. A los británicos les encantan las siglas, intenta conocerlas lo antes posible.
• Conoce y sigue la "guía de buenas prácticas" que tu jefe te entregará.  
• Aprende a reconocer cuando un animal necesita un especialista, encuentra un centro de referencia, y escribe la carta de referencia. Muchos de estos centros cuentan con un formulario, o se puede completar on-line. No perderás un cliente por referirlo. Al contrario, tu cliente valorará tu profesionalidad, y el centro de referencia te mandtendrá informado del progreso de tu caso.

ENLACES DE INTERÉS PARA BUSCAR TRABAJO

http://vruk.biz/ (una vez registrado, puedes crear tu propio perfil y tienes acceso a todas las ofertas con un mapa interactivo)

http://www.synergyvets.com/

http://www.vetsurgeon.org/jobs/

http://www.vetrecordjobs.com/

http://www.vetclick.com/jobs/

Grupos de facebook: Veterinary Employment and Locum Network UK

USEFUL LINKS

Vet Abroad provides a 60h CPD with all you need to know to feel confident with working in the UK.

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons provides you with most of the information you will need to practice in the UK.

Veterinary Defence Society, to get out of trouble, or avoid them.

D.E.F.R.A webpage for information in regards with travelling with pets abroad. 

Veterinary Medicine Directorates provides information about medicine regulation, classification, control drugs, prescriptions, label information, residual disposal, suspended products, etc.

PDSA is the main animal charity that provides services to those pets owner who cannot affort a vet consult and are eligible to use their veterinary services.

Dogs trust is a dog charity that helps some pets owners with neutering, microchips and eventually some vet consults, normally via vouchers or by completing their forms.

Pet plan is the biggest pet insurance company in the UK. It is advisable to 

be familiar with their policy. Most puppies with turn up to your practice with a free month pet plan insurance.

Veterinary brief team is an amazing link to improve you communication with clients, for those days when you wonder if this is the right job for you,  if you are bossy or being bullied, what is wrong with the team and you, how should you ask for a raise, how to manage stress, feelings or a team member, or just finding clinical protocols for the main conditions.

Free veterinary webinars, is the main link for those interested in free on-line courses.

Vet Grad contains free on-line CPD and free CPD courses, as well as other CPD courses, forum page, guidance and offers.

VetMedTeam is an American web page that covers a wide range of subjects on their CPD at very good prices, although some of them are free.

Idexx website provides fantastic on-line courses that I do strongly recommend.

Cardio academy web page brings some of the best free on-line CPD regarding heart issues.