Veterinary Associations

Fun new video promotes RCVS-accredited practice scheme to animal owners

vetreportAugust 13, 2015

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has today launched a new animated video to help promote its veterinary practice accreditation scheme to the animal-owning public, and explain the benefits of the Scheme for owners and their animals.

Launched in 2005, the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme is a voluntary initiative to accredit veterinary practices in the UK and almost 60% of practices are part of the Scheme. Through setting standards and carrying out regular inspections, the Scheme aims to promote and maintain high standards of veterinary care, to offer peace of mind to clients of accredited practices and more information to the animal-owning public.

To achieve RCVS-accredited status, veterinary practices volunteer for rigorous inspection every four years and will have met a stringent standards across a wide range of areas including cleanliness and hygiene, facilities and equipment, staff training and development and customer service. Practices may also be subject to spot-checks between inspections.

Jacqui Molyneux, who heads up the RCVS Practice Standards Group says: “Our new video is a light-hearted explanation of the Practice Standards Scheme, how it can help animal owners decide which practice to go to and reassure them about the standards they can expect to find at an RCVS-accredited practice.”

The video is available via the College’s website (www.rcvs.org.uk/rcvsaccredited), YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/rcvsvideos) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thercvs), and a similar version will shortly be available for RCVS-accredited practices to show to their clients, either on their own websites and social media channels, or in the waiting room.

“Not only do we want to spread the word about the benefits of the Practice Standards Scheme and suggest animal owners look for the RCVS-accredited practice logo, but we also want to give accredited practices an engaging way of telling their clients about their achievement,” says Jacqui.

“Gaining RCVS accreditation is not easy, so accredited practices deserve every opportunity to demonstrate to their clients their commitment to supporting high standards of veterinary care. This fun two-minute video should help them do just that,” she adds.

Animal owners can search for an RCVS-accredited practice in their area, or elsewhere in the UK, using Find A Vet – the College’s free online search tool – at www.findavet.org.uk.