Date confirmed for ending of remote prescribing

The dispensation was first granted during the first lockdown in spring 2020 and came to an end in October 2021.

However, as the Omicron variant began to spread the rules were reintroduced the rules in December in response to stringent national restrictions across the UK and mounting staff shortages.

Members of the RCVS standards committee accepted that staff absences due to self-isolation and illness were still causing issues, but due to the relaxation of home working requirements in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and other restrictions across the UK, they agreed the dispensation should end.

Chair of the Standards Committee, Dr Melissa Donald MRCVS, said: “The safety and wellbeing of veterinary professionals, as well as the health and welfare of the animals they care for, have remained uppermost in our minds when considering this temporary position on remote prescribing.

“We are pleased to have been able to support the professions through a very difficult time by introducing this dispensation, however, it was only ever a temporary measure and, given the relaxation of restrictions across the UK, we feel the time has come to revert to our usual guidance.

“We will continue to keep the position under review in light of any changes, including governments’ advice and regulations, as we have throughout the pandemic.”