Popular Hall vet Jan Spate has been suspended from practising for two years after a number of complaints were received by the ACT Veterinary Surgeons Board against her.
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The board is a statutory body of the ACT government, which upholds standards of practice in the industry.
According to a spokesperson for the board, Dr Spate has been subjected to "occupational discipline" since July, 2009.
"As a result of complaints made at that time, conditions were imposed on Dr Spate's registration. Additional conditions were placed on Dr Spate after August, 2015 following further complaints being received by the board. On October 9, 2015, after receiving a number of complaints in relation to Dr Spate, the board filed an application with ACAT seeking an occupational discipline order against Dr Spate," the spokesperson said.
It is understood the initial conditions set out by the board included the need for thorough renovations to Dr Spate's home-based practice, which were undertaken, and the requirement of an additional vet on staff.
Vet nurse Bianca Gillard, a volunteer with Dr Spate's practice for the past 17 years, said the community was up in arms over the decision to close down Dr Spate.
She said the 72-year-old vet was well-loved after 44 years in Hall and one of the only low-cost options around.
The Vet Board spokesperson said in the past five years in the ACT, no other vet had been stripped of their licence.
The spokesperson said the board may only commence occupational proceedings in the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal if it has a "reasonable basis for believing that a veterinary surgeon is contravening, or has contravened, a required standard of practice or a suitability to practice requirement".
"On 15 June 2016, the board reached an agreement with Dr Spate, which the board considered to constitute an appropriate regulatory outcome. The board's focus in resolving the proceedings was the protection of the public, and animal welfare," the spokesperson said.
No detail of the alleged complaints were provided. In 2013 The Canberra Times reported Dr Spate advised a customer to give Nurofen to his cat, after a late-night phone call to the vet. The cat later died from kidney failure, and Dr Spate said while the owner had given the animal much more than advised, in hindsight she shouldn't have advised that.
An event to help Dr Spate scratch back the cost of legal proceedings against the board, which have so far topped $15,000, is being held at the Wood Duck Inn, Hall in November. A Facebook page for Jan Spate's Bush Bash has been set up for those wishing to attend.
