Our approach
RW Equine Vet provides a comprehensive first-opinion equine veterinary service, including routine and preventative healthcare, investigation and treatment of illness and lameness, diagnostic services and our own 24-hour emergency provision.
To provide safe, effective and continuous veterinary care, our veterinary surgeons need access to an accurate and up-to-date clinical history and clear responsibility for each horse’s ongoing first-opinion care.
For this reason, it is a condition of registration with RW Equine Vet that clients use RW Equine Vet as their practice for routine first-opinion veterinary services.
We do not support arrangements whereby RW Equine Vet and another first-opinion veterinary practice are routinely used interchangeably for the same horses.
Why we take this approach
Continuity of care involves considerably more than transferring clinical records between practices.
Our vets work together as one team. They have access to the same clinical records, communicate regularly about cases and are familiar with each other’s clinical approaches, investigations, treatment plans and practice protocols.
Where two independent first-opinion practices are involved, information may not always transfer immediately or seamlessly. Different practices may also use different laboratories, analysers, diagnostic equipment, testing protocols, reference ranges and approaches to investigation and treatment. This can make comparison of results and coordination of ongoing cases more difficult.
Having one first-opinion practice also provides clarity about responsibility for ongoing investigation, medication, treatment, monitoring and follow-up.
This is particularly important when a horse requires urgent veterinary attention and the attending veterinary surgeon needs to be able to rely upon an accurate and current clinical history.
Our emergency service
RW Equine Vet provides its own 24-hour emergency service for registered clients.
We have a team of six veterinary surgeons, providing both primary and back-up emergency cover. Our geographical area is deliberately kept manageable, generally within approximately a 20-mile radius, to help us provide a reliable emergency service to our clients.
When RW Equine Vet accepts an emergency call, our duty veterinary surgeon takes responsibility for responding appropriately. Clients should not simultaneously instruct another veterinary practice to attend the same emergency.
If another veterinary practice is subsequently instructed after RW has accepted an emergency call, RW must be informed immediately so that responsibility for attendance and treatment is clear.
If RW is unable to provide veterinary attendance within a timeframe appropriate to the clinical circumstances, we will not prevent or discourage a client from obtaining appropriate veterinary attention elsewhere. The welfare of the horse will always take priority.
Second opinions
Clients remain free to seek a second opinion.
Seeking a second opinion does not, in itself, affect registration with RW Equine Vet.
We are happy to facilitate second opinions and will provide relevant clinical information to another veterinary surgeon as appropriate.
Where possible, we encourage clients to let us know when they wish to obtain a second opinion so that the relevant clinical history can be provided and continuity of care maintained.
Referrals, hospitals and specialist treatment
This policy does not prevent clients from obtaining referral, hospital or specialist veterinary care.
Where a horse requires investigations, treatment, surgery, imaging or facilities that RW does not provide, we will discuss appropriate options and, where appropriate, facilitate referral to a suitable veterinary surgeon, hospital or specialist centre.
Clients remain free to request a referral or specialist opinion.
Treatment elsewhere in exceptional or temporary circumstances
We recognise that there will be occasions when it is entirely appropriate for another veterinary surgeon to treat an RW horse.
Examples include a horse requiring treatment while away from home, travelling or competing; a genuine emergency where RW cannot provide appropriate attendance; referral or specialist treatment; and other reasonable temporary or exceptional circumstances.
Such treatment will not, in itself, affect a client’s registration with RW.
We ask clients to ensure that RW is informed and that relevant clinical information is shared where appropriate so that our records remain accurate.
Routine use of another first-opinion practice
Our policy distinguishes between another veterinary surgeon becoming involved for a particular reason and the routine use of two independent first-opinion practices.
Clients registered with RW Equine Vet are expected to use RW for their first-opinion veterinary services.
Where a client chooses instead to routinely use another first-opinion veterinary practice alongside RW, they will need to decide which practice they wish to use for their ongoing routine first-opinion care.
Clients are free to choose another veterinary practice at any time. Where this occurs, RW will cooperate promptly and professionally with the transfer of relevant clinical information.
Where a client is not prepared to comply with RW’s terms of business regarding first-opinion care, RW may terminate the ongoing client relationship by providing appropriate written notice, subject always to the professional obligations of our veterinary surgeons, including those concerning emergency first aid and pain relief.
Freedom of choice
Nothing in this policy is intended to prevent or discourage a client from seeking a second opinion, requesting a referral, obtaining hospital or specialist treatment or changing veterinary practice.
Clients have freedom to choose their veterinary provider. Equally, RW Equine Vet determines the terms on which it provides its comprehensive ongoing first-opinion and emergency service.
Our purpose is not to restrict choice. It is to provide our clients and their horses with joined-up veterinary care, complete clinical information, clear clinical responsibility and a reliable emergency service.