Following an internal consultation, Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) has confirmed it will progress with the new model of disease surveillance announced in August. This will see post-mortem rooms in Ayr and Perth end in January 2020 and Veterinary Surveillance Hubs replacing Disease Surveillance Centres.

Diagnostic facilities in Aberdeen and Thurso will close at the end of February, while those in Dumfries will remain open until May. Post-mortem rooms in Thurso, Aberdeen, St Boswells and Dumfries will continue to be operational.

This will result in less need to transport carcases

The move will result in fewer animals being transported to laboratories for testing and more diagnostics on farm and through private vet practices. The new model will see the veterinary investigation team work closer with private vets to better identify more efficient diagnostic strategies. This will result in less need to transport carcases.

The Veterinary Surveillance Hubs will support on-farm investigations or arrange post-mortem examinations at alternative sites when required by the wider regional and national disease surveillance programme.

This decision will be made locally by the veterinary investigation officers. Some support will be available to transport carcases in exceptional cases.

Diagnostic facilities in Aberdeen and Thurso will close at the end of February

SRUC is planning a phased integration of testing facilities at the Veterinary and Analytical Laboratory near Edinburgh.

Diagnostic testing at Ayr and Perth will close at the same time as the post-mortem facilities. Diagnostic facilities in Aberdeen and Thurso will close at the end of February, while those in Dumfries will remain open until May.

Vets will be able to send samples directly to the Veterinary and Analytical Laboratory or drop them off locally for onward delivery. A new online LabPortal will be launched to speed up the delivery of results to vets, improve tracking and reduce administration. From dispatch to receipt, testing times will not be affected by the move, with some test results available sooner.

SRUC is now arranging meetings with local farmers and vets to discuss the changes.

Some farmers close to post-mortem facilities in Ayr and Perth will see a change in the service

George Caldow, SRUC’s head of veterinary services, said: “We are now in a position to begin the implementation of the new model. Some farmers close to post-mortem facilities in Ayr and Perth will see a change in the service. However, by focussing on working with vets on investigation strategies and on-farm sampling, we can improve the service for others. We are working hard to ensure the testing service continues to deliver on time and, in some cases, even sooner.

“We are confident the new model will deliver the vital disease surveillance service for the Scottish Government both nationally and locally, while making the required efficiency saving. As we do now, we will continue to develop and tailor the service for local areas.”