Ah - The Wonderful bureaucracy of the EEC

[Equibrit]

H & H (6 November, '08)
Emergency veterinary treatment under threat

Richard Stephenson MRCVS 7 November, 2008

Few recognise that 24-hour emergency vet care is a privilege or realise that it doesn't exist in some other countries. But, due to pressures created by European legislation, the emergency cover we take for granted could be threatened.
Our ethical duty

The UK veterinary profession provides round-the-clock cover, but there is no law that requires vets to do so. It is provided because members have always considered it an
ethical duty.

EU dictats

In 1998, the European Commission (EU) imposed the Working Time Directive on the UK, which became known as the Working Time Regulations (WTR). The WTR dictates no one must work more than a total of 48 hours per week and all workers must have an 11-hour rest period every day.

Current practice

At present, the average equine vet works a 45-hour week and, in addition to that, does 37 hours on call (2006 RCVS Manpower survey). This is an average of 82 hours per week.

The status of on-call time is unclear, but it could mean that the average equine vet is doing almost twice the maximum weekly hours permitted in law.

Problems arise

The main difficulty for equine practices is providing the compulsory 11-hour daily rest period.

This, coupled with the increasing demands and expectations from owners, has led the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) to set up a consultation exercise on the future of the 24-hour commitment. This will be conducted by an independent consultancy. Options could include:

• Keeping the current system despite incompatibilities with the WTR.

• Removal of obligations to provide the service.

• Permitting practices in remote areas to opt out.

The good news

There is some light at the end of the tunnel, however. The WTD directive has caused disruption throughout Europe — 25 of the 27 member states have infringement proceedings lodged against them for failing to enforce it *— and it seems the legislation may soon be amended to take account of groups like vets who have on-call commitments.

What can the average horse owner do to help?

• Don't abuse your vet's emergency service. Remember, calling out a vet for a minor problem may result in attendance at a serious case being delayed.

• To keep the overheads of providing a 24-hour service down, support your local practice with as much of your routine work as you can. Try to source medicines and wormers from that practice.

• If you are concerned the European WTD may result in the loss of this invaluable service in the UK, write to your MEP or MP.

Opinions expressed here are those of the author, who is a member of the Council of the RCVS

[FlightCheck]

Fascinating - I called my vet to discuss it (we are friends also) but she was out on an emergency call :)

[Guilherme]

Our European cousins seem to have forgotten the Three Great Lies:

The check is in the mail.

I promise I'll respect you in the morning.

We're the Government and we're hear to help you.

Sadly, some of my countrymen have also forgotten them, too.

G.

[JackSprats Mom]

The WTR dictates no one must work more than a total of 48 hours per week and all workers must have an 11-hour rest period every day.

48 hours per week??!~ Are they serious? I'm moving back to Europe :lol:. Also if it is truly worded like that then it does not say that the 11 hour rest period needs to be continuos in which case one could argue that all those 2-3 minute periods throughout the day when you stand around are 'rest periods'. I'm sure I could come up with 11 hours if I had to- trouble is I have to prove the oppersite to my work, that the 2-3 minutes I stand around and chat is work honest!!:lol:

[Equibrit]

It says "AN 11 hr rest period".

[Catersun]

UK peeps... how did that labor law come about and how old is it? The concept of such a law just floors me.

[greysandbays]

UK peeps... how did that labor law come about and how old is it? The concept of such a law just floors me.

When the government starts to meddle, there's no telling what crap they are going to keep coming up with.

It's like that monster in some movie that popped out of a weird egg and kept feeding and feeding and growing and growing (something to do with electricity, IIRC) until it threatened to wipe out a huge population. Luckily, a couple of folks with more guts than sense decided saving their world was worth their near-certain death. In the movie, of course, they lived to tell about it, but that don't generally happen in real life.

[Event4Life]

Thanks for posting this...Ironically we just got to the European Union section of my Intl' Politics course this week. I'm actually going to print this out and bring it to tutorial next Tuesday, I'd be interested to see what my tutor has to say.

You guys might also find this interesting: http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/1651&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

[PaddyUK]

UK peeps... how did that labor law come about and how old is it? The concept of such a law just floors me.

It's not a British Law as such, but a directive of the European Union, and because we are members of the EU, we get stuck with directives thought up by suits in Brussels.

Richard Stephenson, who wrote the article for Dog and Nag is actually my vet. I shall be following his advice and writing to my MP.

Paddy

[Catersun]

When the government starts to meddle, there's no telling what crap they are going to keep coming up with.

It's like that monster in some movie that popped out of a weird egg and kept feeding and feeding and growing and growing (something to do with electricity, IIRC) until it threatened to wipe out a huge population. Luckily, a couple of folks with more guts than sense decided saving their world was worth their near-certain. In the movie, of course, they lived to tell about it, but that don't generally happen in real life.

Greysandbays, your responce was less than helpful. It certainly did not anwser my questionas to what the events surrounding the creation of that law where. I as well as anyone else who has read any of the threads regarding goverment knows that you are very anti big goverment. Please stick to the topic at hand.

[Catersun]

It's not a British Law as such, but a directive of the European Union, and because we are members of the EU, we get stuck with directives thought up by suits in Brussels.

Richard Stephenson, who wrote the article for Dog and Nag is actually my vet. I shall be following his advice and writing to my MP.

Paddy
Ok Having googled.... and a slightly better understanding of what exactly it is... How does that time limit effect professional trainers and such in the UK? Is it enforcable?

[greysandbays]

Greysandbays, your responce was less than helpful. It certainly did not anwser my questionas to what the events surrounding the creation of that law where. I as well as anyone else who has read any of the threads regarding goverment knows that you are very anti big goverment. Please stick to the topic at hand.

And this sort of thing is the very reason I am "very anti big government".

You said the concept of this law just "floored" you. Well, honey, "big government" does NOT have on it's list of priorities "actually MAKING SENSE", much less "don't meddle where meddling will not only be not helpful, but do great harm as well".

Directives like this don't come down as a result of A+B+C+D, etc adding up to something logical.

They come from an ingrained philosophy that the average human is too damn stupid to possibly do ANYTHING without the supervision of "government" comprised of a bunch of folks who are even stupider than the average human, and somehow this act of compiled stupidity adds up to some kind of superior outlook that leads to results completely immune from the Law Of Unintended Consequences.

It doesn't.

[Equibrit]

This is "A Government of Governments" making these stupid rules. Some of their work is the most ridiculous thing on earth. I blame the French who have a mandated 39hr work week!

[EponaRoan]

I can understand it applying to say a retail clerk or factory worker or the like, but does it also apply to those who are/can be self-employed like a horse trainer or vet? Because that does seem odd and limiting.

[Guilherme]

This is "A Government of Governments" making these stupid rules. Some of their work is the most ridiculous thing on earth. I blame the French who have a mandated 39hr work week!

It's not the fault of the French. They can do what they want within their own borders.

I blame people who surrender their essential liberty for a little, temporary security.

G.

[Equibrit]

Sorry G - but you just don't get it ! (but - spoken like a true septic !)

[Guilherme]

Sorry G - but you just don't get it ! (but - spoken like a true septic !)

Au contraire!!!!! :)

I DO get it.

Every populace is responsible for how they govern themselves. If Britain wants to follow EU directives then God Bless 'Em. If they don't, then they don't have to. There may be consequences that result from each path. But each path is open to be taken or not taken, as the country (either through its representatives or by plebicite) chooses.

G.

P.S. There's a difference between "skeptic" and "septic." Unless, of course, you didn't intend there be one! ;)

[Frank B]

48 hour weeks?

Sheesh! Whatta bunch of lazy losers and underachievers! :mad: No wonder the EU's so f***ed up!

[kookicat]

48 hour weeks?

Sheesh! Whatta bunch of lazy losers and underachievers! :mad: No wonder the EU's so f***ed up!

Harsh much? :confused:

I -think- there's an opt out clause.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Employees/WorkingHoursAndTimeOff/DG_10029426

[PaddyUK]

I'm pretty sure there is a way round it as the following don't count as working hours -

breaks when no work is done, such as lunch breaks
normal travel to and from work
time when you're 'on call' away from the workplace
evening and day-release classes
travelling outside of normal working hours
unpaid overtime where you volunteer to do so, for example, staying late to finish something off.

In the full article, Richard says that on call time is unpaid.

The on call time waiting at home won't count nor will the travel time when on call or to and from work in normal time.

So I guess, once all those have been deducted, a reasonable case will be made for an individual opt out.

I shall still write to my MP tho', get the ode bat to do something useful.

Paddy

[Equibrit]

P.S. There's a difference between "skeptic" and "septic." Unless, of course, you didn't intend there be one! ;)

I am very well aware of that, and used the word I intended to use.

[twnkltoz]

Sorry to bring this up again, but does anyone in the UK know of any vets who are NOT opting out, limiting their emergency services?