To all our amazing clients! 

Following the announcement on that Wales has been placed in Tier 4 of lockdown we have reviewed our working policies and the services as a practice we are able to offer. We have done so in line with national guidelines and with the advice from our governing bodies RCVS/ BVA to ensure the safety of our clients and staff. 

·      Clients phoning for appointments will continue to be asked whether they are suffering from symptoms of Covid 19 or whether they have been asked to isolate after contact from Track and Trace. Sadly, we are unable to offer physical appointments to clients currently +ve with symptoms of Covid or that have are isolating due to contract from Track and Trace. Telemedicine appointments will be offered to speak to one of our vets on the phone, or alternative arrangements must be made with a healthy friend or neighbour to visit the practice with your animal on your behalf. 

·      Clients will still be asked to wait in their cars until the vet or nurse is ready to come out to you. Please let our receptionists know when you have arrived in person or by telephone. 

·      Clients approaching the foyer area at our Parkway branch or the reception areas in our other branches must wear a mask.

·      Where possible all payments should be contactless or by card. 

·      Medications being handed to clients must be done in a contactless manner

·      Our staff will be wearing a mask, visor, apron and gloves 

In addition to these measures, we are reducing the services we offer to be socially responsible and reduce travel to the Practice. However, as there is no definitive end to this period of lockdown, it is important that we continue to provide sufficient services to maintain animal welfare and prevent an unsustainable backlog of essential work for the future. 

Primary vaccination policy

1. We will continue to do primary and secondary vaccinations of puppies and kittens.

Booster Vaccination policy

2. We will delay non urgent boosters

The vaccine manufacturers have confirmed that adult cats/dogs should have sufficient immunity for at least 15 months after a vaccination.  

·      Cats/Dogs - delay adult booster vaccinations (including 1^st year vaccination) to weeks preceding 15 months after the last vaccination.

Neutering policy

3. We will postpone routine canine neutering (bitch spays and castrates). We will start neutering of cats. For younger cats we will try and combine this with their second vaccination (if first vaccination at 12 weeks, second vaccination at 15- 16 weeks) to minimise client travel to the practice.  

Exceptions to our policy on canine neutering can be made following an individual case assessment by a veterinary surgeon. If as a client, you feel that the neutering of your pet is urgent, then please arrange a telephone call (FOC) with one of our vets for assessment. Examples of justification: 

·      Multi- animal houses of different sexes which cannot be kept separate.

·     

·       Animals exhibiting behavioural traits e.g aggression. 

·      The animal is being anaesthetised for another reason and it is safe to carry out the neutering under the same anaesthetic.

·      Our policy on routine neutering will be reviewed in February. 

Other procedures

4. Routine procedures will be postponed with telemedicine appointments offered where appropriate. As there is no end to the current lockdown we feel that it is appropriate to continue to see “clinical necessary” cases. We will use the RCVS flowchart to help with decision making. 

Examples of cases that may be suited to telemedicine consultation in the first instance include: 

·      Ophthalmic cases- blepharospasm/ “red eyes”

·      Skin cases

·      Ear cases

·      Cases where owners are self -isolating and have no means of bringing a patient to the surgery

Examples of cases that will be postponed by the current lockdown:

·      PHC health checks 

·      Routine nail clips 

·      Flea and worm checks, some medicine reviews.  These can be booked as telemedicine appointments and assessed and prescribed remotely as appropriate and in accordance with RCVS guidance.

·      Minor dental treatment such as scale and polishes

5. House Visits

We are currently not offering this service. Emergency or urgent house visits may however be performed at the absolute discretion of the attending vet and nurse team and only following a full risk assessment prior to visit. No visits will be made to clients currently isolating due to Covid or that are isolating from Track and Trace. 

These changes to service came into effect from Monday 21^st December. We will endeavour to review the changes to our services regularly and keep you informed. 

Thank you to all our valued and trusted clients for your understanding and support not just in the weeks ahead but since March last year in what has been a challenging and uncertain period of time for everyone. 

See our Facebook page for more regular updates. 

Please note: 

·     Our main hospital is open 24/7

Pease allow 48 hours for repeat prescriptions in case we need to order medication in for you. 

·     We can post you your medications (especially your flea and worming medications)

·    We can arrange delivery of heavier items

Please contact your local branch or phone our main Veterinary Hospital on 01792 205000. We are still here to help or give advice!