RCVS plans remote assessment for accredited practices

RCVS-accredited veterinary practices are to undergo new remote assessments in an effort by the College to ensure that surgeries continue to meet high standards during the upheaval caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Practice Standards Group, the governing body for the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) that comprises representatives from all of the major veterinary and veterinary nursing organisations in the UK, approved plans for remote assessments in mid-September which were then approved by the RCVS Covid Taskforce.

The remote assessments will mean that the RCVS team of Practice Standards Scheme assessors will be able to ensure that RCVS-accredited practices are meeting the Veterinary Medicines Regulations (the Veterinary Medicines Directorate has given the RCVS permission to check these remotely), the core standards of the PSS and other key standards relating to the practice’s accreditation type and level.

Dr Mandisa Greene, RCVS President and Chair of the Practice Standards Group, says that the remote assessments are a mean of quality-assuring veterinary practices that are in the scheme or wish to join it:

‘All our Practice Standards Scheme Assessors will be trained in carrying out remote assessments, and practices that are due an assessment will be given the full details of how it will work in advance, just like if a physical assessment of the premises were taking place,’ she added.

‘In the immediate term, we will be prioritising those practices that were due assessment visits in March, April and May this year which were cancelled due to the nationwide lockdown and they are currently being contacted to make arrangements. We will then start a rolling programme of visits for the other delayed assessments over the next few months. We will aim to give all practices at least one month’s notice before a visit takes place.’