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RCVS issues COVID-19 recovery guidance for veterinary practices
Under the new guidelines, practices will no longer be expected to provide only essential or urgent services.

New guidance to replace current emergency guidance.

The RCVS has published new COVID-19 recovery guidance for the UK veterinary profession, aligning with the UK governments' intention to ease the country out of lockdown between now and mid-April, depending on a number of factors.

The new guidance, which will gradually replace the RCVS' current emergency guidance, aims to help veterinary practices begin a phased return to near-normal operations, subject to a number of provisions.

Provided the government's plans remain in place, practices across the UK will be able to use their own professional judgement to decide which services to provide, whilst still maintaining biosecurity and social distancing measures.

Practices will no longer be expected to provide only essential services and the College's COVID-19 flowcharts will be removed.

The College is, however, keeping the right to remote prescribe in place, but only where there is no suitable alternative and still subject to certain guidelines and requirements.

RCVS president Mandisa Greene said: “Whilst I sincerely hope that we are at last beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel, if there is one thing we have learnt, it is that things can deteriorate rapidly if we don’t all continue to play our part and follow all relevant guidelines.

“I therefore urge my colleagues to continue to use their professional judgement and think very carefully about their gradual return to more normal working patterns over the coming weeks and months, according to their individual circumstances and the best interests of their teams, clients, and the animals they care for.”

The RCVS COVID-19 Taskforce has also announced that changes made in response to the pandemic will now be reviewed and decisions made as to whether to retain, amend or reverse them.

The BVA has also published guidance for practices on working safely as lockdown restrictions are eased, available on the Association's website.

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.