This petition was submitted during the 2019 to 2024 Parliament
Rejected petition Include veterinary surgeons and their staff in the critical workers definition.
Rejected on
Require the Department of Education to extend their definition of critical workers to include veterinary surgeons and staff so their children can receive schooling and they can still attend their essential animal welfare work.
To prevent unnecessary suffering and ensure all animals can receive treatment during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Companion animals, animals in shelters and livestock need not suffer from a lack of veterinary treatment as a result of social distancing and the essential measures required to slow down the spread of the pandemic.
Why was this petition rejected?
We can't publish petitions when the request is something that's already happening or something that has been announced since you started your petition.
We think your petition is covered by Government or Parliament action already. If you'd like something else, you could start a new petition clearly explaining what it is.
The Government has published guidance for schools on maintaining educational provision for the children of key workers. You can read this here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision
Following this, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and British Veterinary Association (BVA) issued a joint statement to provide clarification for veterinary surgeons, stating that those involved in urgent care or care related to farm animals can be considered key workers : https://www.rcvs.org.uk/news-and-views/news/coronavirus-rcvs-and-bva-issue-joint-guidance-on-key-worker/
You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.