In light of current government advice and as a profession, our practice will be implementing changes, which will have a direct impact on client / patient / vet relations. We are still operating within our obligations to provide veterinary cover in order to maintain the health and welfare of all our patients. However, we will continue to do this with the following changes:

From Monday morning 23rd March 2020:

• Our office is closed to the public.
  • We will sporadically have members of staff within the building, however, please do not enter the premises. If you need to contact someone within the practice please call the main practice number on 01442 851921.
• Letters / Paperwork can be left in the post box outside the main practice door.
• Collection of Medication:
  • This can still be done utilising our normal collection policies – via the regular collection point. During office hours this will be attended / monitored by a member of staff, which will continue to allow for the collection of prescribed medication as previously organised with individual clients. Any specific queries should be directed through the main practice number: 01442 851921
• Sample deliveries:
  • Feacal samples can be left in the stable outside the office front door. There is a yellow box on the floor in the middle of the stable. Please could any samples be clearly labelled with your surname, the animal name and the date left. This box will be emptied daily. We would also recommend you call the practice to inform us a sample has been left.
• Vet Nurse Visits:
  • We have made the elective decision to postpone ALL vet nurse (Lisa’s) clinics. We will continue to support you as much as possible and telemedicine consultations are an option we are considering, however, we hope you can understand why we are restricting non-essential contact.

• Vet Attended Visits:
  • We have to take responsibility for our staff, clients and our local community. Therefore we are implementing strict social distancing polices on all visits as per current government guidelines.
  • We will be taking advice from both the government and our governing bodies with regards to which visits can be attended.
    • We are asking clients to think – “does my horse require this visit?”
    • We will continue to provide a 24/7 emergency service to maintain the welfare of all our patients
  • When a visit has been confirmed we will only attend if we have been given assurances that any individual handling the patient has not had any of the clinical signs consistent with COVID-19, has not been in contact with confirmed cases or has been in any form of isolation – as per government guidelines.
  • When attending any visit no spectators should be present – only the attending vet in conjunction with the owner or handler. There should be no more than TWO people present at any visit.
  • When present a minimum of 2 metres distance must be maintained at any time. If this is not possible we will use addition personal protective equipment (PPE).
  • We recommend all clients wash their hands as per the government guidelines before and after each visit.
  • If possible we would prefer to attend patients and have a discussion about any findings / treatment plans over the phone.
  • We request you do not touch any equipment (unless instructed to do so) and please be patient as we will be spending an increased amount of time disinfecting equipment between visits.

In order to maintain an effective level of patient care we require your full co-operation with our practice policies. Our patients are the most important part of our practice – we want to maintain the level of service they so rightly deserve, but this is only attainable with your assistance.

Many thanks, Rick, Nikki, Orla, Lisa, Chloe ( and not forgetting Monty!)