North MSPs have voiced their concerns about a measure being suggested to mitigate the effects of closing a specialist vet centre in Inverness.
John Finnie MSP and Dave Stewart MSP have also raised concerns about the input of local organisations to the consultation on the closure of the Inverness veterinary disease surveillance centre (DSC).
The centre, which tests animals that have died on farms for infectious diseases, is run by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and is expected to shut in September as part of plans to create a more efficient service.
Closing the branch would leave farmers in the region having to transport carcasses to centres in Thurso, Aberdeenshire or Perth.
On Monday night, 24 farmers and vets were joined at Dingwall Mart for a consultation with head of veterinary services, Brian Hosie. Mike Wijnberg, the managing director of SAC Consulting, the division of SRUC that operates veterinary services.
A suggested solution includes training north vets to carry out post-mortems on-farm to save travelling to other DSCs, and setting up an alternative carcasse collection service.
But vets and farmers are anxious about the plans because conducting these post-mortems requires an additional year’s training, and the proposals mean they would be expected to do them after two days’ training.
Mr Finnie, who was contacted by vets on the issue, said:“This is not only about animal welfare, it is about monitoring the potential impact upon humans of zoonotic diseases. The Outbreak Committee of NHS Highland is reliant on receiving good information from our disease surveillance centres to be able to control potential outbreaks of e-coli, salmonella and other health threats.”
David Stewart MSP met with SRUC CEO Janet Swadling and Mr Wijnberg on Wednesday afternoon about the potential closure.
Mr Stewart said “At the meeting I was at pains to make clear that I had real concerns about the consultation process and after discussion it would be fair to say I am reassured that there has not been a final decision made yet. This is why it is important that all who use the facility, be they crofters or farmers or the Police or RSPB or any other organisation, that they contribute to the consultation process immediately, to make their views known.”
A SRUC spokeswoman said: “The proposal was put forward that, along with the closure, we will investigate how that service would be managed without being in Inverness. These people who have raised concerns should raise them as part of the official consultation process. We are looking to gather these views and we are pleased that people are expressing their views.”
The consultation period ends on July 10 and anyone who wishes to express their views on the closure should contact Mr Hosie on 0131 535 3139 or at brian.hosie@sac.co.uk.