ABSTRACT: We all know that communication is key in veterinary practice. As we become more experienced, it is easier to recognise when the client is not as happy with the service provided as they could be. There are some tips that can help you recognise when this is occurring and how to prevent it or how to approach the complaint to ensure a mutually beneficial outcome. It is important that the practice and client try to resolve the issues themselves but there may be times when mediation is called for. The RCVS fund the Veterinary Client Mediation Service (VCMS) which is a voluntary, independent and free mediation service for clients whose animals have received veterinary care and for the veterinary professionals providing that care.

Author

Staci Baldwin RVN

Staci has been working in practice since February 2010 and qualified in January 2015. She worked mostly in first opinion practices initially but more recently as a locum nurse in bigger hospitals. She has always been very involved with consultations, reception and anything else client facing especially as in her first practice that she was with for over 7 years the nurses also worked on reception. She joined the Veterinary Client Mediation Services (VCMS) in July 2019 and a huge reason she was attracted to the position is that she has always enjoyed being a problem solver, in practice she would often be the person people would come to for advice or ideas on how to approach different situations, she loved finding solutions to problems. She’s also always felt as a nurse that we sometimes sit in the middle with clients and vets so will often see things from both sides. Joining the VCMS has given her a great insight to client and practice relationships and ways we can improve to work more harmoniously together because a strong trusting relationship between practices and clients plays a huge part in providing all round great care and customer service. Email: stacibaldwin@vetmediation.co.uk

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To cite this article: Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 36 (06) • June 2021 pp195-197

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