RCVS Updated "Under Care" Guidelines

The RCVS is the veterinary profession's governing and regulating body.  Our staff and our practice has to follow the rules and guidance set out by this establishment.  Our professional behaviour has to follow their Codes of Conduct and other mandates.

Recently, on the 1st September 2023 they have updated their guidance on prescribing "Prescription Only" Medication.  Full details can be found here: https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/under-care-new-guidance/?fbclid=IwAR1ZKwoDkYtgOwQxgWgIxDAYytJd1LyeL1KcJlbcdTn4eCf2eVKBmQMIW_I

The new guidance requires that a physical examination of the pet has to be performed every time any antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals and antiparasiticides are prescribed. This includes topical preparations such as ear and eye drops, and all prescription flea/worm/tick products.

The guidance is an important step towards ensuring responsible antimicrobial use and reducing the veterinary impact on the wider issues of global antibiotic resistance and the decline of insect populations.

What this means in practice is that your pet will need to come in for an in-person consultation every time:

• We need to prescribe medication for an ear/eye infection (as most contain antibiotics).
• We need to prescribe antibiotics for any skin problem, even if it’s a chronic/recurring problem.
• If we need to, or you decide to change from one flea/worm/tick product to another.  Importantly though, we can issue ongoing 12m repeat authorisation for ongoing prescription parasite treatments at times of any consultations, health checks, vaccinations etc. 
• We suspect a urinary tract infection (remote/online consultation and urine analysis/culture are no longer sufficient)
• We suspect a gastrointestinal infection (remote/online consultation and faecal analysis/culture are no longer sufficient)

We also can no longer prescribe prescription deworming products based on a laboratory report alone, we will need to see the pet for a consultation and physical examination first.

For long-term prescription medication that is not an antimicrobial/antiparasitic, our usual policy of requiring a physical examination every 6 months (or every 3 months in some less stable or more serious cases) continues to apply for most cases.

In some circumstances, we are now allowed to make clinical assessments by other means - including phone calls or video links, and if appropriate, we will be able to prescribe certain medications.  However, we have found that the lack of a physical examination  can severely limit our ability to make sound clinical decisions, so these remote consultations are generally not going to be practical or advised.  Should a phone/video consultation be requested, it will be charged at the same rate as a normal consultation to reflect the professional time taken.

All consultations are charged at our usual fees -  depending on whether it’s an initial consultation or one for a recurring problem.

If you have any questions or concerns about the new guidance, RCVS can be contacted on:

020 7202 0789 or advice@rcvs.org.uk.