The 'Under Care review was recommended to RCVS Council by the College's Standards Committee in 2019.

Feedback will inform changes to the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct

The RCVS is seeking views from UK-based veterinary professionals as part of a major review of its guidance around the definition of ‘under care’ and the provision of 24/7 emergency cover.

In an anonymous online survey, veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses will be asked to reflect on what should underpin good regulations and guidelines for practice.

Participants will asked how these principles should be applied in situations relating to 24/7 emergency cover and 'under care’, and how they would like regulations on these two areas to deal with any tensions between different desirable regulatory aims.

The feedback will be used to inform changes to the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct and its supporting guidance concerning ‘under care’ and the provision of 24/7 emergency cover.

The review

The 'Under Care' review is a three-stage process that was recommended to RCVS Council by the College’s Standards Committee in 2019 following an exploration of the implications of new technologies for animal health and welfare and veterinary regulation.

Areas under discussion include the provision of 24/7 emergency cover and the interpretation and application of an animal being under the care of a veterinary surgeon. It is also considering the issues around remote consulting in the form of vet-to-client telemedicine.

Stage one of the review took place entirely online through a series of virtual focus group discussions The views and experienced garnered in stage one has been used to inform the questions in this survey (stage two). Stage three will see the review go out to a full public consultation later in the year.

Ensuring animal health and welfare

Dr Melissa Donald, chair of the RCVS Standards Committee, said: “This review addresses fundamental questions about how we should continue to interpret ‘under care’ in a profession, and a society, that is largely unrecognisable to the one that first defined the term, and, at the same time, how we can continue to provide 24/7 emergency cover for those animals under our care.

“The original Vet Futures report also emphasised the impact that technological advances may have on the veterinary professions, so we must ensure we have in place a regulatory framework that gives consideration to these potential changes whilst ensuring animal health and welfare remain at its heart.”

She added: “These are challenging but hugely important questions on which we are hoping to receive as much feedback as possible. I do understand the huge pressures my vet and vet nurse colleagues continue to work under at the moment, so would like to thank them in advance for taking a little time out of their busy days to send us their views.”

The survey opens today (Wednesday 19) for all UK-based veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses and will be open for four weeks. An email containing a personalised link to the survey will be sent from rcvs_survey@accent-mr.com

Further information about the review is available at rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/our-consultations