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  • The vet bubble

    The vet bubble

    On my course, in a year of 300 students and with a timetable of mostly nine-to-fives, it’s safe to say I spend a fair share of my time with other vets. However, in the first few weeks of university I was warned by older vets to beware of the “vet bubble” – and I understand what they meant.

    Long and professional courses, such as medicine, law and veterinary science, have a bit of a stigma for being slightly closed off from the rest of the academic world – at least at my university.

    I’m not sure it’s a conscious decision on behalf of those students concerned; without even realising it, the past few years have seen me cultivate and maintain friendships that are, predominantly, with other vets.

    Incidental acquaintances

    While I live in a household of eight, with only one other vet student, the majority of vets I know live in houses comprised solely of classmates.

    I think it’s only natural to gravitate towards those you can’t help but spend so much time with. There are weeks when it feels like I live and breathe my course, with barely any daylight hours spent at home. Truth be told, I’m sometimes lucky to find the time to make it to even two society events a week.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining – I’m one of those people who like being kept busy – but it does explain why such close bonds are formed with people living the same hectic life right alongside you. When you’re crammed into the same four walls of a lecture theatre for three or four hours straight, of course you’re going to turn to your left or right and make connections.

    Alternative associations

    The vet bubble does have its downside, though. Obviously, all that time spent with vet students means potentially missing out on connections with people outside of your course.

    In my experience, veterinary programmes tend to attract a certain type of person, and I think it’s important to surround yourself with a multitude of personalities and attitudes – particularly for people like myself and my course mates who are headed towards a career where communication and understanding is key.

    Necessary alliances

    On the other hand, the bonds forged with our “comrades in arms” might be just what we need to get through what is one of the most stressful courses out there. Leaning on those friendships and learning from each other at this stage in our careers helps prepare us for the years after we graduate when we’ll be doing the exact same thing in practice.

    The vet bubble is something to be aware of, but you don’t have to give in to it.

    On days where work is all I can think of, my friends on other courses are the ones who really keep me sane and remind me there is a world outside of my own.

  • Review and acknowledge

    Review and acknowledge

    Now we are at the end of the year, but before we jump into the new one with a bang, it is time to stop and reflect on the past 12 months.

    In my previous post about finishing 2018, I mentioned one important step in moving forward was “letting go of the past”; well, this type of reflection is slightly different, this is reflecting on your achievements and acknowledging the actions you have taken.

    We don’t want to dwell in the past as this is where regret originates from, but we want to review it to see how far we have come and how much progress we have made. Self acknowledgement is different from external acknowledgement, as you are acknowledging the things important and significant for you, not solely reliant on what others have acknowledged you for. Our achievements are for us to enjoy and the only person who can really enjoy your achievements is yourself.

    Self acknowledgement

    Self acknowledgement is generally something we don’t do often enough. When we are busy in the clinic getting through consults, heads buried in textbooks or eyes fixed to computer screens scanning reference sites try to keep up with new developments – or the hustle and bustle of preparing for Christmas – it is hard to stop and take time to reflect.

    Self acknowledgement is a source of inner strength, confidence, peace and calm. Stop and think of two big things you have achieved in the past 12 months; they could be challenges you faced, obstacles you have overcome, projects you have completed or personal goals you have ticked off.

    Think about the implications of the actions you took:

    • How they have benefited others or your business?
    • What you have learned about yourself?
    • How has it moved you forward?
    • What are you capable of now or what has opened up as a result?

    How did that feel?

    Reflection

    Now you have thought of 2 think of 2 more, until you get to 10. This can be challenging, as it is not what we are encouraged to do.

    Reflect on the growth within yourself, not just in terms of capacity or capability, but your personal growth. Reflect on the movement forward towards your goals. Your achievements may pass unnoticed to others and that is okay, but this process brings them back into your awareness. If we are satisfied with our outcomes, regardless of what other people think, then we stop seeking other people’s acknowledgement or validation. Therefore, we have more control over our happiness, direction in life and purpose.

    Your achievements might mean nothing to the others, but it might mean the world to you, so give yourself a pat on the back and give yourself some credit for your efforts. Step into 2019 with your head held high and build on the progress and movement forward you made in 2018. Great tools that encourage reflection and self acknowledgement include productivity journals or diaries; buy one that encourages you to list your daily, weekly and monthly actions.

    Have a happy new year.

  • Mentorship

    Mentorship

    After reading an article on “What veterinarians and veterinary students really want”, I’ve been assessing the top three things wanted from a veterinary role. After looking into work-life balance and a positive team environment, this article will explore mentorship.

    It goes without saying, anything you can do to ease new graduate vets’ transition from studies to practice has huge benefits. I heard some companies are afraid of investing in their employees, as they are concerned they might leave and don’t see the value of their investment in that person. What I think is even worse is if that employee stays and you have not invested in their personal growth.

    Simple structure

    If we are talking about a clinical knowledge mentoring programme, it can be simple structure. The first and simplest step is a buddy system: team them up with someone experienced who can show them the ropes, and who they can go to for advice and support. Getting them to shadow their mentor for a couple of weeks before throwing them in the deep end is completely worth the money and resources invested.

    The second step up would be a buddy system combined with a structured learning programme. This may be developed and run in house. At our hospital we have a programme called the “Accelerate Programme”. It is a 13-week course, each week focuses on a different topic, such as IV fluids endocrine emergencies and ultrasound. All new vets go through the programme.

    Courses

    The topics have associated readings with questions based on the readings. At the end of the programme is an exam. The readings started simple, we used review articles and textbook chapters – over time this developed into course notes written by graduates of the course. These graduates mentor new vets in the hospital and facilitate the programme.

    Numerous online and externally run courses can be used if there is no capacity to run an internally driving course.

    For me, mentoring goes beyond talking about clinical advice. As employers, we need to start creating career pathways for our teams; without a vision of what is possible for them they do not have a clue about how they can further contribute and what opportunities are available.

    Pathway

    The third step after a buddy system and a structured clinical learning programme is a pathway or mentoring associated with career progression. This is after the new staff member is completely competent in all the systems and processes, they are the right fit (this means they understand what they need to do,  want to actually do it, have the capacity to do it, and fit the team and culture). From junior to senior, to coordinator or manager, show them what the pathway is, what they need to do and what they need to demonstrate to achieve that. If they are the right person they will do it.

    The more we invest in mentoring and coaching our teams to their full potential, the more we benefit from increased productivity, loyalty, commitment and engagement. This boosts team morale, and means empowered and effective team members stay for the long run. A mentorship programme might be the best Christmas present you could give your staff.

  • All work, no play

    All work, no play

    Christmas is almost here, which means a much-awaited and deeply longed-for break from the 9 to 5 pattern of university life. The holiday period for Bristol students is starting a little later than normal this year, so, naturally, my friends and I are counting down the days until we get to retreat to the festive comforts of home.

    This is my second Christmas coming home from uni and I remember the same time last year being quite a culture shock; the jump from student accommodation and rationed toilet paper to a house that is too hot – though you never believed there could be such a thing – and surprises in the form of presents rather than re-timetabled lectures and unexpected

    deadlines.

    Post-Christmas examinations

    "It’s important to engage with whatever holiday traditions your family takes part in, and not lock yourself away behind your bedroom door with only text books and highlighters for company."
    “It’s important to engage with whatever holiday traditions your family takes part in, and not lock yourself away behind your bedroom door with only text books and highlighters for company.”

    Over it all, though, loom the post-Christmas examinations, which can’t help but make the season a little less jolly.

    This is when all students must learn to juggle enjoying the well-earned rest and respite as well as finding time to work, a skill that vet students will likely have to draw on for the rest of their careers.

    The task is not an easy one – ever since GCSEs kept me inside, revising on sunny summer days, post-holiday exams have been a bane of mine. It can also feel quite unjust and confusing when your university and lecturers both tell you to “have a relaxing holiday” and “take some time off”, but still expect the same quality of work you’ve been producing all term.

    The same demand is made of most students, veterinary or otherwise, but for those who are also trying to fit two weeks of work experience into the bargain – such as my, perhaps foolish, self – the challenge and strain on time management become greater.

    Staying motivated

    Treading the line between work and play can be a daunting prospect, especially at a time when all you want to do is kick back and enjoy yourself. Staying motivated is really important. Being back home can feel like living in a whole other world, and it can be easy, especially if you live miles away from your university, to forget exams really do exist and are around the corner. On the other side of the coin, it’s important to engage with whatever holiday traditions your family takes part in, and not lock yourself away behind your bedroom door with only text books and highlighters for company.

    Exams aside, and as patronising and impossible as it sounds, it is important to take some down time over the Christmas holidays with your family and friends. Mental health can take a dive during exam periods and working endlessly isn’t healthy. Of course, it’s important to study for those tests, get good grades and be the best that you can be – and if your joy stems from doing that then great.

    But, at the same time, if you’re miserable because you have no time to spend with important people or to clock off then what is the point? It’s also important to recognise if you’re not at your best mentally, your capacity to revise is going to be low; so taking breaks isn’t detrimental to your studying, quite the opposite.

    I love what I study, so a small break from learning recharges my batteries, but also makes me itch to start learning again. A work-life balance is a part of every course and every career, and it’s important to find something that works for you.

  • Positive team environment

    Positive team environment

    In the previous entry, we started to look at the article “What veterinarians and veterinary students really want“, which named work-life balance as the most important aspect for new graduates. This time we look at the second most important: working in a positive team environment.

    “Salary will not keep a young vet in a practice with a negative culture,” Landis-Hanna said. “You have to fix the toxicity.”

    Fixing a toxic culture is incredibly difficult for someone stepping into a new position. My advice would be, if the culture does not feel right, you have to decide to stay and contribute towards cultivating the culture you want or leave. That might seem a bit black and white, and you may feel you have no choice, but ultimately you do. If you stay and are not mentally prepared for the upcoming challenge it can sour your taste of this great profession of ours.

    Stay or go?

    IMG_9736I have friends who stayed in workplaces with an unsupportive, negative culture and it has ruined their first impression – they did not leave quick enough. If you decide to stay then give yourself a deadline and start to take action.

    If you are a current employee and find yourself in a similar situation, you have the same two choices. If you are the employer and have high rates of staff turnover, stop and reflect, it might be you.

    So, you decide to stay. The first thing you have to understand is the only thing you can control is your own attitude and actions. This is the most important part, you control your responses and your actions, so start to demonstrate the things you want to cultivate. Mahatma Gandhi said: “You need to be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

    What to do

    1. Control your attitude. This applies now, your words and actions are what you control, but they are external manifestations of what you think. Shift your mindset by focusing on the good, finding humour in bad situations, turn failures into lessons, focus on the present, stop the negative self-talk “I am not good at this” to “I am not good at this yet”.
    2. Providing positive reinforcement to your work mates. This can feel uncomfortable if you are a new team member, but acknowledge them for their specific actions that impress you.
    3. Spread happiness. This can be as simple as smiling and saying hello, and genuinely acknowledging people. Finding humour in situations, I find, helps dramatically.
    4. Celebrate the wins. This applies to more than just your own. Celebrate your team members’ wins, celebrate them as a team. If a client gives you chocolates, take them out the back and share them with the team, as they helped contribute to your win.
    5. Motivate and support your team. If there is something a team member has not done, support them or show them how. Everyone wants to feel they are learning and progressing, so encourage them and facilitate growth.
    6. Gratitude is one of the most powerful ways we can change our perspective on life. When you feel thankful, grateful and content you will feel more satisfied with what you have in life.
    7. Kindness. Demonstrate acts of kindness within your team – do something someone else would not expect you to do, or offer to help with something.

    No ‘smack talk’

    At the hospital we have a rule of “no smack talk” – basically, this means if you would not say something directly to a colleague or pet owner then do not say it at all. It has changed our team culture dramatically as we have eliminated negative talk, which I believe is a real problem in workplaces. Negative talk spreads, and can affect everyone and their performance. It isn’t easy to achieve and it takes time; however, as a team, we are much stronger and positive as a result.

    Ultimately, what is important is that your first position is in a positive and supportive environment. Set yourself, your career, up for success – if you feel the culture does not fit with you, make a choice: stay or go.

  • Work-life balance

    Work-life balance

    I read an article on “What Veterinarians and veterinary students really want” and the top three things wanted from a veterinary role were work-life balance, positive team environment and mentorship. Over the next three weeks I want to explore these three topics and offer my perspective on how to achieve them.

    For someone who often works 36 hours in 2 days, finding balance in my life is something I have to work on.

    The first thing I thought of was what does work-life balance mean? I get asked about this all the time as I have numerous responsibilities in and outside of the hospital and people want to know what work-life balance is for me.

    Looking inside

    The first thing that comes to mind is, I am a big believer in looking inside before looking outside. We can look at other people’s lives, their decisions and actions, and judge them as being busy with no balance. What we are doing is applying our values, our criteria of what it looks like, what we like and want on others. No one-size-fits-all exists when it comes to work-life balance, often what works for someone may be the opposite for someone else.

    Firstly, look inside at what does work-life balance mean for you. Ask yourself:

    • What are the important areas of my life? Work, family, friends, health/exercise, travel, and so on.
    • What would a successful outcome look, feel or sound like for me in those areas? Is seeing my family once a fortnight, catching up with friends once a month, but seeing my closest friend weekly and exercising three times a week a successful outcome for you?
    • What are the expectations of those most important to you and have you communicated your expectations? What do your partner, family and friends want or need from you and what do you need from them? If there is a mutual understanding and agreement of expectations then conflict is less likely.
    • Have you scheduled things important for you? Have you made time for family, friends, your health and well-being? Is your work really work?
    • Can you align your passions/wants/expectations with your work?

    Work as part of life

    I have a very hectic schedule, but I do my best to align myself with my tasks and responsibilities. I have a passion for learning and teaching, so I look for ways to do that in the hospital. If I am tasked with something I am not so enthusiastic about, but have to do, I look for the “gifts” in the task; I look for reasons why it aligns with me – what I can get out of it? What opportunities it can create? What are the impacts of actions I take?

    I am not saying you should work more hours and be happy about it, but sometimes we forget the good things about what we get paid to do. I work weekends in the hospital and my shifts can vary between 12 and 20 hours – those important to me know this is the case, they have no expectations of me on the weekends, and during those 20 hours I have numerous opportunities to fine tune my skills, learn, teach, connect, give love, contribute, have an impact and have fun.

    To me, work is a part of my life. I understand what work-life balance is for me. To make things easier for yourself and everyone around you, look inside at what work-life balance means for you, be clear about it, write it down, communicate it and take action on it.

    Next week, I will look at achieving a positive team environment.

     

  • The possibilities are endless

    The possibilities are endless

    By the time we reach university, veterinary students already have a distinct advantage over the majority of the student population – in that we know what we want to do.

    Certainty over my future career, although perhaps a slight cliché, has always been the envy of my friends.

    When it came to the dreaded A-level decision making all those years ago, for me it was never really a decision. I knew I wanted to be a vet. Nay, I was going to be a vet – and if I was going to be a vet, I was going to have to study chemistry and biology. No argument about it.

    Stereotypical

    I selected English as my third subject and, thinking about it, it was perhaps my only choice. I did love the sciences, but they weren’t ever up for debate; they were an inevitability – a compulsory stepping stone I was happy to oblige if it got me to the career I’d dreamed about ever since I was six years old, playing with my toy animals along to scenes in David Attenborough’s The Blue Planet.

    I’m well aware I’m a stereotype. Although I’ve had some people question my unerring enthusiasm, I’ve always been grateful for it.

    I’ve never had the struggle of picking out A-levels, or even a degree, without a true indication of what I wanted to do with those qualifications. To me, that seems daunting and terrifying. I don’t envy my friends who are still battling with these life-defining decisions.

    Infinite choices

    turtle
    “The career I’d dreamed about ever since I was six years old, playing with my toy animals along to scenes in David Attenborough’s The Blue Planet.”

    A stereotype I may be, but I know I’m not the rule when it comes to vets. Some of my course mates only decided it was for them halfway through sixth form and had to scramble for last minute work experience – I don’t envy them either.

    When I say I know what I want to do… I may be exaggerating just a tad. In truth, the job first year students have in mind is rarely the career goal they set off with after graduation day.

    It’s also not an overstatement to say the possibilities for us as vet students are almost infinite. I thought for a long time I wanted to work as a vet in the army, fresh out of university, but I’m not so sure any more.

    All creatures…

    I’m in love with animals of all sizes, but mixed practices are rare. I also have a real passion for exotic species and a desire to travel, but this area of the profession is extremely competitive and more of a lifestyle choice than a job.

    That being said, there’s nothing to say I can’t do it all at some point in my life. Even if I start out in an ordinary small animal practice, there’s nothing ordinary about it. I’ll be taking on the role of dentist, surgeon and GP – all in one.

    In all honesty, there really is no rush for me, or any of my course mates, to decide. The length of our course can be seen as both a blessing and a curse, but it certainly does grant us the gift of time to figure out which direction we want to point ourselves in.

    Without a clue

    Even if we graduate and are still a little uncertain, that’s okay, too.

    Who really knows what we’re going to enjoy and thrive at until we actually get out there and start doing it? Even the most mature students in my year are going to graduate with their whole lives ahead of them – and there’s nothing wrong with taking advantage of that and figuring it all out as you go.

    As long as you have fun getting there – wherever there may be – who cares how long it takes you?

  • 2018 – finishing the year strong

    2018 – finishing the year strong

    How often do you hear people say “I will start it in the new year” or “next year I will start this”? Well I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions as there is no benefit in waiting four weeks to start, change or act on something you can be doing now.

    In essence, waiting is either due to fear, procrastination or poor planning – none of which will help you move forward. Most businesses are already getting in the festive spirit and starting to wind down; however, I believe finishing the year strong, and as you mean to go on, is much more beneficial. If you start to make plans, prioritise and take action before the end of the year, you will end 2018 strong and focused, which means in January the pathway to success won’t be as steep or as hard to climb as you’ll be halfway there.

    A big part of my role as a director at Animal Emergency Service is making sure the company continues to move forward, evolve and grow. Three weeks before the busiest time of the year the leadership teams are working hard and moving towards our one year goals we aim to complete by March 2019. We have been chipping away at them for nine months and we can’t stop now.

    So, here are three ways that can help you and your practice end 2018 strong.

    Let go

    Poli
    “The team will feel a great morale boost when they see and feel that they are moving towards tackling something they always wanted to achieve.”

    Everything that has happened, or not happened this year, is in the past and cannot be changed. Whatever decisions or choices you made have bought you exactly to this point in your life.

    Maybe you haven’t made the progress you were hoping for as a practice, in your role or as a team. It is time to forgive and forget, hold your head high, and focus on what’s next. It often helps to list the things you and your team have achieved over the year; this can help put things into perspective.

    Plan now

    Don’t wait until January to address things or plan for the year. If you wait, by the time you begin to take action or complete anything, you will be well into February or March. Create a list of priorities now. Ask yourself:

    • What do you want 2019 to look like for you?
    • As a team what you do you want 2019 to look like?
    • What do you want to achieve as a practice?
    • What did you learn from 2018?
    • What is one big thing you want to complete in 2019 that will move your team or practice forward?

    Examples could be renovating the reception area, raising funds for new equipment, starting a staff-mentoring programme or a client-focused initiative. Next, ask yourself:

    • What are six major steps or milestones you need to reach along the way to achieve it?

    Breakdown and create a plan based on those six steps/milestones then pick three things you can take action on before the end of the year, so you can start the new year with momentum. Even the smallest steps will be pushing you and your team in the right direction.

    Focus your time and efforts

    Without a doubt this is a distracting time of year, so it’s more important to focus on what you can do to setup the beginning of 2019 for success. Prioritise and schedule in time to tick those three important tasks off your list before the end of the year. By laying the groundwork now, you will be setting the tone for a positive start in January, and a driven and focused team environment.

    Christmas is also a time for family, friends and fun, and taking time out, but imagine how much more enjoyable it will be if you feel accomplished and fulfilled because you have already had movement forward on what is important to you. The team will feel a great morale boost when they see and feel  they are moving towards tackling something they always wanted to achieve.

  • Handling an Addisonian crisis – part 2

    Handling an Addisonian crisis – part 2

    Managing an Addisonian crisis can be daunting, especially when the patient looks like it is about to check out and its baseline bloods show a sodium of 110mmol/L, a potassium of 8mmol/L and a glucose of 2.3mmol/L. That is enough to make anyone’s brain explode.

    The patient can be treated in many ways, but I find it useful to try to simplify and prioritise. I have outlined my thought process in the hope some of you will find it helpful.

    First 10 minutes: protect heart and manage hypoglycaemia

    • Protect the heart – calcium gluconate 10% 0.5mL/kg to 1.5mL/kg slow IV over 10 minutes to counter the effects of hyperkalaemia on cardiac electrical activity. This buys about 20 minutes of time.
    • Treat the hypoglycaemia – the dose depends on the severity, but 0.5ml/kg of 50% dextrose IV diluted 50:50 with Hartmann’s is a good place to start. This dose of dextrose will also help correct hyperkalaemia by stimulating endogenous insulin release.

    First 20 minutes: start addressing perfusion deficits

    • Create a custom IV fluid – I do not aim to increase sodium concentration at all at this stage. I am a big fan of creating custom IV fluids. I create a fluid with a same sodium concentration as the patient then use boluses of this fluid to correct signs of shock without concerns of increasing the sodium. I use Hartmann’s as my base fluid – it has the lowest sodium concentration – and add 5% dextrose to reduce the sodium concentration (you may need to remove 100ml to 200ml from the bag first). I usually run the new fluid through the electrolyte machine to check the final sodium concentration.
    • Hartmann’s contains buffers that help address metabolic acidosis (and hyperkalaemia). It also contains potassium; however, if this concentration is less than that of serum it will still help to dilute serum potassium.
    • The formula I use to create a custom sodium IV fluid bag is beyond the scope of this blog and is detailed in the fluid therapy chapter of my book, The MiniVet Guide, under hyponatraemia.

    First hour: address hyperkalaemia

    • Image © mintra / Adobe Stock
      The author warns not to rush the sodium increase in patients. Image © mintra / Adobe Stock

      If the hyperkalaemia is severe enough to warrant more aggressive management than alkalinising IV fluids, improving renal perfusion and providing a dextrose bolus (such as potassium of more than 7mmol/L to 8mmol/L) then I would use regular short acting insulin at 0.25U/kg to 0.5U/kg IV. This should always be used in combination with a bolus of dextrose at 2g of dextrose per unit of insulin or 4ml of 50% dextrose for each unit of insulin, followed by a CRI of 2.5% to 5% glucose until insulin wears off (this could be up to six hours). This should prevent hypoglycaemia.

    • I administer dexamethasone up to 0.5mg/kg IV while running the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. This is the only corticosteroid that can be given as it does not cross react with the ACTH stimulation test.

    Next 2 to 24 hours: correct hydration and correct hyponatraemia

    • After I have corrected perfusion deficits with my custom IV fluid, I will address hydration deficits with an appropriate fluid plan over the next 24 hours. I usually replace 50% of the hydration deficit over the first 6 hours then the remaining 50% over the following 18 hours.
    • Correction of hyponatraemia can take a couple days as sodium should only be increased by 0.5mmol/L/hr (max 12mmol/L/day). If the sodium has not increased from the initial fluids given, I would create another custom IV fluid bag with a sodium concentration 10mmol/L above that of the patient’s. I would monitor electrolytes every one to four hours, depending on response.

    Supply mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids

    • Options for steroid supplementation include dexamethasone 0.5mg/kg IV then 0.1mg/kg IV q12hrs or IV hydrocortisone sodium succinate at 0.5mg/kg/hr. Personally I use hydrocortisone CRI, asit has equal mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid activity. Oral steroids can be used once the patient starts eating and drinking.
    • I only use a mineralocorticoid if I see no increase in sodium after starting hydrocortisone, despite using a fluid with a higher sodium concentration than the patient.

    Addressing patients this way will generally gets them out of the crisis. One thing that I don’t do is rush the sodium increase, it can take time and I am good with that. I have seen patients develop neurological signs from sodium levels that have increased too quickly. As for the long term management; well, I will leave that to you.

  • Christmas and conservation

    Christmas and conservation

    As somebody with a passionate and, perhaps – one day – professional interest in conversation, I couldn’t help but draw my attention to the uproar over Iceland’s recently banned Christmas advert.

    The advert has been criticised for being “too political” as it highlights the unethical nature of using palm oil in commercial products and encourages viewers to avoid them. It focuses on rainforest deforestation and the devastating impact on the orangutans who call them home – and has helped shed light on an issue of which many people were previously unaware.

    Need to know

    Rangtan2
    “The Iceland advert focuses on the impact this reallocation of land has on orangutans and correlates their dwindling numbers in the wild to the mass production of palm oil.”

    The conservation movement has only lately begun to gain momentum – following on from the war against plastic and “save the rainforest” campaigns – so the media is fuming over the removal of the advert. And I have to say I too am disappointed.

    The advert’s message, though apparently ill-communicated, is one I feel desperately needs to be made to the public, yet is so rarely talked about. Palm oil is found in almost 50% of the products lining the shelves in our supermarkets, and yet, according to a survey conducted by Iceland, around a third of consumers didn’t know what it was. It’s in everything – from groceries to cosmetics – and, to be honest, it’s a useful and versatile ingredient.

    Unfortunately, the fact palm oil is used in such a wide variety of products means it is in high demand, and to meet demand, land that was previously rainforest is being demolished to make way for plantations instead.

    (Nearly) gone, but not forgotten

    The Iceland advert focuses on the impact this reallocation of land has on orangutans and correlates their dwindling numbers in the wild to the mass production of palm oil. Both species of orangutan – one native to Borneo, the other to Sumatra – are, in fact, endangered, with the Sumatran orangutans being critically endangered.

    Although this is by no means the only negative effect of the loss of our rainforests, the plight of the orangutans has hit home to viewers across the UK and inspired protest that seems to have only grown stronger after the ban.

    Despite no longer being shown on TV, the video has gone viral and more people are waking up to the realisation that, if we don’t want to lose these beautiful creatures for good, something must change.

    Negative impact

    As a budding vet, I can’t help but feel dejected when I hear about the human impact on the animal kingdom.

    But it’s not just orangutans – the rainforest is home to a plethora of animals; birds, reptiles and insects all reside there, as well as other mammals, such as sloths and jaguars – and I haven’t even mentioned the plant life. The rainforest houses countless species of flora and fauna that, if we’re not careful, we could lose for good.

    The trees of the forest alone are so vitally important for the ecosystem of our entire planet; with global warming on the rise each tree represents a solution to a much-addressed problem. Plus, if we lose these forests, we will be depriving ourselves, and generations to come, of one of the most beautiful places the world has to offer.

    Shades of grey

    It is important, however, to bear in mind the topic of palm oil is not entirely black and white. We know the devastating effects palm oil production is having on the environment, but we will have to find a suitable alternative if we wish to continue consuming the products we’ve grown accustomed to, and it is uncertain as to what this could be and whether it would be any less destructive.

    This might be why, although the EU has been suggesting a policy to ban palm oil since the start of the year, much debate exists over whether this will actually take place, let alone whether the UK will follow suit.

    The uncertainty is frustrating, and it can feel like the fight for conservation is a losing battle, but it’s important to remember  any step forward is a step in the right direction. Iceland being the first supermarket to ban palm oil from its own-brand products is one of those steps – and despite any setbacks we face, we just have to keep moving forward.