Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Vet practice and masks - aibu?

118 replies

WeirdlyKind · 11/03/2022 12:10

Just driven my mum to the vets with her dog for a routine injection.

She has copd and lung damage from Covid which means only one lung works. This means she gets breathless very easily and masks make it worse. She does regular LF tests and we both had a negative one this morning.

The receptionist in the vets was very snotty with her, refused to accept she had a genuine medical exemption and told her she either had to wear a mask or stay outside. They also insisted it is still a legal requirement.

Mum decided to go outside which meant I had to take the dog in for the appointment and couldn't answer a couple of questions because I didn't know.

It just felt like a horrible, stressful experience for no reason.

Aibu?

OP posts:
FantasticFebruary · 11/03/2022 16:48

@Justtobeclear

The vets that I worked at insisted on masks because they couldn’t afford for their staff members to be off. The simple reason is that the industry is suffering with a significant shortage of qualified staff and even locums are becoming near impossible to find. So if they get covid the service has to close and even more people complain because their pets aren’t being treated. That then means vaccinations are out of sync, operations delayed and treatable issues become serious problems. In our area, the staff shortage is so bad they are starting waiting lists for registration. All the vets/nurses/support staff I know worked really hard to stay safe during the pandemic to ensure the services stayed open and its a shame people still can’t respect that.
^ exactly that.

People need to think - it's not just about 1 person! It's about the vets & staff that are NEEDED to see your pets. The have to do their best to stay well, so appointments don't need to be cancelled.

Lonecatwithkitten · 11/03/2022 16:54

As a practice we have allowed one person per pet back in since August last year. We still ask clients who are not exempt to wear a mask.
The amount of abuse I get from asking non-exempt people about politely asking them to wear and offering them a mask is unbelievable. I then examine their pet and so many of them put their face right in my face while I look at the pet.
My husband has lymphoma he was due to a surgery on 8/4/20 and is still waiting so on chemo. Clients find it really hard to understand that I don't want to take covid home to him.

WonderfulYou · 11/03/2022 17:49

She has copd and lung damage from Covid which means only one lung works.

YABU!

Your mum has lung damage from covid and you’re annoyed that she’s asked to wear a mask or wait outside to protect other people from covid

There could be vulnerable staff and they don’t want their staff being ill or off for a long time.

Anonymous48 · 11/03/2022 18:00

@WonderfulYou

She has copd and lung damage from Covid which means only one lung works.

YABU!

Your mum has lung damage from covid and you’re annoyed that she’s asked to wear a mask or wait outside to protect other people from covid

There could be vulnerable staff and they don’t want their staff being ill or off for a long time.

Exactly this! I thought the OP was going to be complaining because the staff weren't wearing or requiring masks, not that they are! Unbelievable.
Sugarplumfairy22 · 11/03/2022 18:06

YABU

Veterinary staff here. We work in very small consultation rooms in close contact with other members of staff and pet owners.
We are a very small team. If we all get sick we have to close the doors. We provide emergency service and you’d want us to be available if your animal was sick!
I have to wear a mask 11 hours a day.
Government can say what they like but we can decide our own policy.

Your mum has lung issues so why risk it?

We will make exceptions if people are having their animal PTS. However the fuss people have made during all this is ridiculous. Demanding to be with their pet for boosters- why? People need to get a grip.

What do you think we are doing with your pets when your not there?
We love animals - we are kind to them and always treat them like our own.

Most of the time animals behave so much better without their owner in the room

Sugarplumfairy22 · 11/03/2022 18:11

A lot of people during lockdown saw coming to the vets as a day out!
Demanding nail clips!!
The UK has a huge shortage in vets and vet nurses. So many vets left the profession during lockdown. The biggest decrease the RCVS has ever seen.
We cannot afford for our staff to be off sick just so you can be in the consult room for 10 mins!!
The amount of people angry because they can’t step in to pick up a wormer!! Why do they need to be in the waiting room for that? We can pass it through the door.
Your not missing anything exciting!!!

Obira · 11/03/2022 18:15

I agree with those who said the vet can make their own rules. They aren’t refusing service - non mask wearers can have someone else take their pet inside or pass it to a staff member in the car park.

halfsiesonapotnoodle · 11/03/2022 18:20

If I were CEV and dog needed a routine injection, I would not have gone into the vets! No need for that. Although the receptionist was rude, for this, someone else should take the dog.

Sugarplumfairy22 · 11/03/2022 18:22

The amount of times I’m holding a cat for a blood test or bandage change and the owners face is literally in my face where they are trying to cuddle the cat.

Our vets wife is very poorly with cancer and diabetes
One of our receptionists husband has cancer

But hey never mind - you come on in without a mask to stand with your dog for 5 mins! Don’t worry about anyone else.
It’s also about you

Ilovethecinema · 11/03/2022 18:27

I must admit at my vets, none have a mask on now. I asked the vet if he wanted me to wear one, said no I’m not. That’s really unacceptable if your mum is exempt she’s exempt. She can’t help her condition

MissMaple82 · 11/03/2022 18:29

@Thewindwhispers I'm not surprised, they are being absolute dicks

balalake · 11/03/2022 18:30

I am with the vets on this one, wish it had been communicated better and in advance though.

Latest figures are over 50,000 a day people testing positive, and still several thousand in hospital.

Birchtree1 · 11/03/2022 18:35

We welcome owners into the consulting room again however I still wear a mask at all times. I see 20 + clients a day. So it’s a lot and I ask owners to wear a mask when possible. I always wear a mask. But if people are exempt that’s fine too. But for aroutine appointment it’s fine to just see the pet or alternatively wear a mask for 10 minutes. But I wouldn’t have insisted either…while wearing a mask myself.

FoxyFoxyLoxy · 11/03/2022 18:37

Masks are still legally required in Scotland until 21 March. Week on Monday.

Refusing to accept exemption is as wrong now as it was in June 2020 when they first decided we should cover our faces. Receptionist was an arse. Clearly, given some of the responses, there are still a lot of them around.

Original poster
WeirdlyKind · 11/03/2022 18:43

@Fairyliz

Well I think the receptionist could have been more polite, but aren’t we wearing masks to help people like your mum? I’m fit and healthy so unlikely to be seriously ill with Covid. I wear a mask to possibly prevent infecting vulnerable people. However it seems like you mum won’t even try and you are only concerned about her rights.
Sorry but you know nothing about what we're doing or not doing. She hardly leaves the house. She physically can't wear a mask- she's not doing it to be difficult.
OP posts:
tsmainsqueeze · 11/03/2022 18:49

@Wizzbangfizz

Vets have been bloody ridiculous during covid IMO
No way have we been bloody ridiculous during covid ! We have worked our arses off dealing with our usual workload which has doubled or more with the countless puppies and kittens purchased during this time. At my practice we have politely asked for people to wear masks , most vets have smallish consult rooms -under normal circumstances thats all we need ,but obviously we are all , client included, more at risk of passing things on in a small space, we have family at home that we want to keep safe too . We have compromised , improvised , accommodated , we have been tolerant of people not wearing a mask for medical reasons ,most practices have, some practices had to close ours included for a short time as so many of us had covid . During that time we were unable to treat sick animals. Most of our clients have been the same lovely people they always are but surprisingly some haven't ,we have had some totally obnoxious arseholes over the last 2 years ,after discussing this with friends in other practices they have experienced the same. Our practice has not stopped people being with their beloved pet during euthanasia ,throughout we have done our best for animals , the client may think we haven't done the best for them but its about the pet and their needs , not keeping client happy by letting their family of 5 squash into the consult room . Its not been fun doing a physical job wearing a mask for 8 -12 hours, i hate every second of it but because we can't be sure that everyone through our doors will be truthful regarding covid contacts wearing a mask has possibly made us a little safer in our consult rooms. I just hope you aren't one of my clients , we would certainly have a few choice words about you behind the scenes if you were.
Madre1972 · 11/03/2022 18:57

I had similar. I’ve only got one functioning lung and an exempt. I took my dog to the vet yesterday as he was ill, they insisted on a mask and said my exemption was over ruled by their policy. I had no choice or they wouldn’t see him. I had to use my inhaler multiple times. I’ll be changing vets

TheRealistBub · 11/03/2022 18:59

Take proof next time.

Suzi888 · 11/03/2022 19:01

Why couldn’t the dog go in with the vet ? That’s what our vet does. He won’t see anyone.

Blossomtoes · 11/03/2022 19:03

Complain. Our vets stopped this as soon as masks were no longer compulsory.

Brownlongearedbat · 11/03/2022 19:04

The vets policy does not override the laws on disability discrimination. They can make any rules they like, but by discriminating against non mask wearers they are liable to find themselves fined in a county court (up to 9k, plus damages).

Floralnomad · 11/03/2022 19:13

@Suzi888

Why couldn’t the dog go in with the vet ? That’s what our vet does. He won’t see anyone.
This is totally unsatisfactory for many owners ( and dogs ) , the OP has clearly stated that her mum had questions to ask that have now not been asked after this kerfuffle .
Sugarplumfairy22 · 11/03/2022 19:19

The vet can go outside and speak to the owner

ChloeHel · 11/03/2022 19:19

Bloody ridiculous! I am medically exempt from wearing a mask and spent 9 hours the other week in A&E with no mask and a lanyard. Not a single doctor, nurse or reception questioned me and all were so kind with no judgement.

So no YANBU!

Sunnytwobridges · 11/03/2022 19:21

I don't understand why they didnt offer to zoom call her? That's what a lot of vets were doing during the height of covid in situations like this. There were nursing homes that were doing the same.