Register

Login

Vet Times logo
+
  • View all news
  • Vets news
  • Vet Nursing news
  • Business news
  • + More
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Crossword
  • View all clinical
  • Small animal
  • Livestock
  • Equine
  • Exotics
  • All Jobs
  • Your ideal job
  • Post a job
  • Career Advice
  • Students
About
Contact Us
For Advertisers
NewsClinicalJobs
Vet Times logo

Vets

All Vets newsSmall animalLivestockEquineExoticWork and well-beingOpinion

Vet Nursing

All Vet Nursing newsSmall animalLivestockEquineExoticWork and well-beingOpinion

Business

All Business newsHuman resourcesBig 6SustainabilityFinanceDigitalPractice profilesPractice developments

+ More

VideosPodcastsDigital EditionCrossword

The latest veterinary news, delivered straight to your inbox.

Choose which topics you want to hear about and how often.

Vet Times logo 2

About

The team

Advertise with us

Recruitment

Contact us

Vet Times logo 2

Vets

All Vets news

Small animal

Livestock

Equine

Exotic

Work and well-being

Opinion

Vet Nursing

All Vet Nursing news

Small animal

Livestock

Equine

Exotic

Work and well-being

Opinion

Business

All Business news

Human resources

Big 6

Sustainability

Finance

Digital

Practice profiles

Practice developments

Clinical

All Clinical content

Small animal

Livestock

Equine

Exotics

Jobs

All Jobs content

All Jobs

Your ideal job

Post a job

Career Advice

Students

More

All More content

Videos

Podcasts

Digital Edition

Crossword


Terms and conditions

Complaints policy

Cookie policy

Privacy policy

fb-iconinsta-iconlinkedin-icontwitter-iconyoutube-icon

© Veterinary Business Development Ltd 2025

IPSO_regulated

2 Nov 2020

BVA: No return to emergencies only

The BVA has updated its guidance ahead of Thursday's (5 Nov) lockdown with new measures coming into force, but has confirmed there will be no return to 'emergencies only'.

author_img

James Westgate

Job Title



BVA: No return to emergencies only

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement that England will go into a national lockdown on Thursday 5 November, and the start of the new local COVID Protection Levels system in Scotland, the BVA has updated its guidance for members.

In summary, the updated BVA guidance for England is:

  • Veterinary practices are essential businesses and can stay open
  • Practices must continue to work in COVID-safe ways
  • Members of the veterinary team should work from home if possible
  • Veterinary professionals should exercise clinical judgement to assess and triage essential animal health and welfare needs in the context of the lockdown
  • Support neighbouring practices and be mindful of working across national borders
  • In Scotland, the Scottish Government has confirmed that veterinary practices are considered essential businesses and across all protection levels will be able to remain open and not have to restrict services, as long as the practice complies will all Covid requirements on working safely

Important

BVA president James Russell said: “We are very pleased that governments across the UK continue to recognise the importance of access to veterinary services during these local and national lockdowns – for animal health and welfare, public health, and keeping the food supply going.

“However, as veterinary professionals, we all have an incredibly important role to play in tackling the spread of the virus, so we must continue to work as safely as possible to protect ourselves and our clients.”

Stress

He added: “The latest guidance from BVA focuses on the clinical and professional judgement of our colleagues to assess whether and how clients can be seen safely, as well as considering whether they need to be seen in person. Over the past seven months, veterinary teams have worked incredibly hard to put safe working measures in place, including the use of remote consultations, so we are in a very strong position to get through the new lockdown measures.

“We know from our recent Voice survey that members are concerned about stress and burnout within the profession, so I want to remind colleagues to continue to look out for one another and continue to communicate within teams so that everyone understands and feels comfortable with the protocols.”

Firebreak

Wales is currently in the firebreak lockdown (23 October to 9 November) and veterinary practices are delivering essential services only, based on previous BVA guidance.

When asked by Vet Times, the BVA confirmed there would be no return to the “emergencies only” edict issued in March. For more details visit the BVA’s guidance pages.