The SAVC (South African Veterinary Council) has been informed by the South African government that Veterinary services have been deemed as an essential service to protect animal rights.During the lock down period, Hilton Veterinary Hospital will endeavour to meet all essential services to animals presented to them or in need of treatment. No non-essential services will be provided. Examples of essential services are sick animals, injured animals, animals requiring preventative care from zoonotic diseases such as rabies, and prevention of starvation. Special needs diets will also need to be supplied during this period.
As we take COVID-19 at the highest level of importance, all our current staff from high density areas and those needing to use public transport have been exempt from coming to work. All our staff will wear protective masks. Any staff member with any major or minor symptoms, have been requested to stay at home and self-isolate. They are to alert us with their condition and contact the COVID-19 emergency number 08000 29999 for further guidance.
Sanitizers will be supplied throughout the hospital as is the standard protocol and sanitizers will be actively supplied at our doors as well to anyone entering the hospital.
We request that all animal owners that require our services adhere to the following protocol:
• Phone ahead to book an appointment, so that we may space out the number of people visiting the hospital at any one time.
• Where possible pre-arrange any necessary paper work to limit your time spent at the hospital.
• If your animal has any problem necessitating veterinary services during the lock down and you have any major or minor flu symptoms or have any reason to suspect you were in contact with any one with COVID-19, please self-isolate and contact the COVID-19 number for further guidance, and send your animal to us via a non-infected person using a minimal manner of contact.
• If you so wish any animal prearranged may be handed to us through the door without making physical contact with us.
• Visiting animals in hospital will be strictly for the critically ill patients only and will be carefully orchestrated.
• All high risk people, including the aged and people with pre-existing conditions are requested to send their animals with another low risk healthy person.
• By pre-arrangement and pre-payment, you can collect essential preventative treatments and diets from us without coming into the hospital. Upon your arrival they will be placed in a container outside the door.
We wish all fellow South Africans all the best during this difficult time and will endeavour to serve the community and their animals at the highest level in the safest manner possible.
Please contact us with any special request within the law to see if we can accommodate you.
News supplied by Hilton Veterinary Hospital.
