With the publication today (Monday 29 July 2024) of landmark research reports on the experiences of veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and vet and vet nursing (VN) students with chronic illnesses and/or disabilities, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and British Veterinary Chronic Illness Support (BVCIS) are joining forces to call for the improved inclusion of disabled colleagues within the professions, and to raise awareness of the need for greater understanding of the Equality Act and reasonable adjustments.
The joint RCVS and BVCIS reports are the result of a professions-wide survey launched to explore the experiences of those with disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions and neurodiversity as well as attitudes towards them in veterinary work and education. The survey received 3,411 responses from veterinary professionals and students with and without disabilities in May and June 2023. The research has been published in two report formats: a full report, with detailed analysis and a summary report highlighting the key themes and findings. The reports are published during Disability Pride Month, which has been celebrated in the UK since 2015 and is an opportunity to raise awareness of disabilities, start positive conversations about and celebrate the disabled community.
The survey was conducted on behalf of the RCVS and BVCIS by the Institute for Employment Studies. Respondents were asked about barriers to support for chronic illness and disability, levels of recognition and understanding of conditions, and experiences of requesting and implementing reasonable adjustments. Respondents also provided examples of good practice in the sector and shared the strategies and workarounds people employ so they can work effectively.
Some 75% of respondents reported having at least one chronic illness/ disability – of these 61% had a chronic condition, 48% had a physical condition, 39% had a mental health condition and 30% were neurodivergent.
Some of the key findings of the report were:
• Almost two-thirds (60%) of participants shared that they are affected by their disability/chronic condition every day, and over two-thirds (68%) agreed or strongly agreed that they had to make significant changes to their life to continue working. Those with comorbidities (ie two or more co-existing conditions) were more likely to be affected on a daily basis and to make significant life changes.
• The most frequently reported symptoms of respondents’ disability/chronic condition were mental health (45.2%), pain (36.4%), learning, understanding or concentrating (33.8%), and stamina or energy limitations (32.3%).
•A majority of respondents, when asked to identify the impacts of having a disability/chronic condition on working in the veterinary sector, cited negative impacts such as barriers to working effectively; limited career opportunities; having to work harder (leading to increased fatigue and a need to rest); and concerns for the future and life outside work.
• Around one-quarter of respondents felt that they had been treated differently during study and/or work, and the majority of these (79%) thought this was due to their symptoms.
• Almost half of those who felt they had been treated differently (45%) thought that disclosing their condition(s) had contributed to this.
• The majority of respondents had disclosed their disabilities/chronic conditions, especially in education, where three-quarters disclosed. Over two-thirds of those in work had disclosed to their current workplace, and half had also disclosed to previous employers.
• Some 18% of those in education and 36% of those in work had experienced discrimination, bullying or harassment due to their disability/chronic condition. Those with a mental health condition or who identified as neurodivergent were particularly likely to experience discrimination, as were respondents with multiple disabilities/chronic conditions.
• Almost two-thirds (63%) of respondents overall believed there was a strong or moderate understanding of the Equality Act at their workplace but more than one in ten (12%) thought their employer had no knowledge or understanding.
• Less than half (45%) thought their employer had strong or moderate understanding of the Access to Work scheme, while over a quarter (27%) reported no understanding at their workplace.
• Over one-third (36%) of working respondents with a disability/chronic condition had experienced barriers to accessing support at work. Barriers were more frequently reported by those with a mental health condition, those with neurodivergence, and those with comorbidities.
• Nearly half of all respondents (49%) said they had access to occupational health (OH) services at work, but only 16% overall had actually used them. One-quarter (25%) did not have access to these services, and another quarter (26%) did not know whether or not they had access.
• Examples of good practice were given by some respondents about their existing or previous workplaces. These included reasonable adjustments such as adjusted working hours, environment and task adaptations, alongside good communication, support (from colleagues, managers and external sources), and additional resources.
Key demographic information can be found in both reports and the accompanying infographics document available to download here.
Gurpreet Gill, Leadership and Inclusion Manager at the RCVS, said: “We are so grateful for all the people who took the time to participate with this pioneering research with the College and who have helped us get a clearer understanding and a strong dataset regarding the experiences of those with chronic illnesses and disabilities within the veterinary professions.
“While there are some sobering elements in this report, and some clear and unfortunate examples of poor practice and discrimination, the overwhelming feeling is that there is good will and a desire to help people out there in the professions, but sometimes a lack of understanding and knowledge on how best to do this. Of course, there are also some excellent examples of good practice in terms of putting in place adjustments and accommodations for employees and staff with disabilities, as well as for students on placements.
“Overall, this should be taken as a call for more members of the professions to familiarise themselves with the Equality Act 2010 (https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/equality/equality-act-2010) and its provisions. Under this legislation, it is unlawful to discriminate against people with protected characteristics, including disability. The act sets out the legal requirement for workplaces and educational institutions, among others, to make reasonable adjustments to avoid disabled people being placed at a disadvantage.
“We will now be considering how we, as the regulator and Royal College, can best support members of the professions in understanding their rights and responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010, and what further training and education can be provided, looking at the RCVS Academy as a potential vehicle for doing so.”
Olivia Anderson-Nathan, a Director of BVCIS added: “As a community-led organisation that provides education, advocacy and practical support to chronically ill, neurodivergent and disabled people in the veterinary community, this research will chime with the experiences of those under our umbrella. BVCIS aims to broaden the well-being conversation from mental health alone to include physical health and neurodiversity inclusion as they are all so closely intertwined. It is therefore not surprising that the research shows that comorbidities are common and that the more comorbidities a person has, the worse their experience is likely to be. This suggests the need for a holistic approach to support.
“Overall, the report demonstrates that although there are systemic issues that require a shift in workplace culture, there may be some relatively ‘easy wins’. For example, improving line manger knowledge of the Equality Act and providing reasonable adjustments that are typically inexpensive and simple to implement, such as providing seating and ergonomic equipment, and rota or shift changes. Many changes, like flexible working, will actually benefit everyone. Most importantly, employers and educators need to make sure that those with disabilities, neurodivergence, and chronic illnesses understand their rights and are given positive support to identify their needs. This means co-designing individualised adjustments and avoiding a one size fits all approach.
“BVCIS will continue our work to educate the profession, offering support and guidance for anyone not sure where to start. We also offer community support through our Veterinary Spoonholders Facebook page for disabled, chronically ill and/or neurodivergent people in the veterinary world so – please do come and join us if any of the experiences detailed in the report resonate with you.”
Following the publication of the report, the RCVS will be looking to commission further research to explore some of the core issues identified in more depth. The College is also planning work to promote awareness and education of disability and chronic illness, and reasonable adjustments. More information about this will be published before the end of the year.
In the meantime, the full chronic illness and disability survey report, a shorter summary report and an infographics report are all available to download here.