RCVS responds to OOH home visit petition

RE: RCVS responds to OOH home visit petition

John Flynn — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 19:23:31 GMT

I'm an outsider (Ireland), but I think the problem is all these "rules". I've taken a look at the "Code" and it seems fine to me - succinct, principle-based etc. The problem appears to be the 100-odd pages of "supporting guidance" which read rather like a rulebook and in my mind conflict rather with the "Code" in parts. Which takes precedence? Is the supporting guidance just that - helpful hints for the diffident - or is it intended and used as a rulebook?

Trying to make a rule book only encourages people to break rules etc - just look at tax situation... the more complicated the rules, the more ways to bend them... If Duncan's proposal was made a rule that a patient had to be delivered to a point of service, then that will effectively make farm animal OOH calls optional (who's going to transport a calving cow? Is that even legal?) This is all fine if you belive in market forces... but then if you believe in market forces you don't need the RCVS as folks will go to vets because they're good, not because nobody else will sell them a bottle of meloxicam...

RE: RCVS responds to OOH home visit petition

duncan macwhirter — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 08:41:09 GMT

Maybe the wording should not be left as open ended as it is...rather, why not frame it as 'house visits are not mandatory', period. This would avoid the ridiculous situation Mr Chikosi found himself in.

It puts the onus clearly on the owner to facilitate delivery of the patient to the point of service .

RE: RCVS responds to OOH home visit petition

Sarah McGurk — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 16:38:11 GMT

"Clearly if so many veterinary surgeons believe that house visits are mandatory in all circumstances," I signed the petition, and I am well aware that house visits are not mandatory in all circumstances. If the RCVS states that "On rare occasions, it may be necessary on clinical or welfare grounds." then it is stating that some home visits are mandatory. There should never (in my opinion) be a situation where a veterinary surgeon feels pressured to make a visit, whilst feeling it may be unsafe to do so. The word "necessary" absolutely implies that there are circumstances were there is no choice.

RE: RCVS responds to OOH home visit petition

Stephen Courtney — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 21:56:00 GMT

The origin of this petition lies in the profound sense of unease resulting from the Chikosi case, where the majority of practising vets felt that a flawed decision was taken by people unqualified to judge the situation, who then proceeded to give flawed advice to the profession at large, and topped it off with a wholly inapproriate sentence. those are the issues that really need looking at. There is also an issue where a vet on duty late at night is solely responsible for everything that might come their way, while practice owners/ bodies corporate are accountable to no one.

RE: RCVS responds to OOH home visit petition

Hannah Wynne Richards — Thu, 30 Jan 2014 11:51:36 GMT

Unfortunately, although Royal College can repeatedly and accurately state that house visits on request are not, and never have been mandatory, only visits when necessary, those who are unwilling to even do this will continue to misinterpret what is written.

Wynne

RE: RCVS responds to OOH home visit petition

grumpyoldman — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 23:29:21 GMT

"likely" erm what else do they have to talk about other than Nick Stace's new central heating boiler ?