The draft RCVS ‘Under Care Guidance’ is scheduled to come into force on 1st September 2023. This strengthening of the existing guidance has some points that are of particular importance to equine vets in the UK:
Consultants (including performance horse practitioners, dental practitioners and other Limited Service Providers)
• Vets working in this manner are now responsible for ensuring that there is an agreement with a local practice to provide 24/7 care for any animals that the consultant is attending. The consultant must be able to provide evidence of this agreement.
• The client must be aware of the arrangement and how to access the service.
Antiparasitic medication
• There is no change to the prescribing of licensed equine antiparasitics as they are all POM-VPS (the guidance changes only apply to POM-V medications).
• If using antiparasitic medications (or any other POM-V) under the cascade, then you should consider the risk-benefits and make a judgment on the need for a physical examination.
Long-term medication (e.g. NSAIDs, pergolide)
• Your clinical records must include details to permit repeated dispensing of chronic medication in the form of a prescription (e.g. dose, formulation, number). This does not need to be on a specific prescription template.
• All dispensing must therefore be against such a prescription.
• Dispensing NSAIDs or other medications to a yard for ad-hoc use is not permitted under current rules and is further restricted by this guidance.
Controlled Drugs (e.g. clenbuterol - Schedule 4; gabapentin – Schedule 3)
• A physical examination is still required before first prescribing a controlled drug.
• When issuing a repeat prescription the vet should carry out a ‘clinical assessment’ (physical or remote) to ensure they have enough information to do so safely and effectively (see RCVS example here).
• Vets should use their judgement to determine if it is appropriate to prescribe more than 28 days of any controlled drug for a chronic condition.
Further information
‘Under care’ – new guidance (RCVS)
Prescribing long-term controlled drugs (RCVS)