Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Guidance for 24-hour emergency cover.
Examples and link to source
Introduction
The animal-owning public may not appreciate the difference between the meaning of '24-hour service' and '24-hour cover'. The position is complicated by advertisements in 'Yellow Pages' and other directories, some of which include the information that a practice provides '24-hour emergency cover'. It is often assumed, wrongly, that ONLY these practices provide this cover. The RCVS makes the following distinction:
24-hour service
This implies the provision of normal facilities throughout the 24 hours. The RCVS does not impose this requirement on a practice. Certain large practices and Veterinary Hospitals may be able and prepared to provide such a service, and may do so on behalf of other practices in their area.
24-hour emergency cover
This means the provision of immediate first aid and pain relief to deal promptly with emergencies, at all times. A veterinary surgeon may decide that non-emergency treatment should be delayed until normal working hours.
Fees
The cost of providing professional attention outside 'routine hours' is high and the RCVS accepts that clients may be required to pay a premium for emergency veterinary attention out of hours.
A veterinary surgeon or a lay member of staff accepting telephone calls must not refuse veterinary attention because the caller is unable to make immediate payment for the treatment.
Arrangements for payment should be discussed at an early stage, but immediate first aid and pain relief should not be delayed while financial arrangements are agreed.
The RCVS is aware that it may be appropriate to advise euthanasia to relieve suffering, if the owner is unable to afford the fees and is ineligible for charitable treatment.
The RCVS has no power to set the fees that a practice charges
For more information click on this link:
http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=89642