**CORONAVIRUS UPDATE** August 2021

We want you to know that Petworth Veterinary Centre is open and able to see you and your pets during these challenging times - our team is ready and available for when you need us. 

Following the government’s announcement that, after 19 July, it is up to individuals and businesses to decide for themselves about the wearing of face masks, we have been considering the best way forward for Petworth Vets.

Things we need to consider are:

• Some of our staff are not yet fully vaccinated and some of them are trying, as best they can, to protect vulnerable family at home.
• Case numbers of the delta variant of coronavirus are high.
• If we have more than one member of staff infected with coronavirus then we will have to shut the surgery.
• We wish to protect our staff and our clients alike.

Our plan . . . .

We would respectfully ask that, for now, clients continue to wear masks when they enter the surgery, particularly the consulting rooms.  We cannot force you to do so but appeal to your sense of fairness.

Certain vets or nurses may choose not to be in the consulting room with you if you are not wearing a mask.

You may, of course, still prefer not to enter the building at all and for your pet to be seen outside.

Hopefully these decisions will not be necessary before too long. However, for now, we hope you can understand and support our approach to the issue of protecting clients, staff and their families.

We will continue, for the time being, to wear masks/face shields when dealing with clients.

It has become clear that we will need to live with the threat of coronavirus for some time to come and therefore our practice will continue to do things differently for a while, to protect staff and ensure that, as a practice, we are able to be open and available to see to your pets at all times. We are operating in line with guidelines issued by the government and our professional bodies. Please read and note the following;

• Clients will be able to enter the practice but we will strictly limit the number of clients in the building. Please let us know, when you make an appointment, if you do not wish to enter the practice and would rather be seen outside.
• If you are visiting the practice, please let us know in advance if you or a member of your household is unwell or self-isolating.
  
• If you have an appointment please wait in your vehicle until your appointment time before coming in. We will see you have arrived through our Reception window but if you are worried that we haven't noticed your arrival then call us from the car or approach the window to tell us you are here.
• For pet consultations, we will invite you into a treatment room. We will be wearing masks/faceshields and politely ask that you do the same for the time being.
• We would ask that you disinfect your hands regularly before your visit and during if possible (there is disinfectant available for you at the entrance and on the reception desk).
• We would encourage you to call in advance if you need to pick up medication/flea and worming product. Our website has a number of quick and easy forms that can be filled out for messages and medication requests. We are of course happy to take telephone calls but to enable us to free up the phone lines, please consider the following;
  

         Repeat prescriptions can be ordered here                    Appointment requests can be made here

         Flea and worming products can be ordered here

• We are able to vaccinate all pets though there may still be a short wait before we can see you. Please be assured a short wait will not be detrimental to your pet's health.
• We are currently able to do all routine operations and procedures but there may occasionally be a short wait. Urgent cases will always take priority.
  
• Video consultations may be available but wherever possible we would rather physically see our patients as we believe this best serves their wellbeing. Video consultations would be charged at the same rate as a physical examination.
  
• Payments are now able to be taken with a portable handheld card machine as well as over the phone as needed.
  

   Please stay safe and well.