Two practices that deserve a mention

Re: Two practices that deserve a mention

Bob Russell — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:58:29 GMT

This is one that keeps coming back.

Vaccination cards are not perfect but it amazes me that otherwise sensible vets treat them with such contempt but are happy to put their signature to them!

We are a profession and our signatures carry weight legally but some vets are so casual about them.

I find it a disgrace that vaccination certificates are treated by some in this cavalier manner.

I don't give a monkeys whether they are certificates, cards, records or whatever. They should be filled in properly, always (barring the occasional error).

The client is paying for a professional service but are not always getting it!

Re: Two practices that deserve a mention

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:40:19 GMT

[quote user="Steve Johnson"]

I'm not asking for them to be certificates, just that it was pretty obvious that they are handing them out in batches.

I won't hand out blank ones, I think it is at least prudent to put the name and address of the person who brought them in to be vaccinated under their name so at least there is some vague traceability.

[/quote] Don't worry Steve, Michael lives on a different planet to the rest of us when if comes to vaccination records it appears he has no concern for accountability or traceability, or indeed the value of his signature and seems to think that the RCVS guidance, that the name of the breeder at least should be entered on the card, doesn't apply to him.

Re: Two practices that deserve a mention

Steve Johnson — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:20:00 GMT

I'm not asking for them to be certificates, just that it was pretty obvious that they are handing them out in batches.

Re: Two practices that deserve a mention

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:19:07 GMT

[quote user="Steve Johnson"]There is also a practice in that general vicinity (I will not mention them out of decency though I have rocketed them over the phone) who provide vaccine cards with no identifying details of the puppy vaccinated apart from breed. My call to them resulted in the practice principal sounding shocked that this was going on even though it was her signature on the card...[/quote] This is sadly a recurring scenario. Some of the practices I get dodgy certificates from are large corporates who do nothing even when I have notified them of the problem. Another local otherwise well respected practice is vet to a dodgy pet shop, when the pups turn up here with barely completed cards the principal who I know quite well is seemingly genuinely shocked when I point out the problem but still nothing changes. Another local practice which was showcased on a national TV program recently, goes from strength to strength on the back of cheap vaccines and neutering while providing, shall we say euphemistically, a less than ideal service, vehemently and aggressively defends his policy of incomplete certificates by saying there's no point putting the details on the card because the 'breeders' would lie about them anyway! What state have we got ourselves into when a vet says that sort of thing? Some of these have been reported to the RCVS but they do nothing other than give lip service and the clients think I'm the one who's the baddie when I point out the fact they may have been duped. I'm glad I can retire soon, I'm giving up the will to continue fighting for what is right in the profession when so many just see it as a goose that lays the golden egg but can't see they're killing it.

Re: Two practices that deserve a mention

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 17:13:45 GMT

And we are back round in a big circle.

If someone brings me a puppy to vaccinate that is to be sold I will fill in the breed, sex and colour. I leave the owner details blank and the puppy's name blank. It's not a certificate, just a simple piece of cardboard that serves as a reference for the owner as to what and when the puppy was vaccinated.

You don't want them to be 'certificates'. The animal would have to be individually identified, you couldn't use the stickers etc etc. I would not sign a certificate that this particular black lab was actually Molly and not Polly without permanent ID. I have asked the VDS and they absolutely agree that is is just a record card and in no way a certificate.

Re: Two practices that deserve a mention

Steve Johnson — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 16:02:45 GMT

You do have to love that little note we find inside assorted vaccination cards. There is also a practice in that general vicinity (I will not mention them out of decency though I have rocketed them over the phone) who provide vaccine cards with no identifying details of the puppy vaccinated apart from breed. My call to them resulted in the practice principal sounding shocked that this was going on even though it was her signature on the card...