Covid-19 Update. September 2021.

At last, you may think, back to normality. Well, the good news is there is a big improvement in the experience of taking your pet to the vet, the bad news we’re not quite there yet.

New cases of Covid-19 are still very high, but the chances of hospitalization and serious illness has reduced, especially for those who are vaccinated.

The “pingdemic” is now over which means that if one of the practice team tests positive, we no longer have close the surgery.

We can finally let owners back into the consulting rooms with their pets, we can now ask owners questions as we notice abnormalities during the examination, fantastic! The clinical examination is the cornerstone of good diagnostics, not having the owner in the consulting room has made this process less efficient and less effective.

We do like face-to-face contact to our clients – the social benefits of being able to see and talk to real human beings has been highlighted during this pandemic. We still ask that you continue to wear a mask inside the surgery, working with a pet over a table does bring us into close contact.

Remember vaccination yourself against Covid-19 is the single best way of protecting yourself and everyone you encounter from this terrible infectious disease. The principles of using vaccination for protection against a disease remain the same, for both humans and pets.

This has been a very challenging time for all of us and I want to thank you all for your patience and continuing support. Hopefully the situation we find ourselves in will continue to improve.

Best wishes,

Alan and the team.

Covid 19 and Consultations

Covid Update

Consultations throughout the Covid period has been difficult for our patients, our clients and our team. We have moved from emergency video and telephonic consultations to routine procedures being allowed, to now at least being able to speak to our clients and physically examine our patients. As much as we are all waiting for the day where clients can accompany their pets into the consulting room, the moment has not yet arrived, despite the promise of “freedom day”.

The simple reason is that new cases of Covid are very high at the moment. If we invite clients into the consulting room and they test positive in the following days, we are likely to be closed down for up to 10 days, clearly this would not be in the best interests of our patients, clients or our team. This is why we have decided to delay allowing clients into the consulting room until the “pingdemic” is over, which we hope is mid-August.

We thank you for your understanding.

Stay safe,

Alan, René and the team.

Covid19 Vaccination and Neutering

An update on Covid-19

The government has announced that new cases and deaths due to Covid-19 are on the decline, that is good news. We are now waiting to see what the new regulations will bring.

In the meantime, we are in the position where human safety outweighs animal welfare and we have to apply social distancing and do our very best to keep people safe and still look after animal welfare – a challenging task.

Clients at our practice are asking questions based around vaccination and neutering. This is understandable as vaccination dates start to pass and puppies and kittens get older and become more likely to have their own puppies and kittens!

Our advisory body has put together a guidance sheet for the public to indicate how decisions are made both on vaccination and on neutering. Our vets are currently calling the owners of pets whose vaccinations have lapsed and individually assessing them. Please call and ask to speak to a vet if you are in anyway unsure of what to do, or feel your pet’s vaccination is overdue, please be patient.

I’m afraid it’s still not business as usual, but hope that the interpretation of these important questions is a little more clear.

Best wishes

Alan

Covid-19 Adjusted Opening Hours

Coronavirus advice for Potton Vet's clients

Opening hours: 28 March – mid April

We are available on the phone or video-consulations:

Weekdays: 8:30am – 7pm.

Saturdays: 8:30am – Midday.

When is there someone in the building at the Market Square?

Weekday opening: 10am – 2pm Please call first.

Saturday Opening: 10am – Midday Please call first.

We are available to help you and your pets if needed throughout the day.

Please bear in mind we are trying our very best to help you and you pets and keep everyone safe at the same time.

The situation will be reassessed in roughly 2 weeks when new regulations are announced.

We do not expect any vaccination breakdowns for this period in pets who have had regular vaccinations in the past.

Covid19 has changed the way we work.

We are no longer doing routine booster vaccinations or routine procedures/surgeries, e.g. neutering, clip claws etc until government and governing body reassessment in mid April.

We are available for video or telephonic consultations throughout the day with a vet or a nurse for any queries you may have (ideally between 10am and 2pm when we know there is someone at the surgery).

There are members of the team in the building at Potton Vets from 10am and 2pm weekdays, this is the time to collect medications, food and anything else you may need, please call us and we will arrange a collection time slot for you, so that we don’t have queues outside the door.

If consultations or treatment is needed, we will arrange a mutually convenient time – usually between 10am and 2pm.

We really appreciate your ongoing patience and support.

We all wish you well during this trying time, please keep safe.

Alan, Rene and all of us at Potton Vets.

Video-consulations

COVID-19 Update

Following yesterday’s government announcements we are having to make some changes.

Covid19 has changed the way we work.

We will still make every effort to support you and ensure your pet’s welfare, but we have to minimise person to person contact and keep everyone as safe as possible.

Further changes we are implementing today

To ensure social distancing:

Always call us before and don’t enter the building unless we have specifically asked you to do so.
If you need to collect medication/food or anything else, call us and we will get it ready for you to collect, outside the building at a prearranged time.
If you think your pets needs to be seen by a vet or a nurse, a video and/or telephonic appointment will be arranged initially, if you need to bring them in, this will be done as part of the consultation fee. We may be able to dispense treatment to be collected as above.
If together with you we feel your pet needs further diagnostics or treatment then we will arrange your consent and a time for you to come to the surgery and hand them over to us at the door.
Once we’ve done what we need to do, we will contact you and discuss the case by phone or video, and arrange a time for you to collect them.
We want to keep our pets healthy and you and ourselves safe during this very difficult time.
We are here to help you, please call us.

We all wish you well during this trying time, please keep safe.
Alan, Rene and all of us at Potton Vets.

Coronavirus Advice and Information for our clients

We are still open to treat your pets but we ask, in order to keep everyone safe, that you do not come into the practice if you have a fever or new, persistent cough.

Call the practice on 01767 260007 and we will be happy to help.

NEW! Vet video consultations are now available.
Read more about how our vet video call service works.

Please try to keep distance between you and other people in the practice and continue to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly.

It is reasonable to assume pets are not affected by Covid19.

Let’s all try to keep safe during these difficult times and we wish you all continuing good health

Regards
René and Alan Shackleton, Potton Vets