Hospital inspections are
carried out by the RCVS under the Practice Standards Scheme.
Inspections
are carried out every four years, according to the most recent version of the
Practice Standards. Spot checks are also made at short notice - usually 24
hours. The Standards are reviewed every five years by the Practice Standards
Group, a large committee of representatives from all areas of veterinary
practice, including the BVHA. The most recent version of the Practice Standards
was published in 2010.
For new practices a “pre-trading”
inspection can be carried out by the RCVS. This inspection is carried out prior
to the completion of work, so allowances will be made for cabinetry not being
installed etc. However the inspector must be convinced, by your plans,
equipment on site, invoices and delivery schedules etc that the practice will
meet veterinary hospital standards upon completion. This pre-trading inspection
will allow the practice to commence trading from day one as a veterinary
hospital (if successful). Obviously this has implications as far as producing
signage, stationery, letterheads etc. A second inspection is then carried out
within six months of the pre-trading inspection. The practice must pass this
inspection or all use of the name “Veterinary Hospital” will have to
cease immediately.
In addition, BVHA are happy to advise on whole plans
or individual questions about new premises (whether Hospital, General or Core
Practices). Most commonly, we get involved at the early planning stage. Our
planning reviews are available at a small cost to help you to make the right
decisions for your practice at the earliest stage - before alterations start to
become very expensive. Please contact us to arrange these.
The RCVS
gives hospitals plenty of notice of the inspection and sends a form to be
completed and returned to them. The RCVS then allocates an inspector to carry
out the inspection. The veterinary hospital can request a different inspector,
but the RCVS has usually already taken care to make sure that the inspector is
not involved in a competitor practice.
The Inspector will then contact
the Hospital directly to arrange a mutually convenient date for the inspection.
Usually allow half a day for the inspection. Different inspectors approach the
inspection in different ways, however it is common to do the paperwork first
and then to carry out the physical inspection. There is a considerable amount
of paperwork to be checked. It makes the inspector’s life a lot easier if
you have organised your paperwork in the same order as that required by the
RCVS. Cups of coffee and biscuits (preferably chocolate) help ease the
process.
The Inspector’s report is submitted to the PSS Review
Group, which comprises of the Chairman of the PSG, the Head Inspector and the
Senior Vice President of the RCVS and they decide on the success of
applications. Practices may be passed as a Veterinary Hospital subject to
certain conditions within set time frames. Depending upon the requirements the
Hospital may be required to certify that the work has been undertaken (perhaps
supporting this with photographic evidence), or a re-inspection may be
required.
On confirmation of Veterinary Hospital status a certificate
is issued by the RCVS.
The RCVS
introduced their three level Practice Standards Scheme in January 2005, and
this was reviewed in 2010. The Veterinary Hospital standard has been
incorporated into this scheme as the highest level.
Click here to download a copy
of the Standard and here for
a copy of the rules of the scheme. Please note that although all efforts are
made to ensure that this copy is up to date, the definitive version of the
Standard at any time is the one to be found on the
RCVS web
site.
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