Aipedia: Veterinary surgeons and practices

AI in vet teleconsults and remote prescribing

Aipedia, by the Apex broking team · Last reviewed 2026-10-30

AI can help triage video consults, but it cannot replace a vet's judgement on whether an animal can be assessed and prescribed for remotely. Remote services carry their own claim risks, and the RCVS is reviewing its "under care" guidance on POM-V prescribing.

Part of: AI in veterinary practice

In short

Teleconsult platforms use AI to collect histories, triage urgency, summarise calls and sometimes suggest next steps. The RCVS Spring 2026 advice says clinical decisions must not be wholly delegated to AI, and output must be critically appraised. Chapter 4 covers veterinary medicines, and the RCVS is reviewing its "under care" guidance for prescribing POM-V medicines, with a second phase of research in 2026. AI triage cannot examine an animal. Claims often arise from missed urgency or inappropriate remote prescribing, and PI must cover all professional activities, including remote work, under Code 3.4.

How AI is used in teleconsults

Video consult services, whether run by a practice or a separate provider, may put AI in front of the vet. A structured questionnaire or chatbot gathers the history, the system sorts cases by urgency, and the call is transcribed and summarised into a note. Some platforms suggest whether a case looks suitable for remote advice or needs an in-person visit.

This can make remote services more efficient. It also concentrates risk at the start of the process: if the triage underestimates urgency, the vet may see the case late or with a misleading summary.

The duties that apply

Several existing duties apply to this work:

No wholesale delegation: under the RCVS AI advice, triage suggestions and summaries are inputs, not decisions.
Prescribing: Chapter 4 covers veterinary medicines. The RCVS is reviewing its "under care" guidance on prescribing POM-V medicines, using VetCompass research with a second phase in 2026. Practices offering remote prescribing should watch for changes.
Appropriate care: Code 1.1 and 1.3 put animal welfare first and require appropriate and adequate care. If an animal needs examining, the vet should arrange it.
Records: AI call summaries should be manually verified under the RCVS advice and Chapter 13.
Confidentiality: recordings and transcripts are client and animal data under Code 2.6 and Chapter 14.

What AI cannot substitute for

No triage tool can feel an abdomen, auscultate a heart, take a temperature or watch an animal move in the room. Video helps, but lighting, camera angles and owner handling all limit what can be seen. An AI summary of a call reflects what the owner said, not what is wrong with the animal. Where the decision to prescribe depends on clinical findings that only an examination can provide, the vet should not let a remote workflow push the case through.

The RCVS AI advice also warns about overconfidence. A tidy, structured AI summary can feel more complete than it is, and a vet seeing many remote cases in a shift may be tempted to treat it as a history taken by a colleague.

What can go wrong

Illustrative scenario: an owner books a video consult for a cat that is "straining in the litter tray". The AI triage classifies it as a likely bladder upset and routine priority. The vet, working from the summary, gives advice and arranges a follow-up. The cat had a urinary obstruction, which needed same-day treatment. The owner complains that the service did not recognise an emergency.

Other risks include prescribing for the wrong animal in a multi-pet household, an AI summary that omits a key history point, and owners outside the practice's area who cannot easily reach in-person care.

Cover for remote services

Code 3.4 requires PI or equivalent arrangements covering "all" professional activities, and remote work is one of them. Whether a policy responds to teleconsults without restriction depends on the wording; some may define the insured activities or territory in ways that matter for remote services. Vets working as locums or contractors for a teleconsult platform should check whether the platform's cover extends to them, since Chapter 17.18 warns that practice cover may not cover a locum. See PI for locum professionals and the RCVS PI requirement.

Practical controls

Useful controls include:

Have a vet, not the tool, decide whether a case is suitable for remote handling.
Set clear red flags that always trigger in-person examination.
Verify AI call summaries before they become the record.
Confirm the animal's identity and history before prescribing.
Check your PI wording for remote and cross-border work.

How Apex helps

Apex arranges PI for vets, practices and locums. A broker reviews whether your cover extends to teleconsults and remote prescribing, and how AI triage features are treated.

Sources

Frequently asked

Can AI triage decide if a pet needs to be seen?

It can suggest a priority, but the RCVS says clinical decisions must not be wholly delegated to AI. A vet should make the final call, with clear red flags that always lead to an in-person examination.

Have the remote prescribing rules changed?

The RCVS is reviewing its "under care" guidance on POM-V prescribing, with VetCompass research in a second phase in 2026. No outcome had been published when this page was written, so check the RCVS website for updates.

Does my practice PI cover teleconsults?

Code 3.4 requires cover for all professional activities, but policy wordings differ on how they describe the insured business and territory. Ask your broker or provider to confirm remote work is included, especially if you work for a separate platform.

Check your PI covers how you use AI

Tell us about your firm and the work you do. A broker will review how your current PI treats AI-assisted work, or arrange new cover. No fee for a quote. Or call 0117 325 0027.

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Apex Insurance Brokers Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England and Wales, company number 07014570. This page is general information about how AI is used in the profession and how insurance may respond. It is not legal, regulatory or insurance advice on your circumstances, and it does not guarantee that cover will be available or on what terms.