British Cattle Veterinary Association

Delegated or shared after-hours emergency cover has become common-place in the companion animal branch of the veterinary profession. This paper reviews the reasons behind this relatively recent phenomenon. The concerns that are often expressed by companion animal practitioners prior to the establishment of a new emergency service in an area are presented, together with the typical responses to these concerns by the emergency service providers. The question is asked: is there a way forwards for shared provision of emergency work in large animal practice? If so, can lessons be learned from experiences in the companion animal branch of the profession?