What work is everyones clinic doing now??

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

FINNIGAN — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 19:35:44 GMT

We are back to normal but not letting clients inside!

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Gareth Alderman — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 07:42:52 GMT

Thanks Apache.

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Gareth Alderman — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 07:40:21 GMT

THanks Sal

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Gareth Alderman — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 07:38:27 GMT

Thanks for that Ben, sound good.

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Sparky — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 08:48:57 GMT

Like Sal, we are doing everything now, to be honest we just stopped routine ops during lockdown and I agree clients have become so much more demanding. We are also getting a lot of other clinics clients and emergencies because they've closed earlier-after 9am-6pm for 2-3 weeks we are now back to normal hours 7:30am-9pm....and we are booked solid every day...

How is is busier now then before lockdown in 'normal' times?!

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

apache — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 21:26:11 GMT

[quote userid="2240" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/31988/what-work-is-everyones-clinic-doing-now/176130"]we are doing everything, we didn't really stop apart from cutting down on routine ops because eveything else was taking longer and a short period where we were rationing the booster appointments.[/quote]

Same. Was all possible under the RCVS guidance.

[quote userid="2240" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/31988/what-work-is-everyones-clinic-doing-now/176130"]From what we have witnessed there are a lot of clients out there looking for new vets[/quote]

Yes. Telemedicine is dangerous in my opinion. Have dealt with various cock-ups from other practices trying and failing to provide suboptimal care. We are intelligent people used to dealing with infectious disease - if we can't devise safe ways of working, then who can? I honestly think a lot of clients have been let down by their practices.

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Sal the 1st — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 20:14:01 GMT

we are doing everything, we didn't really stop apart from cutting down on routine ops because eveything else was taking longer and a short period where we were rationing the booster appointments. But if I'm honest we are being swamped by non emergency emergencies. The phone is about to suffer an iatrogenic injury - probably terminal. We have taken loads of calls from people wanting to register with us but we had already closed our books to new clients way before lockdown. From what we have witnessed there are a lot of clients out there looking for new vets

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Sal the 1st — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 19:55:50 GMT

I have found that clients are getting more and more demanding. Phone call this afternoon wanting an urgent nail clip, offered appointment for tomorrow morning but they wanted tonight, explained that surgery was full for this evening but no they wanted tonight, and if possible to make things easier for us they were prepared to come in before surgery started and 'you might as well give him a booster while you are at it and save me a journey at the end of the month'. Tried to explain that it was 3pm and the vet had only just finished ops and had just gone for lunch and had to be back before 4 to start evening surgery and what I got back was 'why is that a problem just call him back its not like I don't pay' - was tempting, was very tempting but I didn't want to have to hide the body afterwards

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Ben Ogden — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 07:51:23 GMT

This is us:

Boosters (KC IF with a Booster or going into kennels)

Nail Clips - if causing pain or discomfort

Anal Glands - If causing pain or discomfort

Post op checks - less frequent, at Vets discretion

F/W Tx check - telemed

Weight checks are a NO

Rpt med chks - if indicated under licensed, if Vet has concerns, if the case is unstable, if bloods are needed

Skin issue - Telemed to begin with

Eyes - if painful or closed

Ear - if discomfort, affecting QOL

V/D - if unwell. lethargic, severe V+, weight loss, blood, otherwise its telemed

Neutering -- yes

Dentals - yes

Lumps - if affecting QOL

Urinary issues - if unproductive straining, otherwise telemed

Lameness - Telemed to begin with

Coughing/ breathing issues - if struggling to breath or severe distress, otherwise telemed

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Gareth Alderman — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:43:24 GMT

Thank you Selena, yes agree manic sums it up lol, we are the same. Phones going ++ and cons taking 3 times as long and we have 3 months of them to catch up on. We are trying to prioritise most overdue vaccs and bitch spays but every one wants in and with just 1 vet its a giggle tryijng to operate, catch up on consults you have top see and do phone consults for those you can. think ww may need to extend out opening hours in the evening by an hour to help catch up (no phones just cons)!

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Selena Carnell — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 16:29:30 GMT

We are increasing what we do, but even without routine stuff we have been manic busy! consulting takes longer i.e. out to speak to client, bring pet in examine treat, go back out to owner explain what has been done etc. Phone lines going ++ as we are taking card payments only.

Still running on minimal staff but having to start pulling people back from furlough as the current staff are flagging now!

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Gareth Alderman — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 13:05:54 GMT

I hope people will reply even if they keep it anon just to try and see whats going on out there.

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 09:44:58 GMT

Morning!

[quote userid="39731" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/31988/what-work-is-everyones-clinic-doing-now"]What is everyones clinics doing now as far as boosters? Dog or cat neuterings, claw clips etc???[/quote]

Really interesting question, I'd like to know too!

[quote userid="39731" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/31988/what-work-is-everyones-clinic-doing-now"]The last guidlines seemed to be we are to start increasing what we do (while still following the government guidlines and distancing) but still confusion over exactly what we are to consider seeing now that we can pop out for a coffe to to buy a book etc client are expecting to be able to bring everything in as usual, are we ok to do routine boosters (not just those in areas of high risk). We are just considering starting catching up on all missed boosters and neuterings so just wondered what everyone was already doing.[/quote]

A few people in the profession raised the point that in fact, the government put veterinary practices on the list of businesses that could stay open. There weren't any restrictions on that. ie the gov didn't say you should only do non-essential stuff or not. So the guidelines were just that.

Which ties in with this point:

[quote userid="39731" url="~/001/nonclinical/f/life-in-veterinary-practice/31988/what-work-is-everyones-clinic-doing-now"]Not a witch hunt on whos doing what[/quote]

One of the things I have really hated about this pandemic is the way it has turned so many people into armchair critics and dobber inners, so to speak. We've had two people in our village reported to the police because someone saw a visitor going to their house. WHAT?

Similarly, I've heard there has been some ill feeling between practices that have locked down to different degrees.

I think that's a shame, and people should really just think about what THEY are comfortable doing, and not worry about what the practice up the road is doing. We all have a different tolerance / assessment of risk.

RE: What work is everyones clinic doing now??

Gareth Alderman — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 09:44:30 GMT

This paragraph from BVA updateed guide would suggest we can do anything now as long as we are able to do it safely-

2.Prioritising cases: Each veterinary practice will need to make this transition at their own pace, based on their available resources and the extent to which they can adapt their workplace or working practices.Practices will need to assess and prioritise veterinary caseloads,including cases that have not been seen during the lockdown, and manage how to re-establish services and start seeing healthy animals.Prioritisingmust be based on clinical and professional judgement for animal health and welfareand public health, and practices may want to take a phased approach to undertaking this work