Writing a prescription for one's own pet

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Julian Earl — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 15:13:38 GMT

[quote user="Wren"]It's probably OK as long as your wife is the official owner, not you, and will depend what your wife does with the horse, but the rules of most of the competition regulatory bodies state the the vaccination cannot be given by the owner, rider or trainer of the horse[/quote]

I am none of those things, merely the bill-payer! Fortunately, perhaps, we now get someone else to vaccinate them because I cannot drive to get there nor obtain the vaccines very easily. But I definitely am not the rider or trainer! Horses re far too high off the ground. Riding a bicycle is much safer so I stick to that! After all, who would be daft enough to fall off on a bike??

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Wren — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 10:34:32 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]I sign my wife's horse vaccination cards when I've done the injections. On a matter of principle I made her start the course again a few years ago, when a few days out of date rather than fiddle the date! If my signature is trustworthy on every other legal document, it should be regarded as trustworthy for my own pets as well, surely?[/quote]

It's probably OK as long as your wife is the official owner, not you, and will depend what your wife does with the horse, but the rules of most of the competition regulatory bodies state the the vaccination cannot be given by the owner, rider or trainer of the horse. I cannot give (or at least sign for ) my horses' vaccinations, and I used to ride for a racing yard who employed their own vet - he could not do any of the vaccinations as he was in sole employ of the trainer. They had to get an external vet in to do the 200+ vaccinations per year.

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Edward Jones — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 07:20:59 GMT

[quote user="Sammy82"]

[quote user="Edward Jones"]I'd be slightly upset if I was expected to sign the visitors book when away on maternity leave.[/quote]

I was not happy about it to say the least. As it was a meeting to discuss conditions of my return to work I did not think of getting paid for it, am I supposed to?

[/quote]

Ah, I suppose that's slightly different, but it depends on the situation. Your work is obliged to provide all your original conditions, and the only term to discuss in that instance is the date of your return.

You employer is not obliged to offer alternative conditions from that originally agreed (although they'd be idiots not to in the current environment). Arguably, if you weren't on maternity leave but were seeking alternative terms of employment anyway (i.e. reduced hours) it's not unreasonably to think that such negotiation would take place during work hours (i.e. you'd be paid), and the fact that you're on maternity leave shouldn't affect that at all.

It'd be appropriate for such a discussion to take place on one of your KIT days, I'd have thought.

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 23:33:36 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

As has been said, you are still an employee and are entitled to ALL your previously held employment benefits and rights except for your salary.

Just to be devils advocate though, we have to have an 'in/out' board for staff to indicate who is in the building, for H&S reasons. Anybody else has to sign in or out. Is this simply an H&S procedure, rather than a jumped up jobsworth manager?

[/quote] agree with Gillian , probably a fire safety protocol which she could have explained at the time. Communication manifested as an overlooked priority once again. I would still raise it as feedback and an example of how small things can cause negative impressions.

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Sammy82 — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 22:26:49 GMT

We don't have it for staff, but if you suggest it to her I am sure we'll have it by next week.

Arlo, please feel free to move this to a different thread, I realise it's gone rather off topic

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Gillian Mostyn — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 22:12:57 GMT

As has been said, you are still an employee and are entitled to ALL your previously held employment benefits and rights except for your salary.

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Sammy82 — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 22:06:01 GMT

I had similar, maybe slightly less polite thoughts when signing the book. Just wanted to hear what they had to offer first. I am thankful for the support here. Being bossed around by someone with not even a year experience in the veterinary world (obviously not clinical) just feels very wrong. She is usually very switched on about general employment law, H&S and knows about KIT days so I was surprised to be treated like a stranger now. Last time when I went in and the receptionist asked me to sign in I thought they where taking the p*** and politely refused. I will talk to the clinical director, on his own as usually the PM is the leading figure in meetings.

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 19:50:06 GMT

[quote user="Edward Jones"]

[quote user="Sammy82"]Seeing as the practice manager made me sign the visitors book[/quote]

I'd be slightly upset if I was expected to sign the visitors book when away on maternity leave. Has your PM not heard of staying-in-touch days? I hope you were paid for coming in for a meeting.

Maternity leave = still an employee! The PM should feel on thin ice.

[/quote]

Practice managers = jumped-up jobsworths. Tell 'em to go back to counting paperclips, go to the boss.

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Julian Earl — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 18:30:32 GMT

If still on the "normal" register then you can sign for your own pets. Nothing wrong with that, surely? I've done it several times and haven't been struck off yet!!I sign my wife's horse vaccination cards when I've done the injections. On a matter of principle I made her start the course again a few years ago, when a few days out of date rather than fiddle the date! If my signature is trustworthy on every other legal document, it should be regarded as trustworthy for my own pets as well, surely?

If you are non-practising, you are not entitled to sign I understand.

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Sammy82 — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 17:08:07 GMT

That was the thought as I just paid 50% more through the practice (cost price +VAT) than it is online, and the price I paid is still only a little more than half of what a client has to pay. Maybe we should try to shift the focus from rip off vets to rip off wholesalers? It all might well be academical as my cat might not outlive this bottle unfortunately.

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

bob lehner — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 16:20:58 GMT

Sacrilege maybe - but so long as you are a paid-up MRCVS you can write a prescription and send it to any one of the numerous internet pharmacies - many of them even provide a downloadable prescription form. And you'll probably probably get the meds cheaper than via your own practice!

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Sammy82 — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 15:50:28 GMT

[quote user="Edward Jones"]I'd be slightly upset if I was expected to sign the visitors book when away on maternity leave.[/quote]

I was not happy about it to say the least. As it was a meeting to discuss conditions of my return to work I did not think of getting paid for it, am I supposed to?

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Edward Jones — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 15:34:28 GMT

[quote user="Sammy82"]Seeing as the practice manager made me sign the visitors book[/quote]

I'd be slightly upset if I was expected to sign the visitors book when away on maternity leave. Has your PM not heard of staying-in-touch days? I hope you were paid for coming in for a meeting.

Maternity leave = still an employee! The PM should feel on thin ice.

If you're still registered as practising then there's no reason not to prescribe for your own pets, except for any limitations imposed by your employment contract (do any employers force employee vets to pay for their own services?!). You don't need the practice computer to create a prescription, you could type up your own.

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Sammy82 — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 15:18:07 GMT

Thank you for clarifying this Michael. Yes this has been the case, meds at cost and obviously did not pay a written prescription fee for writing my own.

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 14:12:56 GMT

Sammy82, what terms can you buy product/write prescriptions for own pets when working normally? Those conditions remain when on maternity leave (so if you get things at cost/can write prescription on work comp FOC in own time that remains the same).

RE: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Sammy82 — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 13:42:07 GMT

Picking up this old thread, so being on maternity leave and registered as practicing on the RCVS register, can I or can't I write prescriptions for my own pets? And would I put my home or practice address on there? Seeing as the practice manager made me sign the visitors book when I came in for a meeting I can't see her letting me use the computer to create one.

Re: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Bob Russell — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 16:37:59 GMT

I know you were joking, should have added a suitable smiley.

Re: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 16:11:47 GMT

I wouldn't think you would Bob....I was only joking!!!

Re: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Bob Russell — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 15:40:05 GMT

[quote user="Gillian Mostyn"]

Certainly worth a tank of fuel.....

[/quote]

Plus the cost of buying a local residence! I have never found any abuse of the free or at cost treatment!!

Re: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Bob Russell — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 15:38:33 GMT

They are very busy killing the goose that lays the golden eggs!

Re: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Martin Atkinson — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 14:20:01 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"]We treat pets belonging to retired vets FOC or at cost depending on the situation. I was helped through seeing practice etc and feel it is the right thing to do![/quote]One of my old lecturers came to me several years ago and I treat his dog at cost. Not seem him for a while, hope he's still with us but he didn't look a day older than when I left Uni 30 years before! The only other vet who's come here bizarrely was working for a rival practice but only lives around the corner. The dog had and 'emergency' paraphimosis from shagging a cushion. I did charge him as: a) he should have been able to deal with it himself all it took was a cold hand and some K-Y, and b) he could have used his own practice.

[quote user="Bob Russell"]I have long since stopped believing there is a level playing field via the wholesalers. I don't think one of them is treating practices fairly. [/quote]I never believed it, but surely they must realise they are in danger of killing the goose that lays the golden egg.

Re: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Gillian Mostyn — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 12:43:58 GMT

Certainly worth a tank of fuel.....

Re: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 10:50:51 GMT

Where do you live Bob ? 😉

Re: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Bob Russell — Mon, 15 Jun 2015 09:45:06 GMT

We treat pets belonging to retired vets FOC or at cost depending on the situation. I was helped through seeing practice etc and feel it is the right thing to do!

Buy Prinovox instead - same stuff, same manufacturer but cheaper !

The prices charged by practices are generally perfectly fair. It is the on-line shops that are damaging the profession. I have long since stopped believing there is a level playing field via the wholesalers. I don't think one of them is treating practices fairly. I don't believe drugs companies are offering the buying groups equivalent terms and I strongly feel we are subsidising the on-line suppliers.

These companies should realise veterinary practices have a much better record of survival than the on-line suppliers!

Re: Writing a prescription for one's own pet

Stephen Courtney — Sun, 14 Jun 2015 22:20:53 GMT

^^ that was known as professional courtesy. Used to be universal, but it seems to have died a death before my time.