Devon vet petitions RCVS on out-of-hours
The petition raises concerns over the health and welfare of vets carrying out house visits out-of-hours.
A Devon-based veterinary surgeon has started a petition calling for the RCVS to remove mandatory house visits from the Code of Professional Conduct.
Joanne Dyer has launched the petition on Change.org, urging the college to amend clause 3.2 of the guidance notes and remove clause 3.13 entirely.
The petition refers to an RCVS disciplinary hearing in June 2013, which caused considerable concern among members of the profession when a veterinary surgeon was struck off for delaying attendance to an animal at the owners' premises.
"Recent and past judgements have caused stress and anxiety to veterinary professionals," the petition reads, "especially the young and more inexperienced graduates who now often feel unable to refuse visits because of the disciplinary cases."
Clause 3.2 of the guidance states: "The responsibility for the welfare of an animal rests primarily with the owner, keeper or carer of the animal. When the owner, keeper or carer is concerned that the animal is suffering or requires attention and contacts a veterinary surgeon, they then place the onus of decision-making onto the veterinary surgeon.
"With the benefit of prior knowledge of the animal, or relevant enquiry of the client, the veterinary surgeon decides whether attention is required immediately, or reasonably can be delayed."
Ms Dyer is calling for all but the first sentence to be amended to: "Veterinary surgeons are unable to make a definitive decision regarding diagnosis and treatment until they have undertaken a physical examination of an animal.
"This examination may take place at the surgery or other address entirely at the discretion of the veterinary surgeon on duty. It is expected that farm animals and equines will mainly be examined away from the surgery and pets at the surgery."
The petition also calls for the removal of clause 3.13 of the guidance, which states: "Clients may request attendance on a sick or injured animal away from the practice premises and, in some circumstances, it may be desirable to do so. On rare occasions, it may be necessary on clinical or welfare grounds.
"The decision to attend away from the practice is for the veterinary surgeon, having carefully balanced the needs of the animal against the safety implications of making the visit; a veterinary surgeon is not expected to risk 'life or limb', or that of anyone else to provide the service."
Concerns are also raised within the petition about the safety of veterinary surgeons. Ms Dyer claims: "It is only a matter of time before a vet is assaulted whilst carrying out a house visit."
The RCVS recently called on members of the profession and animal owners to submit their views on the provision of 24-hour emergency veterinary care. The calls were prompted by concerns raised over a disconnect between public expectations and veterinary capacity.
Click here to view the petition.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
