The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) received 36 complaints in 2022, which represents a decrease from the previous year’s 65, its Preliminary Investigation Committee Report 2022 reveals.
Of the 36 complaints the body received in 2022, a decision in respect of 35 complaints has been made at the time of the publication of this report.
In respect of the 26 complaints that were received and considered by the PIC in 2022, the average time from a complaint being directed to the PIC to the making of a decision was 12 weeks, the report highlights.
Four of the complaints received and determined by the PIC in 2022 were sent forward to an inquiry before the FTPC.
The PIC staged 17 meetings, all remotely, in 2022 to consider complaints made by members of the public, the Council of the VCI and a government body against registered veterinary practitioners and veterinary nurses.
Of the 36 complaints received by the VCI in 2022:
- 27 (78%) were about a single veterinary practitioner;
- 1 was about a single veterinary nurse;
- 8 (22%) involved multiple registered persons.
The PIC received 30 complaints from
- 30 members of the public;
- 4 complaints from the council;
- 2 complaints from a government body last year.
Complaints related to:
- Cattle – 1;
- Equine – 5;
- Cats – 13;
- Dogs – 16;
- Others – 3.
Categories:
- Failure to provide clinical notes – 1;
- Prescribing practices – 1;
- Animal welfare – 2;
- Certification – 2;
- Pre-purchase examination – 2;
- Failure to return annual renewal form – 3;
- Communication – 6;
- Inadequate veterinary care and treatment – 21.
4 matters were sent forward for inquiry before the FTPC in 2022:
- Communication – 1 (public raised);
- Pre-purchase examination – 1 (public also raised);
- Certification – 1 (Veterinary Council logged);
- Prescribing practices – 1 (government bodies).
About the VCI
The VCI is the statutory regulator for veterinary practitioners, and veterinary nurses registered persons in Ireland.
Its principal function is to regulate and manage the veterinary professions in the interest of animal health and welfare and veterinary public health.
The VCI carries out this role through the Council of the VCI and through various committees established by the council and the act.
The PIC is a statutory committee and forms part of the disciplinary structure of the VCI.
Under the act, the PIC is the investigating committee that receives complaints regarding registered persons.
The PIC considers each complaint and decides whether there is sufficient cause to warrant further action being taken.
It is not the function of the PIC to establish that a complaint has been proven or otherwise, the publication states.
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