Policies

At the Windmill Veterinary Centre, we are always looking at ways of reducing our carbon pawprint by reusing and recycling (where appropriate) as much as possible.  Over the last year we have reduced the amount of waste we send to landfill, changed all our lighting to LED bulbs and continue to use energy supplied by our solar panels.  In a further effort to reduce paper usage, we send reminders by email and text.  Recently, we have been looking at the printing of datasheets for the medications we supply.  At the moment, all medications are supplied with a datasheet, so our clients are fully informed as to possible side effects.  You may be asked, if you are on long term medication, whether you still require a printed paper datasheet, as you may already have numerous copies at home.  Most medication datasheets are available online at the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) and can be viewed here.

Environmental Policy

Windmill Veterinary Centre is a first opinion veterinary practice treating companion animals.  At Winslow Veterinary Centre, we are always striving to meet client expectations by using raw materials, manufacturing products and processes that conform to ISO 9001 standards and the Good Manufacturing Practices. We acknowledge that our operations have an effect on the environment in terms of the use of raw materials, emissions to air and water, and waste generation.

Our management’s commitment to the environment will encompass more efficient use of resources, production of less waste, lowering our carbon footprint and prevention of environmental harm. We will continue to offer a high quality service using modern practices, equipment and knowledge acquired through continuing professional development to ensure we deliver the best possible service to our clients and their pets. Our business is strengthened by protecting the safety, health and environment of our employees, our customers, and the people of the communities in which we do business.

Our environmental commitment can be demonstrated in our established objectives and goals below:

• Compliance with all applicable standards, laws, requirements, regulations and public/client expectations.
• Practicing pollution prevention in order to reduce waste and minimise consumption through appropriate waste segregation and disposal, use of low flow anaesthesia and consideration of car-sharing for off-site CPD courses attended by multiple delegates.
• Implementing water and energy conservation techniques including our existing solar panels for water heating.
• Recycling and reusing materials when possible and reducing waste through goods procurement, reduction in single use products and recycling of food waste and packaging (pet & staff).
• Publishing and distribution of an annual organisational sustainability report.
• Working with suppliers to ensure they acknowledge and decrease the environmental impact of their products and transportation.

We will continue to improve our environmental management system through annual reviews and updates, taking into account any changes within legislation, our organisation, and other factors. We will convey this policy to all our employees in the staff handbook and make certain that they are provided with proper training to increase awareness of environmental matters.

Richard Rallings has a designated responsibility for the day-to-day implementation of this policy.

Windmill Veterinary Centre takes it very seriously if any member of the team is treated in an abusive or violent way.

All team members have a right to care for client’s animals without fear of being attacked or abused. To successfully provide our services, a mutual respect between all the team and clients must be maintained.  Our team aim to be polite, helpful and sensitive to the individual needs and circumstances of all clients. Windmill Veterinary Centre respectfully remind clients that the team are often confronted with a multitude of varying and sometimes difficult tasks and situations at once. The team understand that clients will not always act in a reasonable manner when their animals are ill and we will take this into consideration when trying to deal with a misunderstanding or complaint.

Aggressive behaviour, be it violent or abusive, will not be tolerated and may result in you being removed from the practice list and, in extreme cases, the Police being contacted.

In order for Windmill Veterinary Centre to maintain good relations with their clients and their animals, we would like to ask all clients to read and take note of the types of behaviour that would be found unacceptable:

• Using bad language or swearing at practice team members
• Any physical violence towards any member of the Windmill team or other clients, such as pushing or shoving
• Verbal abuse towards the team in any form including verbally insulting the team
• Racial abuse and sexual harassment will not be tolerated within this practice
• Persistent or unrealistic demands that cause stress on team members will not be accepted. Requests will be met wherever possible and explanations given when they cannot
• Causing damage/stealing from the Practice’s premises, team or clients
• Obtaining drugs and/or medical services fraudulently

We ask you to please treat our vets and our team courteously at all times.

Removal from the practice list

A good client-vet relationship, based on mutual respect and trust, is the cornerstone of good client care. The removal of clients from our list is an exceptional and rare event and is a last resort in an impaired client-practice relationship. When trust has irretrievably broken down, it is in the client’s interest, just as much as that of the practice, that they should find a new veterinary practice.  There are no grounds for appeal and the decision of the practice is final.