Growing trend for SQPs in vet practices
AMTRA has recorded the 500thstaff member in a veterinary practice to qualify as an SQP, reflecting a growing trend, according to the organisation’s Secretary General.
Stephen Dawson said the number of SQPs working at veterinary practices was on the rise, with about two-thirds of these working as veterinary nurses, and the remainder as other members of staff.
“Having an SQP in your veterinary practice allows you to offer a wider service to veterinary clients and non-clients alike,” he said.
“Vets may see this as an opportunity to get people in through the door to buy medicines and get advice. These customers may be non-clients who at a later stage will seek a veterinary consultation.”
Nicola Ackerman who is Senior Medical Nurse and an SQP at the Veterinary Hospital Group, in Plymouth, and who sits on the Veterinary Products Committee, said the role of vet nurses has been evolving over a number of years.
“More nurses are taking on consulting roles in practice, and the SQP qualification has aided these changes,” she said.
“As a nurse who regularly consults, the added SQP qualification allows me to prescribe medications to the patients that I see without the requirement of seeing a veterinary surgeon,” she said.
“Many clients seek advice on preventative medicines, and are not always aware that nurses provide these services for clients.
“Having SQPs in our practice has allowed our nurses to take a more proactive role in preventative medicines, and has given them a full understanding of the underpinning knowledge required for running a dispensary as many qualified prior to the new VMD regulations occurring,” she said.
AMTRA is an independent regulatory body whose task it is to ensure that the prescription and supply of VPS animal medicines in the UK is undertaken in a responsible manner by AMTRA qualified persons. Under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, AMTRA is the body appointed by the Secretary of State to keep a register of Suitably Qualified Persons. AMTRA's tasks include: working with Harper Adams University College to develop and maintain a qualification syllabus at Higher Education Level 4 which meets the needs of SQPs and the requirements of the Secretary of State working with training centres to support course provision provision of information and advice to SQPs maintenance of the Register of SQPs monitoring and accreditation of continuing professional development for SQPs regulation of professional conduct (including powers to suspend registration or strike off the Register for misconduct). SQPs are permitted under the Veterinary Medicines Regulations to prescribe and supply medicines classified as POM-VPS and NFA-VPS – these are medicines used to reduce/prevent effects of endemic disease in herds, flocks or individual animals (e.g. internal and external parasites), where there are risks for the user/animal/consumer/environment but these can be moderated by oral & written advice from professional non-vets. There are over 4500 SQPs, all of whom have passed specifically designed Higher Education exams. Of these, more than 500 work in veterinary practices, the remainder in country stores, equine suppliers and pet shops. More about AMTRA can be found on its website at www.amtra.org.uk
Issued on behalf of AMTRA byKendallsCommunications.
For further information please contact: Henry Creagh – Tel: 01394 610022
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