NEW GUIDANCE FROM THE RCVS ON 'UNDER-CARE' & PRESCRIBING POM-Vs FOR VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS //
From 1st September, new guidance from the RCVS (Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) came into effect regarding 'under-care' and prescribing prescription-only veterinary medicines (POM-Vs).
The five key changes or Veterinary Professionals are:-
1. You will no longer need to carry out a physical examination to take an animal under your care. Under the new guidance, an animal is taken under your care when you are given, and accept, responsibility for it.
2. When you take an animal under your care, you or another veterinary service provider on your behalf, must be able to provide in-person follow-up care on a 24/7 basis.
3. As now, before prescribing POM-Vs, you will have to carry out a clinical assessment. From 1st September, it is up to you to decide whether this clinical assessment needs to include a physical examination, in all but a number of circumstances (see point 4, below).
4. You must always perform a physical examination in the following circumstances:-
where a notifiable disease is suspected
when prescribing controlled drugs (unless there are exceptional circumstances)
when prescribing antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics or antivirals (unless there are exceptional circumstances).
5. It is your decision, once you have assessed the situation, whether or not to prescribe medicines remotely. To support you in using your professional judgement, we have set out a list of factors to consider when deciding whether a physical examination is necessary.
For further guidance, please visit the below page on the RCVS website:-
https://www.rcvs.org.uk/setting-standards/advice-and-guidance/under-care-new-guidance/
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