out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

Re: out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

Stephen Courtney — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 21:11:13 GMT

I've done the sleeping bag on the floor routine a few times - but once you are out of your twenties it gets a bit wearing.

I also once lived above my branch and would often keep cats overnight, or over weekends, even on drips, with a syringe driver i could plan things well enough. And a nurse lived 3 minutes walk away and i knew i could get help if i needed to replace a catheter. I could also hear the drip alarms go off so was nevrer worried about stress issues. I felt it was far nicer for the cats not to be driven over to our main hospital, but we could not keep dogs overnight as the surgery was in the middle of a terraced row of residential houses and flats. and underneath my own flat....

Now i have more of a life away from work, and am older, grumpier and less energetic......and have colleagues itching to do the overnight care anyway, and i know they do an exemplary job. one of the best things about working with 15 other vets is that it forces you to stay on your toes. Cock ups are very public, laziness very obvious.

Re: out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

plantagenet — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 19:44:33 GMT

I think the important thing is to be honest with the client exactly what level of observation you are doing, its no good being asleep in the flat above the surgery and telling the client that there is someone on site 24/7

Re: out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

plantagenet — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 19:43:06 GMT

[quote user="Gareth C."]sleeping bag in the kennels?? [/quote]

yes

share visits with nurse on call or if someone needs to stay, I tend to kip at the practice.

Re: out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

Robin Grimmer — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 15:03:32 GMT

All dogs go to Vets Now. Cats and rabbits/ small furries are given the option of staying at the practice premises overnight if appropriate but owners are always told there's no-one on the premises, so they have the option of taking them to Vets Now.

Re: out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

bob lehner — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:44:51 GMT

[quote user="Evelyn Barbour-Hill"]I don't believe a stable cat on a maintenance drip needs someone in constant attendance[/quote]

I do feel sorry for animals on drip pumps at night with no-one in attendance. When the wretched thing starts its vile beeping noise - and goes on for the rest of the night - must be torture, especially for dog with such acute hearing.

They should cut out after 10 minutes.

Re: out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 10:46:57 GMT

We check things as often as whoever is on call deems necessary. There are very few things that need a person with them overnight. Plan your fluid bag changes.

Re: out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

Bob Russell — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 10:27:09 GMT

Yes and it does allow a limited number of bills including reasonable maintenance to be claimed!

Re: out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

Gareth C. — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 18:15:20 GMT

Thanks, I was particularly interested to find out if anyone has home kennels.

Re: out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 17:41:23 GMT

[quote user="Bob Russell"] will send pets home even after enterectomies if they are bright and with it as long as they have sensible owners, making sure they have my mobile number (and VetsNow's number) if they are worried. As long as the owner can contact someone at any stage they can make very conscientious 'nurses'.[/quote]

Seconded. They don't need a special phone number, they can always get me on the regular one.

I don't believe a stable cat on a maintenance drip needs someone in constant attendance. I'll visit as often as I need to. I'll stay in the kennels all night if necessary. But not on anything as common as a sleeping bag.

Re: out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

Bob Russell — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:59:00 GMT

I have kennels at home in the boiler house so as long as the patient is safe to move, home it comes!

We also have an inflatable bed (Aerobed) which is very comfortable and packs away into a bag when not required. That, a pillow and a sleeping bag works fine for the rare occasions it is required.

I will send pets home even after enterectomies if they are bright and with it as long as they have sensible owners, making sure they have my mobile number (and VetsNow's number) if they are worried. As long as the owner can contact someone at any stage they can make very conscientious 'nurses'.

A degree of common sense dictates which option we use!

Re: out of hours inpatient care in non-hospital practices

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 16:54:49 GMT

Depending on level of care needed either my nurse or I stay in the practice Owner gets properly charged

Wynne