Repeat Prescriptions
Many pet illnesses require long-term medication which can extend to many years. The Medicines Act of 1968 lays down comprehensive control over all aspects of veterinary (and human) medicines. A vet is permitted to purchase, supply and prescribe veterinary medicines provided they are for an animal under his/her care. The guidelines for under his/her care are that:
- The vet must be given full resonsibility for the health of the animal by the owner/keeper.
- The care of the animal by the vet should be real - not just that the animal is registered with the practice.
- The vet must at least have seen the animal for diagnosis or prescription.
- The vet has examined the animal sufficiently often and recently to have an accurate picture of its current health.
It is illegal for a vet to prescribe drugs repeatably for an animal which has not been seen for a long period of time. An acceptable period between check-ups is agreed to be between 3-4 months, depending on the medication being prescribed. This law is intended to protect animals from the consequences of possible side-effects and gradual changes in the disease being treated.
Please phone to notify us at least 24 hours before you want to collect a repeat prescription, as a vet must check and approve all prescriptions, and drugs may need to be ordered in. Please don't leave it until the last tablet before you decide to re-order medications.
Since November 1st 2008 there has been a change in the prescriptions law, which means that we now charge a small fee for supplying a written prescription for drugs to be purchased outside the practice.