Risk Assessment
Novel Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Summary: This risk assessment aims to document the measures the SMART Veterinary Clinic Ltd will implement to reduce the risks associated with the current outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, for our staff and clients, and to mitigate the impact to our current services and patient care.
Risks: Infection and cross-infection of COVID-19
Control measures:
– Appointments: We are currently open as normal, and all our staff in clinic are currently healthy, and collectively want to minimise the disruption to our patient’s appointments as much as possible.
WE WOULD HOWEVER ASK CLIENTS TO NOTIFY THE CLINIC BEFORE THEIR APPOINTMENT IF THEY ARE CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS RELATING TO COVID-19 (see Appendix 1) OR HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO ANYONE INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS. Staff have also been asked to do the same.
UPDATE: With the updates on guidelines received from the Government on the 22nd and 23rd March 2020, we will now be asking all clients to leave their pet with us for their treatment. We would ask clients to call us when they arrive for their appointment so that a member of staff can organise the safe hand over of your pet with us.
Our Vets can also then contact you via telephone to obtain an updated history. They can call at the end of the appointment to discuss that day’s treatment and any new home instructions. Clients can also then phone the clinic to make any necessary payments and follow up appointments from their vehicle.
In the case of any new clients attending for their initial consultation, we will only be using our larger consultation rooms and employing a distance of 2 metres between the client and staff members at all times.
We have to responsibly recommend that all other clients do not stay with their pets throughout their appointment to minimise the number of people in the clinic.
We can continue to see and treat our patients and safeguard their welfare, whilst protected the health and safety of our staff and clients, if this risk assessment and the measures advised within are followed.
Our stringent hygiene measures remain unchanged, as outlined below.
– Hygiene: To minimise the risk of infection/cross infection, we will be asking all staff and clients to adhere to the additional hygiene measures set out below-
• If possible, we would encourage only one owner to attend each appointment
• All persons entering/exiting the building must thoroughly wash their hands (Appendix 2) on arrival/departure. Hand soap is provided at each sink facility, one of which can be found in the client toilet in each reception area.
• Additional hand washing should be carried out whenever needed e.g. after coughing, sneezing etc
• We will be removing all hand towels from our sink areas and asking all staff and clients to use the blue paper towel for the time being when drying their hands – this can then be disposed of in the bins provided.
• SMART clinic staff will disinfect all surfaces and door handles after each appointment, including the handles on the entry/exit door to each clinic and each toilet door.
• We would ask that all staff and clients to avoid any close/unnecessary contact e.g handshakes, hugs etc with any other individuals in the clinic and as far as possible
NB for all updated guidance on the current advice regarding self-isolation and social distancing please see Appendix 3 and 4.
We fully appreciate that this is a worrying and unsettling time for all and hope that the above will help alleviate any concerns relating to attendance of appointments at the SMART Veterinary Clinic Ltd. We have also included some helpful links below.
If, however you are concerned about anything, contained or not contained, within this document please do not hesitate to contact us directly at the clinic on the numbers provided below. Our staff can then direct these to the Practice Manager.
Cardiff Clinic: 02920 799886
Swansea Clinic: 01792 931239
APPENDIX 1:
Signs and symptoms of COVID-19
The following symptoms may develop in the 14 days after exposure to someone who has COVID-19 infection:
• cough
• difficulty in breathing
• fever
Generally, these infections can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.
APPENDIX 2:
APPENDIX 3:
Social distancing measures are steps you can take to reduce social interaction between people. This will help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).
They are to:
Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough
Avoid non-essential use of public transport when possible
Work from home, where possible. Your employer should support you to do this. Please refer to employer guidance for more information
Avoid large and small gatherings in public spaces, noting that pubs, restaurants, leisure centres and similar venues are currently shut as infections spread easily in closed spaces where people gather together.
Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media
Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services
Everyone should be trying to follow these measures as much as is practicable.
We strongly advise you to follow the above measures as much as you can and to significantly limit your face-to-face interaction with friends and family if possible, particularly if you:
Are over 70
Have an underlying health condition
Are pregnant
This advice is likely to be in place for some weeks.
APPENDIX 4 :
Updated 23/03/20
