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Concerns raised over remote prescribing guidance
BVA has voiced concerns over several extensions to the guidance and suggested that it could lead to unrealistic expectations among clients.
BVA questions why the temporary guidance appears to be becoming “part of the new normal”.

BVA President Dr Justine Shotton has penned a letter to the RCVS expressing concern over the regulator’s decision to extend measures permitting remote prescribing.

In the letter, Dr Shotton questions why the guidance appears to be becoming “part of the new normal” and calls on the RCVS to share details about the evidence that influenced the extension, as well as the exit plan.
 
Remote prescribing was introduced by the RCVS as a temporary measure early on in the pandemic to reduce appointments in practice and keep the veterinary team safe while maintaining animal health and welfare. The guidance enables vets to remotely prescribe prescription-only veterinary medicines (POM-Vs) without a physical examination of the animal.

While it initially supported the measures, BVA has voiced concern over several extensions to the guidance and suggested that it could lead to unrealistic expectations among clients. It has also expressed concern over the risks to animal welfare in cases where health problems are not identified during in-practice appointments.

Writing to the RCVS, Dr Shotton quotes the BVA’s new policy stance on under care and the remote provision of veterinary services, which acknowledged the early relaxation of prescribing requirements as a “pragmatic solution”. The position statement added, however, that this was a temporary measure in unprecedented times, which “must not lead to a longer-term change without full consultation with the profession and total transparency in relation to impacts on prescribing behaviours.” 

Dr Shotton concludes: “We would like to better understand the evidence base on which RCVS continues to allow remote prescribing, including the impact on prescribing behaviours, and the proposed exit strategy. As far as we are aware, RCVS is still assessing the findings from the RAND survey as part of the under care review, and as those results are yet to be shared it is unclear how the continual extensions to remote prescribing dovetail with longer-term plans and potential changes to the Code.”

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.