11th September 2023

RCVS Under Care Guidance – an overview

What is the new guidance, when does it come into effect and what does it mean for your practice?

As of the 1^st September the new RCVS “Under Care” guidance will take effect.

The new guidance states that a physical examination is required at the time of prescription where a veterinary surgeon prescribes antibiotics, antifungals, antiparasitics or antivirals, in all but exceptional circumstances.

On the 7^th September the RCVS agreed that it would delay until 12 January 2024 the implementation of the specific part of its new ‘under care’ guidance that concerns the prescription of anti-parasitic prescription-only veterinary medicines (POM-Vs)

This means:

New regulations from 1^st September 2023

The new guidance states that a physical examination is required at the time of prescription where a veterinary surgeon prescribes

Antibiotics
antifungals
antivirals

In all but exceptional circumstances.

New regulations from 12^th January 2024

The new guidance states that a physical examination is required at the time of prescription where a veterinary surgeon prescribes

antibiotics
antifungals
antivirals
antiparasitics

In all but exceptional circumstances.

Going forward this will have an impact on pet health plans that include antiparasitics.

What does this mean for animals on health plans?

For animals on health plans or similar where, for example, 12 months of antiparastics are prescribed to be dispensed quarterly, so long as the initial prescription is compliant with the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013, then practices may continue to supply against those valid prescriptions after 12 January 2024.

When that 12-month prescription comes to an end, under the new guidance a physical examination should be carried out at the time the new prescription is issued.

Are you ready?

Forward prescriptions can be written, and as per the Veterinary Medicine Regulations (2013) a prescription must clearly state:

The name of the medicine
The strength of the medicine
The dosing instructions
The total amount to be dispensed
The number of repeats
The validity period of the prescription

If you envisage an animal requiring more than one brand of antiparasitics, an appropriate prescription must be written for each medicine, at the time of the physical examination.

Keeping clients happy

We understand this change may cause some disruption to both veterinary clinics and pet owners. Our pet health plans are bespoke to each practice, and many have free health checks included within the plan. This may be the perfect use of a free health check to examine your patients with minimal inconvenience to your clients.

Have you let your clients know?

It is advisable to make your clients aware of these changes and why they have come about. Key points to relay are:

The new guidance requires that a physical examination of the pet must be performed every time any antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals and antiparasitics 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 a decline of insect populations.

Here to help

If you require any assistance managing your plans throughout this period of change, do not hesitate to get in touch on our dedicated email:

Email us

We will consolidate our practices’ queries in order to advise on how the guidance affects your healthcare plans, and will update you in the coming weeks with an FAQ document addressing your concerns.

If you require a direct response to a specific query, please contact the RCVS directly at advice@rcvs.org.uk.

Read more about Premiere Vet Alliance here…