APHA explained that difficulties in recruiting and retaining government vets are not unique to APHA or the UK. Key factors include: mental health issues relating to activities such as culling animals; pay and conditions; and working hours. APHA set out a number of strategies it has put in place to improve recruitment and retention of vets, including using its specialist pay provision to increase the pay of vets and introducing mental health and wellbeing support for its vets in the field. APHA recognised it needs to do more and has recently completed a national listening exercise with its staff, including vets, on understanding health, safety, mental wellbeing and what more it can do to support staff. The Department highlighted that The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the British Veterinary Association are doing work on recruitment and retention, and APHA said that, for vets in general, 44% leave the profession in the first four years of their service post-qualification.15