Facilitator Training for Undergraduate Veterinary Communication Education in the United Kingdom and Ireland

As described in detail in a companion article, 1 a major effort has been undertaken to help the development of communications skills teaching in veterinary schools in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Two particular consequences have been the establishment of National Unit for the Advancement of Veterinary Communication Skills (NUVACS) and the appointment of a NUVACS lecturer whose responsibility is to facilitate the growth of communications skills in all of the veterinary schools. These efforts have been funded by the Veterinary Defence Society. It is this society’s observation that more than 80% of complaints brought against veterinarians revolve around problems of poor communication. One key element of the NUVACS activities has been training the facilitators who will provide student communication skills training. These endeavors are described in this report.