RE: Remote prescribing rules from 1st October

Beats — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 19:59:18 GMT

My question has been answered:

https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/letter-from-the-president-remote-prescribing-and-workforce/

I was surprised by the additional advice that if I have very little time to treat animals I should spend more of that time on paperwork though!

"... during this very busy time, we would urge veterinary professionals ... to ensure they can justify their actions and decisions via the recording of detailed contemporaneous notes."

If I had time to write detailed contemporaneous notes on my decision to cut a corner, then I had time not to cut the corner in the first place...

"We understand that neither of these options may be workable due to staffing issues, but you should do all you can to meet your Code obligations, and comprehensively document where this has not been possible together with the reasons why."

How many animals could I treat in the time it would take to "comprehensively document" that I did not have time to treat some animals?

I have always worked by the maxim that if given a choice between providing care or documenting care, the former trumps the latter every time. Or as I tell the nurses: "Pets before paperwork". Perhaps that needs added to their Code.

If one stopped all the pointless paperwork that some vets are lumbered with, would that not solve the "workforce shortages"? RCVS-inspired bureacracy was not included in their suggested list of reasons.

I have drafted a suggested additional paragraph to their advice:

"If you are stressed, short on time, have animals needing your attention and retain the capacity to provide some care, please, please, please do your best endeavor using your experience and common sense to provide as much care for as many animals as you can. Do not under any circumstances think about how, in the event that someone along the way is dissatisfied, your actions may look to a bunch of folks who can spend considerable time and money dissecting a miniscule amount of your daily decision-making at a leisurely pace years later. It is well known that you are more likely to voluntarily leave the profession due to anxiety about this hypothetical occurrence, than to be forced out of it at our hand."

RE: Remote prescribing rules from 1st October

patrick murphy — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 23:49:39 GMT

My problem as with the medical guys is the continued rigorous cpd requirements

RE: Remote prescribing rules from 1st October

Alastair Welch — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 21:59:50 GMT

The last email I had from the College on this topic indicated it had been extended until the end of September, although I can't find this date on the College web-site.

In other news I see Lizzie Lockett is going to solve the recruitment crisis by enticing those on the non-practising register to return to the fold, I won't hold my breath.