The measures have been introduced with immediate effect.
The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has reintroduced temporary remote prescribing measures, in light of the high levels of COVID-19 infection, and the threat of the Omicron variant.
Reintroduced with immediate effect, the measures were originally introduced in spring 2020 to allow veterinary surgeons to make prescriptions without having physically examined the animal, subject to certain safeguards and conditions.
The remote prescribing guidance ended on October 2021, however, in a meeting on Wednesday (15 December), the Committee considered the increasing pressures on practice caused by higher levels of infection and subsequent isolation periods, as well as the threat of the Omicron variant.
Dr Melissa Donald, Chair of the Standards Committee, said: “We were very aware of the likelihood that both practice staff and clients will increasingly have to isolate over the coming weeks due to direct infection or positive contacts, particularly with the rise in cases amongst school children.
“Added to this, we know there are already workforce pressures across the profession, which will be exacerbated by reduced staffing levels over the Christmas and New Year period.
"We therefore felt it was appropriate to reintroduce these temporary remote prescribing measures at this time to help relieve pressure on practising professionals, and to provide them with the means to continue to look after the health and welfare of their patients in all circumstances.”
This position will be reviewed at the February 2022 Committee meeting.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
