More sustainable practices
VNs can implement recycling points in the practice and encourage the whole team to recycle cardboard, plastic and glass packaging [ 22 ]. Consideration could also be given to more sustainable practices such as energy-saving measures and the use of more environmentally friendly products.
Antimicrobial stewardship
VNs can help counter AMR in a number of ways. Although antimicrobial prescribing is the responsibility of veterinary surgeons, VNs can support responsible use by remaining informed of current best practice, raising awareness among clients and colleagues, promoting antimicrobial stewardship, and assisting in the review and implementation of relevant practice policies [ 23 ].
Practice hygiene
Good hygiene practices in the clinical environment help prevent the spread of disease, and VNs can be part of this process by helping to inform, instigate and uphold related policies, regardless of the areas of the practice they commonly work within. Reducing contamination of the clinical environment can help reduce the risks of hospital-acquired infections and zoonotic disease transmission, and reduce the need to use toxic decontamination chemicals [ 20, 21 ]. For maximum impact, VNs could encourage collaboration within the practice team and beyond, involving pet owners and the local community and environment.
Conclusions
Although the One Health concept has been around for years, it is particularly pertinent in the wake of the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing climate change. These events serve to remind us of the need for interdisciplinary collaboration between professionals to help combat global issues in human, animal and environmental health.
Allied professions must work together to ensure that related policies and procedures are developed, maintained and monitored.
More broadly, greater investment and investigation into this area is needed to provide platforms and tools to guide professionals on how they can contribute towards the aims of the One Health initiative.
The concepts and discussion points in this article are not exhaustive, and the author urges readers to investigate further and to take action, however small that may be.
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