VETERINARY PHYSIOTHERAPY AND THE LAW
Under the Veterinary Surgeons (Exemptions) Order 2015, remedial veterinary physiotherapy may only be provided under the referral of a veterinary surgeon. The veterinary surgeon must be confident that the therapist is suitably qualified and competent, which can be indicated by the therapist being part of a voluntary register, which requires them to have appropriate standards of training, education, and conduct. Therefore, if your horse is requiring treatment for a past or existing condition, it is a requirement for the physiotherapist to obtain referral or consent from the horse's veterinary surgeon.
Treatment as part of ongoing maintenance does not require veterinary referral, though the horse is still required to be registered with a veterinary practice. Prior to treatment however, the physiotherapist will still inform your veterinary surgeon of the commencement of maintenance treatments as per guidance from professional associations. In the event of potential disease, injury or pathology, treatment will cease and the horse will be referred back to the veterinary surgeon. The veterinary physiotherapist will ask the client for informed consent to disclose concerns to the veterinary surgeon.
Client consent is also required prior to commencement of physiotherapy to your horse.
Upon booking, Reform Veterinary Physiotherapy will email the relevant client consent and veterinary referral forms to you and your vet, which must be completed prior to your appointment and emailed through to reformvetphysio@gmail.com.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries.