The internship offers the chance to work at the House of Lords alongside the sole veterinarian in Parliament. It offers a personal insight into veterinary policy and the parliamentary process; a chance for those interested in policy making and the roles of veterinarians in society to develop new skills and provides a unique career development opportunity.
The position is open to veterinary graduates (who are MRCVS) and to veterinary undergraduates at any UK veterinary school who have completed the third year of the undergraduate course. Candidates must demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of the veterinary profession in the UK.
2019 Job Specification & application details
Current Parliamentary Veterinary Intern
2017 – current
Dr Gabrielle Laing BVSc PhD MRCVS
Vet Record ‘Diary of an Intern’ articles:
January 2019 Parliamentary interaction with stakeholders through APPGs
July 2018: One Health in Policy
May 2018: Animal Sentience amendment to Withdrawal Bill
March 2018: Brexit ‘No Deal’ fears for animal welfare and agriculture
February 2018: Non-stun slaughter question in the House of Lords
December 2017: A new parliamentary intern for Lord Treess
Biography
Gabby graduated in 2010 from the University of Liverpool with a commendation in Veterinary science. During her undergraduate degree she volunteered and conducted research in India, Bolivia and Argentina. After graduating she spent 18months in mixed practice in Yorkshire, near to where she grew up. She specialised in equine and spent 6months at an equine practice in Greater Manchester, before returning to Liverpool to start a PhD.
In 2012 she joined the Institute of Infection and Global Health to study Veterinary Epidemiology. Her PhD was on the respiratory diseases of the working horses of Ethiopia. It was a mixed methods project with qualitative and quantitative epidemiological research and 12months field work in Ethiopia.
During that time she developed her interest in One Health concepts and policy, becoming a member of the European Network for the Evaluation of One Health, authoring an evaluation of integrated approaches to health policy.
Before taking up the internship, Gabby continued clinical work at the PDSA and private practice and completed a 6 month internship at the Royal Society.
Previous Parliamentary Veterinary Interns
2015-2017
Anthony Ridge MA(Zoology) VetMB MRCVS
October 2017: A leap into the unknown: Anthony’s parting thoughts
August 2017: Brexit vets and immigration
June 2017: The World Association for Animal Health (OiE)
April 2017: A murder at Westminster
March 2017: Parliamentary activities behind the scenes
January 2017: Considering future career options
September 2016: EU select committee and its role in Brexit negotiations
August 2016: Brexit and its implications for vets
June 2016: The State Opening of Parliament and Animal Welfare
June 2016: A day in the life of the Parliamentary Veterinary Intern
April 2016: Antimicrobial resistance and the veterinary profession
February 2016: Veterinary role in global rabies elimination
January 2016: The veterinary parliamentary consultation
December 2015: First impressions of the internship
October 2015: Anthony’s first article: Aspirations
2013-2015
Hannah Jordan BSc(Hons) BVetMed(Hons) MRCVS
Sept 2015: Hannah’s final diary article
Jul 2015: Appointing a successor and other parliamentary activities
June 2015: Activities during recess
March 2015: Business in Parliament before the House rises for the general election
Feb 2015: February’s events
Jan 2015: Maintaining clinical skills
December 2014: Food security
August 2014: Food labelling and WATOK
June 2014: State opening of Parliament
May 2014: Activities since recess
April 2014: Reflections on the first six months
March 2014: A mixed bag of activities in the Lords
January 2014: Non stun slaughter
December 2013: A busy period in the run up to Christmas
November 2013: Animal welfare
October 2013: First week in the internship
September 2013: Career choices and preparing for the internship
