Covid 19: Rossdales Revised Protocols – 6th January 2021

We are open and still providing our services 24/7, but with necessary restrictions in place

Following the Government’s announcement on 4th January 2021 of a third national lockdown, current RCVS and BEVA advice is that veterinary practices can remain open, and owners can leave home to seek veterinary advice ‘essential for animal health and welfare’, provided they follow the RCVS and Government guidance, with strict adherence to biosecurity and social/physical distancing measures.

We will continue to follow government advice on working safely during coronavirus. It remains as important as ever to follow the ‘HANDS FACE SPACE’ mantra and we would ask you please to read carefully and follow the guidance below.

Please note that this revised guidance supersedes our previous notices regarding our safeguarding protocols and we urge you please to read carefully the information below.

Visiting our Newmarket, Hertfordshire and Lambourn offices

• Please do not attend any of the above sites unless this is absolutely essential and your visit has been pre-arranged. We would urge you to contact our respective teams by telephone or by email in the first instance, to discuss your requirements and to determine whether alternative arrangements can be made.
• Please only attend our Newmarket site if you are dropping off a laboratory sample, or have pre-arranged to collect items from our pharmacy. A mask/face covering must be worn at all times when on site and 2m social distancing must be observed, as well as hand sanitising and temperature taking when you enter the practice.
• If the reception area is already occupied by another client and adequate social distancing cannot be observed, please wait outside until the area is clear.
• Please do not attend our Hertfordshire or Lambourn offices, unless you have a pre-arranged appointment to do so.

Yard visits

• Although currently our vets are still able to visit your horse or pony, please consider whether it might be possible/more appropriate to book a Teleconsult appointment in place of a visit.
• If you are self-isolating/in contact with COVID-19 cases/showing clinical signs of COVID-19, please don’t attend an appointment: please contact us so we can make a plan for alternative arrangements for your horse or pony.
• When our vets visit your yard or premises, it is essential that you wear a mask/face covering.
• Please observe the 2m social distancing guidance at all times, wherever possible.
• Please ensure the horse is tied up either outside or inside the stable, ready for the vet.
• For vaccinations*, provided that the horse is well behaved, the horse will be vaccinated by the vet without the owner/yard manager holding on to the horse’s head. If it is necessary for the owner/yard manager to hold onto the horse’s head, it will be difficult to observe social distancing and that person must wear a mask/face covering.
• If the horse is difficult to vaccinate, please advise us when booking the visit, so an appropriate plan can be made.
• Please leave the passport out for the vet to sign and maintain a minimum of 2m distance from the vet. If multiple horses are being vaccinated, please allocate one person to assist the vet, with all others remaining at a suitable distance away. The person assisting the vet should wear a mask/face covering.
• In order to perform routine dental examinations safely and within the social distancing guidelines, our vets are likely to wish to sedate the horse or pony.

*PLEASE NOTE THAT IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHECK WHEN YOUR HORSE’S VACCINATION IS DUE.

Invoice Payments

We encourage payment of your Rossdales invoices via our secure online 'Pay My Bill' pages.
Newmarket, Laboratory and Lambourn accounts can be paid here. Hertfordshire accounts can be paid here.

Pre-purchase examinations (PPEs)

Our vets are currently able to carry out pre-purchase examinations, subject to strict social distancing. We politely request that anyone present for the vetting/handling the horse observes 2m social distancing and wears a face mask/covering.

In some circumstances, it may be necessary for our vet to be accompanied by one of our veterinary technicians for various aspects of the process, and they may be required to help present the horse for examination.

Please note that our vets reserve the right to refuse to perform any procedures where the horses are not amenable to handling and where social distancing protocols cannot be safely maintained. Please discuss your requirements with a member of our team.

Please contact us on 01638 663150 (Newmarket clients), 01638 663017 (Laboratory), 01462 790221 (Hertfordshire) or 01488 683522 (Lambourn) to discuss your requirements, or if you have any questions about the revised guidance.

Visiting Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre

• Clients visiting Rossdales Equine Hospital and Diagnostic Centre should wear a suitable mask/face covering at all times when on site and observe 2m social distancing.
• Wherever possible, only one client should come to the hospital site to bring or collect a horse. If more than one person travels with the horse, please can they remain in the vehicle while on site.
• All paperwork must be completed electronically before you arrive.
• On arrival, one person may report to the Hospital reception to inform staff that they have arrived. Outside of our normal office hours, you will be given a mobile number to call. Should there already be one person in reception, please wait outside until reception is empty (socially distancing from other people if there is more than one person waiting).
• A QR code is present in the hospital reception area. When entering the hospital reception area, we strongly encourage you to scan this to comply with Government test and trace guidance.
• You will be instructed to unload your horse and walk towards the gates next to reception, where a member of our team will meet you and show you to a stable. Once your horse is in a stable, please return to your vehicle.
• Access to the Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, including yards, is restricted to attending reception and dropping off/collecting your horse.
• A client toilet is available, within the DC foyer area, but unfortunately no other waiting rooms or refreshment facilities will be open until further notice. If waiting to use the toilet please avoid congregating in foyer as this is a working thoroughfare and please return to your vehicle as soon as possible.
• We regret that we will be unable to conduct face-to-face consultations (this includes no access to lameness work ups or diagnostic image viewings), and we will contact you by telephone when your horse is ready to be discharged.
• If you are planning to wait on site while your horse undergoes investigations or treatment, please return to your vehicle and remain there until contacted by one of our clinicians. Please ensure you bring adequate refreshments with you, and plenty of warm clothing. If you do leave our Exning site, please ensure you remain contactable and adhere to lockdown rules.

We look forward to welcoming you to the hospital and want to reassure you that we are committed to providing the highest level of care for your horse or pony at all times. We very much appreciate your adherence to the necessary Covid-19 control measures (including face covering, social distancing and hand sanitising) which will help to keep you, our other clients, our vets and our staff safe.

If you have any questions about the above guidance ahead of your visit, you develop clinical signs suggestive of Covid-19 infection, or you have been in direct contact with anyone showing clinical signs, please contact us by telephone as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.

Please contact the hospital team on 01638 577754 during working hours if you have any questions about visiting our Exning site. If your horse needs urgent veterinary attention, please call our 24-hour emergency response teams on 01638 663150 (Newmarket clients), 01462 790221 (Hertfordshire) or 01488 683522 (Lambourn).