SELF-EVALUATION FORM FOR REGISTRATION OF VETERINARY FACILITIES
Minimum Standards as described in Rules 23 – 33 of rules relating to practicing of veterinary
professions
VETERINARY FACILITY EVALUATED: ____________________________________________________
1. General structural requirements for veterinary facilities
(Rule 23)
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.9
1.10
1.11
1.12
1.13
1.14
1.15
A permanent structure add pre-fab, wendy house, containers allowed
Adequate lighting to complete procedure in progress
Fire extinguishing apparatus move to CO2 perhaps-Requirement ito Occupational
Health & Safety Act
Constructed to minimise the escape prevent escape of animals
Hygienic disposal of wastes New Waste Management Act promulgated – please
take note
A reception / office area
A waiting room for clients with access to toilets
One or more examination rooms
Walls, floors, shelves, tables impervious for cleaning and disinfecting
Drainage and washing water runs into a sewer and/or septic tank
No public entrance through another business to be re-looked at when discussing
Rule 8 (Covering)
Storage and disposal of carcasses to prevent decomposition-see new Waste
Management Act
Hygienic storage of therapeutic and nutritional requirements
Adequate facilities for preparation of food and washing of equipment
Adequate ventilation in all facilities
Compliance
Yes
Category
No
A
B
C
A
B
B
A
A
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
2. General procedural requirements
(Rule 24)
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
Personnel trained in basics of aseptic technique. The veterinarian remains
responsible. Training must be relevant to scope of practice and be more specific re
training requirements.
Personnel responsible for operation of sophisticated equipment adequately trained
and available Relevant to scope of practice, what measurement used? The
definition of “adequate training” is to be added.
Veterinarians attend to animals in facility at least daily if animals are hospitalised,
and observations are to be recorded
Adequate health and safety precautions within practice
Staffed by a veterinarian during specified consulting hours
Telephones answered at all times with telephone answering service stating normal
consulting hours with an emergency contact number given
Telephone capacity sufficient for facility – answered promptly/professionally
B
B
A
B
A
B
B
3. General requirements at veterinary facilities
(Rule 23 & 25)
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
3.6
Facility clean, tidy and in good repair
Area surrounding facility clean and tidy
Sufficient parking for clients and staff
Free of offensive odours
Weighing facilities/methods of determining mass of patients
Services provided in a competent and humane manner
B
C
B
B
A
B
2
3.7
3.8
3.9
3.10
3.11
IF YES:
Professional approach towards clients
Staff dress code, cleanliness and appearance good
Library present, relevant reference material, Code of Conduct and Practice
A laboratory service for own requirements
B
B
C
B
B
a. A centrifuge
b. A refractometer
C
C
a. Reasonable access to such laboratory services
A Microscope
Emergency and intensive care service rendered to stabilise patients in an
emergency. Intensive care is to be referred during normal operating hours. This
includes referrals if the veterinarian is unable to attend to the emergency.
Dispensing of medicine administered in accordance with legislation
Post mortem examinations can be performed or access to such a service, or must
have access to a laboratory
Appropriate sterilising equipment
Efficacy of sterilisation and expiry
Facility where advanced surgical procedures are performed has alternate power
supply
B
A
A
A diagnostic service, including imaging diagnostics or access to such
IF NO:
3.12
3.13
3.14
3.15
3.16
3.17
3.18
A
B
A
A
A
4. Records at veterinary facilities
(Rule 26)
4.1
Legible, accurate records of each animal and client
4.2
Records contain patient’s name, species, breed, gender, age and other
forms of ID. Large animals cannot be regulated under the same rules
4.3
Records contain:

The name of the veterinarian who treated the patient

Clinical information

Vaccination records

Special procedures

Diagnosis

Treatment

Discharge instructions. Veterinarian must keep records in order to
protect him/herself
4.4
In the case of veterinarians attending to horses registered with the National
Horseracing Authority:

Veterinary case sheet in duplicate

Premise identification

Patient identification

Diagnosis

Treatment

Horses must be micro-chipped
4.5
All records (including diagnostic images, laboratory and pathology results)
retained for three years
4.6
Proper security to protect records from loss, fire or unauthorised access
4.7
Record kept of diagnostic images handed over to owner
5. Identification of veterinary facilities
(Rule 19).These guidelines may change as the veterinarians may now advertise as
they like
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
C
C
3
5.1
5.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
5.6
Direction Board
Direction Board comply with rules
Identification Board
Identification Board comply with rules
Sign Board
Sign Board comply with rules
C
B
C
B
C
B
6. Diagnostic imaging
(Rule 27) Use what is applicable and practical. 6.1, 6.2 and 6.4 to be kept, the rest to
implode
6.1
Imaging facilities suitable and adequate for the needs of the type of practice or
access thereto
B
6.2
Maintenance of imaging facilities and equipment done regularly
6.3
Equipment capable of producing diagnostic quality images appropriate to the range
of animals seen in the practice
Structural requirements and safety precautions for use of radiation equipment
comply with relevant legislation
Imaging logbook (ID of animal and owner, numerical number, exposure factors and
anatomical position and diagnosis). No logbook is required if you have electronic
data, and data is to be backed up monthly on an external hard drive
Suitable range of cassettes, screens grids and contrast materials
Suitable facilities for processing, recording, viewing, filing and storage of diagnostic
images, including but not limited to x-rays, ultra sound, sonar equipment
Permanent identification exposed in film emulsion (ID of animal and owner,
practice ID, date and left/right indicator)
B
B
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
B
C
B
C
C
7. General requirements for anaesthesia
(Rule 28) Some veterinarians move away from using gas,
7.1 Equipment for anaesthesia and facilities adequate and appropriate for the needs
of the relevant practice:
a.
Inhalation, or
b.
Parenteral
7.2
Appropriate range of endotracheal tubes
7.3
Oxygen available
7.4
A means to provide artificial ventilation
7.5
I/V fluids, administration sets and drugs for cardiopulmonary resuscitation
7.6
Lock-up facilities available for schedule medicines and lock-up safe for
highly scheduled medicines
7.7
Equipment for the control of body temperature
7.8
Monitoring to ensure safe anaesthesia
7.9
Anaesthetic equipment for variation in body mass within the specie range
7.10
Active or passive anaesthetic gas scavenging equipment
7.11
All persons administering anaesthesia must be properly trained, registered
or exempted. Para-veterinarians may administer anaesthesia on instruction.
Wildlife veterinarians – only the veterinarian may administer anaesthesia
7.12
Anaesthetic equipment serviced regularly
7.13
Monitoring, maintenance and recovery from anaesthesia effected by
registered personnel or trained non-registered personnel under supervision
of a veterinarian 7.11 and 7.13 to be combined, and 7.13 to be more
specific.
7.14
All animals are not discharged until adequately recovered from anaesthesia
7.15
Adequate (to be specified) facilities for safe induction and recovery (more
specified)from anaesthesia
Surgery at Consulting Rooms
Is surgery performed at the consulting room?
NO/YES
A
A
B
A
B
A
A
B
B
A
B
A
C
A
B
A
4
If YES, please refer to the requirements of an Operating Room, under item 8, that
have to be met. (rule 25(4))
ADDITIONAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR HOSPITALS/CLINICS
8 Small Animal Hospital/Clinics
(Rule 31) The difference between a clinic, hospital and consulting room (no invasive
surgery may be performed there) to be explained. The definition currently:
(4) Only routine surgery that is not complicated abdominal, orthopaedic or cardiovascular surgery may be performed at a consulting room. If such routine surgery is
performed at a consulting room, the provisions of rule 31(1)(b) shall be complied with.
Records
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.6
8.7
8.8
One or more rooms for the treatment and pre-operative preparation of patients
Preparation room convenient to the operating room
Operating Room. A separate suitably equipped operating room/theatre:

Adequate lighting

Impervious operating table

Gas anaesthetic apparatus

Adequate oxygen supply

Radiographic viewer screen

Adequate ventilation

Adequate size

Sufficient instruments

No thoroughfare

Not used as storage facility

Only final preparation of patient done in theatre

Suitable scrubbing up facility

Adequate water supply

Soap dispenser

Sterilised:Sterile
o
gowns;
o
drapes;
o
gloves; and

masks and caps
Ward. A ward for hospitalising patients:

Separate cages of adequate size for each patient

Proper identification of each patient

Adequate lighting, ventilation, heating and cooling
Are animals with contagious diseases hospitalised
Isolation facility for patients with contagious diseases
Exercise area. An indoor or outdoor exercise area:

Constructed to minimise prevent escape

Constructed that it can be kept clean/hygienic
Supervision. Animals are monitored after hours. To be discussed by the Review
Committee. Does monitoring include that the para-veterinarian can phone
veterinarian?
B
A
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
B
B
A
A
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
9 Equine hospitals/clinics
(Rule 32)
9.1
One or more examination rooms or undercover areas:

Hand washing facilities

Equipment for physical examination of patients

Endoscopic equipment

Ophthalmoscopic equipment
A
A
A
B
A
5
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5

Cardiographic equipment

Crush pen with impervious floor
Adequate facilities for safe induction and recovery from anaesthesia (Impervious,
padded material easily cleansed and disinfected, covering the entire floor area and
wall up to a height of 2 metres)
Transportation system to and from induction area and operating room
A separate suitably equipped operating room/theatre:
9.6
Adequate lighting
Impervious suitably padded operating table
Gas anaesthetic apparatus
Adequate oxygen supply
Radiographic viewer
Adequate size
Sufficient instruments
No thoroughfare
Adequate ventilation
Not used as storage facility
Only final preparation of patient done in theatre
Suitable scrubbing-up facility
Adequate water supply
Soap dispenser
Sterilised: Sterile
o
Gowns
o
Drapes
o
gloves; and
o
masks and caps
Loading Area. An area for safe loading and off loading of patients
9.7
Stables. Stables in which patients are kept:




9.9
9.10
9.11
B
A
Operating Room















9.8
A
C
A
Patients kept individually in stables
Stables adequately ventilated
Are animals with contagious diseases hospitalised
Isolation facility
Exercise Area. An exercise area:

Constructed to prevent escape

Constructed that it can be kept clean/hygienic
Flammable material stored away from stables
If flammable material stored in adjoining room to stables, is such room separated
by a fire partition wall
Supervision. Animals are monitored after hours
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
B
B
B
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
B
A
A
B
A
A
B
B
A
A
B
10 Production Animal hospital/Clinic
(Rule 33) Reproductive work? Limited specialised services? Sonar apparatus
required, also for small stock. New Category – will refer to embryo transfer group.
10.1
10.2
One or more examination rooms or undercover areas:

Hand washing facilities

Equipment for physical examination of patients

Crush pen with impervious floor

Equipment to perform standing surgical procedures

Adequate facilities for safe induction and recovery from anaesthesia

Transportation system to and from induction area and operating room
Operating Room. A separate suitably equipped operating room/theatre:

Adequate lighting

Impervious suitably padded operating table

Relevant anaesthetic apparatus
A
A
A
A
A
A
B
A
A
A
C
6












10.3
10.4
10.5
10.6
10.7
10.8
A
B
B
B
B
B
B
A
A
A
Adequate oxygen supply
Radiographic viewer
Adequate size
Sufficient instruments
Adequate ventilation
No thoroughfare
Not used as storage facility
Suitable scrubbing-up facility
Adequate water supply
Soap dispenser
Sterilised
o
gowns;
o
drapes;
o
gloves; and
B
B
B
B
Masks and caps.
Loading ramp. A loading ramp for safe loading and off-loading of patients
Stalls. Stalls in which patients are kept
A

Patients kept separately

Stalls adequately ventilated

Are animals with contagious diseases hospitalised

Isolation facility
Flammable materials stored away from stalls
If flammable materials stored in adjoining room to stalls, is such a room separated
by a fire partition wall
Exercise Area. An exercise area:

Constructed to prevent escape

Constructed that it can be kept clean/hygienic
Supervision. Animals are monitored after hours
B
B
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
GENERAL COMMENTS
11 Minimum standards for mobile theatre/animal services Decision-
Yes
No
Category
Mobile services not stand alone, must have fully equipped back up physical
facility, extension of and operate under same name as that of back up facility.
11.1
11.2
11.3
11.4
11.5
11.6
11.7
11.8
11.9
11.10
Operated by SAVC registered personnel
Mobile animal service: part and parcel of base facility, but visit bona fide clients
Necessity of accessible records – must get it from facility- Requirement ito
veterinary rules and Act 101/1965
Fully equipped back-up facility
Communication with back-up facility
Acceptable standard of construction and appearance
Constructed of impervious material that can be cleaned/disinfected
Own water supply
Adequate lighting
Secure storage of scheduled drugs
A
A
B
A
B
A
A
A
7
11.11
11.12
11.13
11.14
11.15
11.16
Refrigeration/cooling facilities for storage of biologicals/pharmaceuticals
Equipment for disposal of wastes including carcasses
Appropriate equipment and drugs for species serviced
Appropriate protective clothing
Mobile theatre complies with relevant regulations for animal theatres
Proposal to: register mobile facility.
A
B
A
C
A
GENERAL COMMENTS
12 Minimum standards for house/farm calls is like mobile services
Perhaps to implode
12.1
12.2
12.3
12.4
12.5
12.6
12.7
12.8
Fully equipped back-up facility
Communication with back-up facility
If NO to 12.1, Has exemption been granted by Council?

An office where clients can be received, with a neat internal and external
appearance?

Storeroom for pharmaceuticals
Vehicle used maintained in a clean and sanitary condition
Vehicle contains equipment necessary for the veterinarian to perform physical
examinations and emergency treatment consistent with standards for the
particular service required
Sterile surgical instruments and suture materials
Protective clothing, boots and the means to change or sanitise them between
visits
Current pharmaceuticals/Biologicals protected from overheating
A
B
A
B
A
A
B
A
A
GENERAL COMMENTS
Pig Farmer forum input: Dr Tom Spencer reported that they work as consultants and liaise and communicate with the
local veterinarians when they visit farmers.
A new category in terms of facility registration must be formalised: CONSULTANCY
The naming guidelines must change to include “Consultancy, Services, etc. Already approved at a previous Council
meeting, must be communicated to members.
Herd Health feedback: Dr C Marwick said that there are direct communication between the herd health practitioners
and other mixed practitioners in area, and a report is given to the local veterinarian. Changes to the self evaluation
form must not make the completion more difficult for rural vets. Changes to the application form for exemption must
be considered. Good guidelines on veterinary practices are needed, and the rights of specialists must be specified.
Ruminant (large animal practices). The Review Committee to discuss this issue, and Mobile standards to be clarified.
The “Bakkie” practices are actually also “mobile facilities.
They MUST have a physical facility (requirement of Act 101/1965), they MUST have a referral practice/back-up facility,
and transparency is needed for this whole process.
Rural mixed veterinary practice is not defined – should be
Wildlife Group feedback. Must have an office to store records, medicines etc, according to requirements of Act
101/1965.
The vehicle must be able to reach the client
They do not want to comply to requirements of general practice, or
8
Having to ask for exemption (Why?)
To have back-up facility must be added to the application form.
Post mortems – disposal of carcasses on farm – burn or bury. – please note there is a new Act and members should
adhere to it
Veterinary Physiotherapists. Not yet on board, but requirements will be the same as for a consulting room.
The practice will have to be registered with Council
Animal research facilities. A new type of practice? No feedback from DAFF received. Dr Bert Mohr submitted input
from SAALAS. Tertiary research institutions have own ethics committees controlling and applying quality standards.
DAFF and Prof Vinny Naidoo to be involved.
ISO standards-Not a legal requirement (implementation is voluntary), but it is a useful tool to apply in respect of quality
control.
Sterilisation only facilities? Spays are invasive surgery and cannot be done from Consulting Room. Should have
registered a clinic which complies with all minimum requirements. The veterinarian must also provide emergency
services to deal with any emergency/ complications resulting from the surgery.
Limited services? – What about special interest i.e. equine, wildlife?
This must be further investigated – see Competition Commission ruling. As a general principle veterinarians should be
allowed to offer a limited service, provided that all minimum standards are complied with and emergencies are
adequately dealt with by arranging to refer those to a referral practice (by agreement with such practice) or by
supplying an after-hours emergency service
Rule 8 (Covering- sharing of premises and/or fees)-The rule regarding the non-sharing of premises with non-registered
persons was created to minimise the effect of zoonoses on human health and to ensure adequate quarantine
facilities. Sharing of fees is prohibited to ensure that the veterinarian always takes decisions in the interest of
the patient and is not influenced by outside factors such as pressure from non-registered persons with a
vested interest in either the procedure or medication prescribed. In the UK a model existed where a nonregistered entity could set up and manage a veterinary facility, but the veterinarian remained in control of all
decisions relating to patient care and also remained responsible for his/her own professional conduct. The
rule as it currently reads may be anti-competitive and/or outdated. Business models should be considered so
as to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Competition Act, 1998, provided that health concerns
relating to humans and pressure from non-registered persons in patient care are adequately addressed.
Further input on different business models is to be obtained.
RECOMMENDATION FROM EVALUATOR
I hereby certify that I have evaluated the veterinary facility named above.
I recommend to the SA Veterinary Council that:
1. As the minimum standards and requirements of a veterinary hospital/consulting room/mobile facility are
met the facility should be registered/continued to be registered as a veterinary hospital/consulting
room/mobile facility.
2. As the standards and requirements of a veterinary hospital/consulting room/mobile facility are adequately
met the facility should be registered/ continued to be registered as a veterinary hospital/consulting
room/mobile facility provided that the outstanding requirement/s reflected on the report are addressed
within the stated time period/s.
A re-evaluation is/ is not necessary to confirm that the work has been completed
3. The facility should not be registered as a veterinary hospital/consulting room/mobile facility due to the
deficiencies reflected on the report.
4. Additional comments:_____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
9
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Overall impression: Excellent/ Good/ Fair/ Requires attention
Notes in relation to the completion of the above recommendation:
i.
ii.
Paragraphs 1, 2, or 3 should be deleted as appropriate
If only minor matters require attention, paragraph 2 should be completed. Please indicate whether a reevaluation will be required.
Name of Evaluator
___________________________
Signature
___________________________
Date of Evaluation
___________________________
MINIMUM STANDARDS OF VETERINARY FACILITIES REGISTERED WITH THE SOUTH ARICAN
VETERINARY COUNCIL - EVALUATION
The rules relating to the practicing of a veterinary profession in terms of the Veterinary and Para-Veterinary
Professions Act, no 19 of 1982 refers.
The aim of the evaluation of facilities is to: 


Enhance the ability of veterinarians to provide quality veterinary care to animals;
To enable veterinarians to successfully conduct their practice and maintain their facilities with high
standards of excellence; and
Meet the public’s needs as they relate to the delivery of veterinary medicine.
The evaluator performing the evaluation will emphasize education, consultation and on-site assistance.
Evaluation should be seen as a positive step in ensuring that South Africa maintains the high level of veterinary
care in facilities that are designed and equipped to ensure this.
Owners of practices will receive notification that their facilities will be evaluated at least 60 days in advance or at
a pre-arranged time. It is recommended that the principal veterinarian be actively involved throughout the entire
evaluation.
The evaluation form directly reflects the Rules and the Code of Conduct and Practice in that the questions are
phrased from them, Compliance with, or not will be noted for each rule under various headings on the evaluation
form. If certain rules have not been complied with, the evaluator will indicate by when the practitioner needs to
comply to be able to maintain his/her registration of the facility with the South African Veterinary Council.
Council in its discretion will decide if a facility complies sufficiently with the Rules to enable continued registration,
however, adequate time will be given to practitioners to enable them to attain to minimum standards.
10
The symbols A, B and C have been used to denote whether non-compliance of the particular requirement is
deemed as a very serious, serious or minor infringement. Inspectors will be required to take photographs of
deficiencies under symbols B and C and the Inspections Committee may accept photographs as proof once the
deficiency has been addressed.
Please note that an accreditation and registration of the facility do not absolve members from compliance with
any other legislation relevant to veterinary practice.
A. Very serious
It is imperative to obtain, build, institute or acquire within the time specified.
A re- inspection of the facility could be scheduled within a 30 – 60 day period after the required date.
B. Serious
Important to obtain, build, institute or acquire within the time specified.
Confirmation, in writing, will be required that the outstanding matters have been addressed by the required date.
If no satisfactory reply is received a re-inspection of the facility may follow.
C. Minor
Must obtain, build, institute or acquire within the time specified.
Confirmation, in writing, will be required that the outstanding matters have been addressed by the required date.