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Original poster

When will vets allow clients in again?

69 replies

Keepyourdistance000 · 12/04/2021 18:59

I have nothing but respect for our wonderful vets and RVN's for keeping going throughout Covid. I know for a fact many are now exhausted, and tired of car park consultations.

I know we are still some way off from any likelihood of it happening but when are clients possibly going to be allowed back into surgeries?

Does each Practice make its own decision under the BVA/RCVS guidelines?

Would like to hear any thoughts.

OP posts:

KatherineJaneway · 13/04/2021 06:32

Mine allow you to go inside the practice with a mask on but you are not permitted in the treatment room with the vet. They chat to you before and after in the waiting area.

peak2021 · 13/04/2021 07:13

Sorry to read of those people who have not been able to be there at the end with their loved pets.

My guess for vets that are restricting access is the 21st June, though after that you may still be required to have a face covering. If not, then at the point all have been offered the vaccine.

MaudesMum · 13/04/2021 07:37

My vet isn't doing routine treatment at all, so I can't get the check-up my cat needs before it is prescribed more flea treatment. I'm currently having to beg them to prescribe it on a month by month basis. They said, helpfully, that if the cat got a flea infestation they would be able to treat it - but I really don't want to get that far. Its across the road from my dentist which is doing routine check-ups. Bonkers.

BiteyShark · 13/04/2021 07:44

for those that couldn't be with their pet when they were PTS. Heartbreaking

UhtredRagnarson · 13/04/2021 07:49

I’ve been allowed in ours throughout.

LEMtheoriginal · 13/04/2021 08:00

I would like to echo the fact that the pets really do find it less stressful when their owners are NOT around. We worried about this but have found it really positive from that point of view.

For those of you that are "not impressed" please spare a thought for those of us continuing to do our best for your pets. This situation adds additional stress as vets and nurses are having to rely on other staff members to help them hold animals for exam and treatment, putting additional strain on an already challenging work environment. We simply do not have three pairs of hands.

Generally our clients have been really understanding and accept that we are doing our best. There's always going to be the obe thats "not impressed " but they tend to be the kind of folk that go through life looking for things to be "not impressed " with.

We simply do not have a practice designed with a pandemic in mind. We have non ventilated consulting rooms that are barely 2 metres from wall to wall. So for now, people need to be understanding. We work in full PPE - that is, masks, plastic aprons, visors and gloves and we too yearn for normality but we also want to keep ourselves and our clients safe.

One thing i think should continue and that is no children in the waiting room! Yes, that is something i am not looking forward to returning.

LEMtheoriginal · 13/04/2021 08:13

"Downside for me if I take a load of kittens for vaccination is that I'm sure they're making me wait outside until everyone in the practice has had a good cuddle and play with them as they seem to be gone ages."

Or maybe each kitten is getting a thorough exam, paperwork filled in and correct vaccination given. I would love to have time to cuddle puppies and kittens

MaudesMum · 13/04/2021 08:42

@LEMtheoriginal I do appreciate all of that, but does it explain why routine check-ups are on hold - or am I just unlucky with my vets?

TimeForLunch · 13/04/2021 08:59

My vets have been allowing us in throughout. It sounds like some are going over and above the rules which would certainly make me think about going elsewhere. Totally OTT.

Original poster

Keepyourdistance000 · 13/04/2021 09:46

@TimeForLunch

My vets have been allowing us in throughout. It sounds like some are going over and above the rules which would certainly make me think about going elsewhere. Totally OTT.

They are having to do this because if one member of staff gets Covid then the entire surgery has to isolate, which means animal care would be unavailable or hugely affected.

I do hope my practice eventually allows clients back in, but I can understand why they are not.

I just hope animal welfare isn't affected too much by this because pets weren't seen or because owners didn't want to take their pets in.

OP posts:

BearSoFair · 13/04/2021 10:22

We've been allowed in throughout, strict rules of one person per pet, one client per waiting room (surgery has two), with masks at all times. Unluckily for us we've had to make more vet visits in the last year than we had for probably the 3 years beforehand combined!

AnnaMagnani · 13/04/2021 12:15

I have been in mine for cat being PTS.

Otherwise apart from the tedious waiting in the carpark, I honestly haven't minded it. Cats have preferred not being with dogs in the waiting room, can explain everything to the vet easily over the phone or Whatsapp.

LEMtheoriginal · 13/04/2021 12:56

@maudesMum we have been doing routine check ups for a while now, and there has been scope to extend the time of exam to prescription for a year instead of six months. We seriously havent been able to keep up with requests for flea and worm products, i swear it was up there with toilet rolls!!

Each practice/company will have its own policy and the company I work for are looking to rewelcome clients into the building, however i think there is something to be gained by allowing if not encouraging people to wait outside if its fine weather as i believe that is less stressfull for pets.

Some practices are better able to accomodate clients indoors than others.

I miss having clients in, I miss being able to give people privacy. We are fortunate that we have been able to accomodate clients inside for end of life care which i pushed for.

Coquohvan · 13/04/2021 12:59

At my surgery we firstly do phone consultations, sometimes video if required. When a clinic visit is necessary a nurse will do a handover in the car park. As been mentioned above our consulting rooms are small which means owners for the time being will wait outside. My practise is building a covered veranda for owners to sit rather under away from the worst of the Scottish weather. Shouldn’t be too much longer then we will be able to have owners into the waiting room obviously with some measures.

Fnib · 13/04/2021 13:04

Car park handover here. I really enjoy not having the waiting room stress. Vets are lovely and I'm pretty certain I'd be allowed in if one was being euthanized though.
I'm hoping they continue the car park waiting, but being able to go in when called will be nice when it eventually happens.

Fnib · 13/04/2021 13:05

Pet not vet being euthanized, obvs!

Bluesheep8 · 13/04/2021 13:19

We've been allowed in ours through this whole lockdown.

Same here. My cat had a urine infection and was seen 3 times, with me taking him in.

Babdoc · 13/04/2021 13:37

My vet practice has been doing routine care, such as immunisations, etc during lockdown. The vet comes out to the car park to have a consultation, discuss any health issues, then takes the animal in alone.
I was happy to wait safely in the car, reading my paper, until my cat was brought back out in her carrier, jabbed, wormed, weighed and annual check up done. I rang later to pay via credit card over the phone.
The vet said she sang throughout. The cat that is, not the vet! (The vet was a cheery fat bloke.) My cat is a feisty madam, so I was relieved she just “sang” rather than rip the vet limb from limb...
I can understand people wanting to accompany pets, but this seemed a very safe and sensible way to avoid infection and make sure the vets did not have to close the practice for ten days and quarantine themselves.

StandardPoodle · 13/04/2021 19:15

Our practice is doing car park handovers with the nurse bringing the dog back out and the vet then coming out to discuss, followed by a nurse coming out to take payment. They are also doing vaccinations now, not just emergency appointments.
I actually prefer waiting with my dog in the car park - both my dogs seem to find it less stressful than waiting in the waiting room.

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