Surely this isn't true? Any London vets around?

[vivariumvivariumsvivaria]

A good, and previously sensible, friend of mine is a OT specialising in stroke rehab at a big London hospital.

She is now working 12 hour shifts in ITU under supervision of a specialist nurse. She's got PPE and the system seems to be working well.

However, staff are getting sick - and she told me there has been an appeal to vets and vet nurses to come and work in NHS.

Surely not?

I can't find any reports on it, and my friend is not prone to drama or delusions. I guess it makes sense in desperate times, but, the thought that times are that desperate makes me really quite scared.

Anyone heard of this?

It's not the worst idea. They are all medically trained to a high level and there are many similarities between human and animal care. They are taking volunteers from the general public so this makes sense

You'd also be very surprised at the contents of a veterinary pharmacy. Many of the drugs are the same

I'd definitely prefer a vet looking after me rather than a dentist or GP long out of working in hospitals.

Vets have to train for more years than doctors and then vets go on to specialise. Their knowledge is amazing. some specialist vets could probably stick an epidural in blindfolded in fact I know one vet who had stop himself taking over when watching a doctor dithering over sticking the needled in his wife's back.

I've also had a vet stitch me up to save me the trip to A&E.

"Well at the moment, all over the UK, there are physios and OTs working in ITU when respiratory care is not their specialism".

No they're not OP. Not at all. Not all over the UK. You're lying.

Any OTs or other AHPs redeployed are working within their capablities (in a few areas) and outside of that, they are not expected to nor are they covered by insurance given by their professional registration to give care that is outside of their capability.

There are not OTs or physios working in ITU 'across the country'. If some are, they have been assessed as having relevant skills and trained in them to work as care assistants under skilled staff.

And that is rare. If you didn't have relevant skills that could be enhanced by training, you will not be redeployed to ITU because insurance and professional registration will not support it.

People who chose a career where they wouldn't have to put themselves at risk to a pandemic are being forced to be exposed to a killer virus?

There are illnesses that can pass from animals to humans, being a vet must put you at some risk from these. Covid-19 itself is caused by a virus that it's thought originated in bats.

I wouldn't have an issue with it. Vets have loads of transferable skills and I much prefer my vet, to any doctor I've ever come across

Yes a friend's son is a vet and they were asked to package up their equipment and to do some training

My Dad always said he'd rather see a vet than a doctor as a vet has to be able to find out what's wrong without the patient telling them what's wrong

In emergencies, vets can actually treat humans, but doctors cannot treat animals. This is because they learn the anatomy and physiology of a human first before studying the hundreds, probably thousands of animal species' physiology. Their breadth of knowledge is so vast. As others have said, I'd rather a vet treat me than a doctor who is not up to date with ICU medicine.

You also realise the VETS are nicer because they are private practitioners, how long will it take for them to become moody bastards once in the NHS lol

Yes it's true. Mammals are mammals, not much difference anatomically. I know a vet who saved a passengers life on a flight recently
I would imagine human nursing is much easier than vet nursing in many ways, your patients sit still for one and don't generally try to bite you .

Vets are very highly qualified- I think it's actually more difficult to get onto a VetMed course than a standard Medicine degree so I wouldn't be worried about being treated by one!

In fact, all Vets are surgeons. Obviously there would be gaps in their knowledge when it comes to humans but I'm sure that things like intubation, anaesthesia etc. would be performed well by a Vet.

@ChrissieKeller61 Very true! Your patience and 'niceness' is very likely to directly correlate with the 'niceness' of your patients and whether or not they are keeping your personal business afloat.

Vets can do stitches, xrays, treat burns, take blood, etc

You also realise the VETS are nicer because they are private practitioners

Most vets are just employees, same as the nurses and receptionists, we don't work on commission, in fact every single vet I know works several hours overtime every week for no extra pay, sometimes upto 3 hours extra a day!

You also realise the VETS are nicer because they are private practitioners, how long will it take for them to become moody bastards once in the NHS lol

Some of the vets I've worked with are among the best in the country- people will keep coming to them regardless as they have the knowledge and the equipment and many are referred from their local practices. They are still just paid a salary (and generally work well over the contracted hours) there absolutely no need to be nice if they didn't choose to be. However the clients are respected as humans not just because they are handing over money 🙄

I’m a vet.
Yes, it’s true.
Role is that of ‘physician’s assistant’ - acting as a technician adjusting treatments within strict guidelines - no clinical decision making.
Yes, it’s appalling.
Yes, mammalian anatomy and physiology across species are broadly similar but there can be seemingly random, significant differences.
No, vets do not study humans.
No, vets do not study for longer than medics.
Yes, sometimes it’s harder to get into vet school than medical school but not always.
Yes, vets can intubate many species but see above.
No, vets can’t treat humans in the normal run of things.
Yes, our patients can’t tell us what’s wrong but they do tell us the truth.
We are aware of how humans have their temperatures taken - and also how hard it is in a Veterinary household to find a thermometer suitable for human use....

They can always sort out people’s anal glands whilst they are at it...boak...

catdoctor ahh sorry didn't realise it was 5 years, I thought it was 6 or something.

No, vets don't 'have to be nice' but I guarantee it's easier to be if someones wasted your time in the early hours of Sunday and you know you can send them a bill for it next week

Elouera hospitals want to minimise their use of agency staff to reduce the number of different people on wards etc. Redeploying people to a particular site is less risky than having what could be different agency staff going in each day.

Have to tried approaching charities like Age UK etc. Their helplines are very busy at the moment and they may be looking to recruit.

I would be more than happy with a vet. Tbh if they'd take me up on it I'd prefer it if I could just use mine for routine gp, A&E type accidents etc. Especially when dc were younger.

My DD is under the care of CAMHS and a nurse practitioner told me a couple of weeks ago that there's talk of them being given a crash training course in respiratory, so they can be redeployed to the wards.

MH nurses have some general nursing training in their first year of training, but that is all.

Absolutely mind boggling. But where does that leave the children and adults who need their MH services?

I really really hope this doesn't happen

Argh, can't people see that all of this is an effort to make several levels of contingency plans?

It makes good sense to look at every option to increase capacity and put measures in place to use such options IF required.

There is a risk of the NHS being overwhelmed because things are unpredictable, and there are many unknowns.

Personally I think it's right that every option is expired and used if needed.

Explored not expired!