With the continuing rise of COVID-19 cases in the UK, The BSAVA and the BEVA welcome the statement issued by the RCVS and BVA to help the veterinary profession interpret the guidance released by Government on 19 March about who qualifies as “key workers” in relation to the closure of schools.
Under the guidance the RCVS and BVA clarify that some veterinary surgeons will be able to claim key worker status if they are providing essential veterinary care and they will be able to prioritise their children for education provision under these circumstances.
Sue Paterson BSAVA President said: “Veterinary professionals are clearly critical for the provision of emergency treatment and pain relief to ensure the health and welfare of the UK’s animals. Key worker status will enable us to do our utmost to provide requisite care for small animals during this unprecedented and extremely difficult time. We are immensely grateful to teachers and workers in the education sector for making secure provision for our children.”
David Mountford, Chief Executive of BEVA added: “As veterinary professionals we are duty-bound to provide essential care, relieve suffering and protect the health of the public. Recognition as key workers in such circumstances is welcomed but we would encourage vets to only add to the burden faced by schools where animal welfare is at risk and all other avenues have been explored.”
The full statement follows below:
Veterinary surgeons as key workers in relation to school closures
RCVS and BVA appreciate that veterinary surgeons will feel a great deal of uncertainty at the present time, and that many will be facing considerable difficulties due to the closure of schools for most pupils.
The official government advice can be found online.
The guidance emphasises that if children can be at home then they should be, in order to help to prevent the virus from spreading.
The government has granted key worker status by sector rather than profession. Some veterinary work will definitely fall into the ‘key worker’ category. RCVS and BVA are therefore providing some additional advice below, following consultation with the UK Chief Veterinary Officer:
Vets carrying out work linked to food production
Veterinary surgeons working in food production from ‘farm to fork’ are considered to be key workers. This includes:
- Farm vets
- Official Veterinarians working in the food chain, including abattoir and other related inspection and certification work
Vets working in emergency care
The responsibility of the veterinary surgeon to take steps to provide 24-hour emergency first aid and pain relief to animals according to their skills and the specific situation continues, and veterinary practices will need to continue to carry out this work. It is important that animal owners are able to focus on their own health, and not need to worry about their pets. Veterinary surgeons who are providing this essential work can be considered key workers.
Other companion animal practice work
In light of the Government guidance published on 19 March it is not clear that veterinary surgeons working in companion animal practice can be considered key workers. Veterinary surgeons should consider the possibility of reputational damage to the profession if vets doing work which could be regarded as non-essential claim key worker status at this time, given that we are facing a public health emergency. Anyone doing so must be confident that their claim to key worker status is defensible. Practices may need to rationalise their work and ultimately this must be a decision for individual veterinary surgeons and veterinary practices.
Summary
At this time the provision of public health and the maintenance of food production need to take priority, and veterinary surgeons working in these areas should be considered key workers.
Veterinary surgeons working in emergency care can also be considered key workers. This will not apply to every veterinary surgeon in clinical practice, and practices may need to consider rationalising their services to achieve this.
Visit BSAVA’s website for further information on how the veterinary profession is supporting medical colleagues during the COVID-19 pandemic.