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How to promote preventative healthcare
Always recommend your PHP if the client is in the practice for anything that is included in the plan.
Brian Faulkner highlights five good moments 

We should always make time to promote healthcare in the busy veterinary day - Brian Faulkner suggests how we can do it.

Brian talked his audience through five ways of promoting good preventative healthcare, without comprising either the practice or the client.

1. Vaccine price checker
Talk to clients about the different options they have.

Brian suggests having three:
  • The basic vaccine option - basic price
  • The basic vaccine plus a flea/tick/wormer pack - a value option
  • The healthcare plan - spreading the cost of preventative healthcare

He pointed out that the cost of a vaccine should not lose the practice a potential client, so you also need to give three good reasons why they should chose you.

2. Preventative healthcare plan (PHP)
Always recommend your PHP if the client is in the practice for anything that is included in the plan. The magic phrase is: “Has anyone talked you through our healthcare plan?” It is also worthwhile to have a PHP poster in both the reception area and consulting rooms.

3. Re-check consultation
Look at the patient's record before they arrive to see if they need any vaccination or parasite control etc. It is much better to do this at a re-check, rather than a first consult, and consider offering restart vaccination courses for the price of the booster.

4. Waiting for the booster consult in reception
While the client is waiting the receptionist can ask them to fill in a form about their pet's health. This is useful data collection, helping to keep client records up to date and helps to cleanse records of old data. It is also worth having a space on the form for clients to fill in any symptoms of concern they have for their pet/s as this can help in the consultation

5. Annual booster
Have a policy on practice healthcare and create forms which can be used at the annual booster consultation. This enables the vet to talk the policy through with the client and plan the best healthcare for the pet.

Brian's final message was to make sure that you note any client refusals of offers such as kennel cough vaccination or the four-week free insurance offers, in order to prevent any comeback from the client at a later date.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
UK's BSE risk status downgraded

The WOAH has downgraded the UK's international risk status for BSE to 'negligible'.

Defra says that the UK's improved risk status recognises the reputation for having the highest standards for biosecurity. It adds that it demonstrates decades of rigorous animal control.

Outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, have previously resulted in bans on Britain's beef exports.

The UK's new status could lead to expanded trade and better confidence in British beef.

Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, said: "WOAH's recognition of the UK as negligible risk for BSE is a significant milestone and is a testament to the UK's strong biosecurity measures and the hard work and vigilance of farmers and livestock keepers across the country who have all played their part in managing the spread of this disease.