January 2021 lockdown update
With the government’s announcement on 4th January 2021, we will be looking at what it means for us over the next few weeks, alongside guidance from the government and our professional body the RCVS.
Veterinary Practices are counted as an essential service and will continue to be open throughout lockdown, offering the majority of our services to keep pets healthy and happy.
The government guidelines state that “you can leave home for animal welfare reasons, such as to attend veterinary services for advice or treatment,” so you can still bring your pet to see us if needed.
Keeping safe
Alongside our work consulting and operating in person at Blue House, we will also still be offering video consultations for those that are unable to visit the practice - they have their limitations but can be used for some conditions so that we can still prescribe medication.
Medication can be posted out to you if needed to reduce unnecessary travel, or collected from our dispensing window without the need to come inside the practice.
We will continue collecting pets from outside rather than inviting owners in, to protect both you and our staff. Whilst we would love to let you in, if one of us was to contract COVID there is a risk of the practice having to close and us not being able to even provide emergency treatment to your pet. We also have vulnerable staff members, and clients and those with high risk family, so we will be doing our very best to keep everyone safe whilst still providing a caring, professional service.
We are making exceptions for euthanasia appointments so you can be with your pet for their final visit if you wish.
Patience is a virtue
Please be patient - all the extra PPE and cleaning takes time, and staff numbers may be reduced as we struggle with childcare, illness and home working. We are all doing our best! Phone lines will likely be very busy, so email is preferable for non urgent calls and prescription requests (happypets@bluehousevets.com).
Booster vaccinations and non-essential appointments
If your adult pet is booked in or due for a routine vaccination, then you may wish to delay. They can be delayed for up to 3 months from their due date. Puppies, kittens and pets receiving their first year boosters should not be delayed if possible.
Any non essential appointments (many nail clips, weight clinics, adolescent checks) can be postponed, and some can be done over phone / video.
Surgery
Surgery will still be going ahead, but for non urgent procedures we can postpone until later in the year if you prefer.
Of course, this advice may change over the next few weeks, but we are still here as we have been all along, ready to help however we can.
And finally...
Look after yourselves, follow the advice, email or call if you need us. And please take advantage of vaccination as soon as you are offered it - the more of us that are vaccinated, the quicker we will be able to return to normality. Vaccination saves lives, and in a pandemic it can save millions of lives.