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  Public Area Resources

Hospital Inspections

Hospital inspections are carried out by the RCVS, phone 0207 222 2001.

For established Veterinary Hospitals inspections are carried out every four years. For all new Veterinary Hospitals the first main re-inspection is carried out after two years, only then is the normal four year inspection cycle started.

For new practices a “pre-trading” inspection can be carried out. 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.

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 RCVS Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee meets six times a year. It is the decision of the Advisory Committee as to whether a Hospital is approved or not. 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 Veterinary Hospital Standard

The RCVS introduced their three tier Practice Standards Scheme in January 2005. The Veterinary Hospital standard has been incorporated into this scheme as Tier Three.

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.