Where have all the vets gone?

I think you will find it is a triple whammy - Brexit, covid and exotic diseases like avian flu - that is causing the shortage. Just one issue would be bad enough but all three are putting additional strain on our veterinary capacity.

Our veterinary practice is doing fine but none of them were from the EU. We still have to wait outside while the cats are dealt with inside.

Brexit pure and simple according to our very large veterinary practice.

If you flick through the dozens of vets at Fitzpatrick Referrals a large number of them appear to be EU vets. I'm guessing they have chosen to stay with Noel for career reasons and maybe the high salaries.
And yes, lots of women too.

Part of the reason is that there are lots of female vets who decide to go part time when they have families. When DH went to college to train, there were only two women in his year, now women take up more places than men.

It was written as tongue n cheek Deedaa.

timetogo2016 My GP retired three months ago. Two weeks later he was back in the surgery because they were so busy. Or do you consider 2 weeks retirement a holiday?

Fortunately I haven't needed a vet for several years but no doubt the European ones our surgery had will have gone back to Europe.

I am thinking the vets have gone on holiday with the Gp`s,hence the queuing for petrol.

JaneJudge I wouldn't say exceptionally bright. Fairly intelligent would describe the vets in the practice where I worked for 10 yrs.

Where are you experiencing petrol queues ?

You're right JaneJudge it is very stressful. We have a vet in the family but he has moved from farm animals to small animal practice because the out of hours calls were non stop. Even so he is rushed off his feet, working for someone else and having to cover nights and weekends. The best way is to have your own practice but that is costly and takes years.

You have to be exceptionally bright to be a vet don't you? maybe it doesn't attract the right people in this country. It also has a huge stress and suicide rate which would put me off encouraging my family to do it.

It's a bloody mess though isn't it? They are queuing up for petrol again here

All practices here are struggling to recruit too

The Spanish vets at our Vets4Pets have gone home.

Oh Bossyrossy it isn't a nice feeling if you can't get help for your pet when needed. Have you tried PetsatHome? They currently do vaccinations I know because the ten puppies were jabbed and fully checked over there.
Our veterinary practice has 5 vets, one is German but actually trained in Bristol and married here. One specialised in cats in New Zealand. No problem with appointments for anything although we sadly can't accompany the pet into the consulting room due to covid.
Good luck.