All practices must hire at least one RVN
RCVS changes are part of Practice Standards Scheme
All accredited General Practices must now employ at least one Registered Veterinary Nurse, whilst at Veterinary Hospitals all patients should now have a nursing plan in place, with an RVN on duty at all times.
The changes come on the back of the RCVS Practice Standards Group (PSG) publishing the results of its five-year review of the Practice Standards Scheme.
Other changes to the PSS requirements include:
- General Practices will need to demonstrate the use of clinical audit, significant event audits and the development of guidelines and protocols around clinical governance.
- At all accreditation levels there are new requirements on the provision of infection control, including risk-based deep cleaning and the minimisation of cross-infection.
- Animal owners will have to provide signed consent to demonstrate they understand the level of overnight care that will be provided for their animals as in-patients. Core Standards practices will need to have provisions to ensure the welfare of patients if left unattended overnight, whilst Veterinary Hospitals, now need protocols and checklists for handovers between day and night teams.
David Ashcroft, who led the team of PSS assessors said: “The changes will come into force later in the year, at the same time as we are planning to return to in-person assessments, and so timings will be subject to government guidance on coronavirus and the easing of lockdown restrictions.
“As the PSS returns to in-person assessments, practices will have the usual three-month period between booking the assessment and the assessment taking place with which to familiarise themselves with the changes and the modules documents relevant to their accreditation.
“If anyone has any questions about the changes then please make sure to contact the Practice Standards Team on pss@rcvs.org.uk and we will be happy to help in any way we can.”
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