The Veterinary Schools Council (VSC) notes the news items relating to the future of the veterinary school at the University of Cambridge. The VSC restates its concern for the staff and students affected by the ongoing uncertainty and offers support to the university, the school and the department as they seek to address the sustainability of the programme and, in particular, of clinical teaching and training.
We appreciate the financial demands associated with veterinary education, and our members are working continuously to find flexible and creative ways to address these challenges, as are the staff at Cambridge. Any reduction of investment in the discipline will have impacts on animal welfare, food safety, zoonotic disease risk and pandemic preparedness. It is vital to recognise the pivotal veterinary role in One Health Medicine that is under threat. Furthermore, the message that one of the world’s leading research-intensive universities is potentially withdrawing from the discipline is troubling and will have implications for the sector, the nation and disease control globally.
